The Camp-fires of Napoleon

The Camp-fires of Napoleon - Comprising The Most Brilliant Achievemnents of the Emperor and His Marshals

The vivid pictures of war, however ensanguined, have a wonderful attraction for the mass of men. They stir the heart like a trumpet. No narratives are so generally perused with avidity as those of feats of broils and battles; for in them, in spite of many disgusting features, there is always something to excite a pleasing thrill. We love excitement, and it seems that it is to war, and the videscriptions of its varied scenes of danger, during which the faculties of the combatants are roused to extraordinary strength, that most look for the gratification of their natural desires. We have heard of many persons who, in the abstract, condemn all wars as brutal and degrading to humanity, peruse, with unwearied attention, narratives of the campaigns of great generals, and dwell upon their details with evident manifestations of delight. The passion is irresistible. In this work, the author has endeavored to present to the mental eye, more vividly than the so-termed dignity of ordinary history permits, the most striking scenes and remarkable personages of Napoleons astonishing career of gloryto show the greatest warrior of any age in the field, and at the nightly bivouacsupon the fertile plains of Piedmontin the shadow of the Egyptian pyramidsamid the forests of Germany, and on the frozen plains of Russiasurrounded by his galaxy of splendid generals, his military familyto illustrate a passage in the history of Europe, which, for stirring scenes and powerful characters, has, perhaps, no parallel. From the camp-fire at Toulon, where the young lieutenant of artillery gave the first impression of his wonderful genius, till the terrible night of darkness and death following the battle of Waterloo, the career of Napoleon is traced by his bivouacs; and around each watch-fire is grouped the incidents of the conflicts which there occurred. The salient points in the life of the great warrior are, therefore, illumined, so as to fix them in the memory. Who can know the incidents of that career of glory without astonishment? We find a genius, under the smile of fortune, rising from the ranks of the people to the summit of despotic powersurpassing the generalship of Hannibalthe statesmanship of Csar, and performing exploits, which, before his time, were placed among the impossible. There is imperishable interest attached to every event in the life of such viia character; and, therefore, no work which honestly aims to illustrate them can be considered superfluous. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 55131
Author: Watson, Henry C. (Henry Clay)
Release Date: Jul 17, 2017
Format: eBook
Language: English