One hardly knows which to wonder at most, the resurrection he gave to France in the few months that succeeded his election as First Consul; the development of her internal resources and strength, or the magical army that seemed to rise at his touch from the earth, and the next moment hang in three mighty columns amid the glaciers of the Alps. As in his expedition to Egypt he had completely outwitted both England and the Continent, which remained to the last moment ignorant of the destination of his army, so now he managed to mislead Europe as to the point where he designed to strike. It was generally supposed that he was on his way to Genoa, to relieve Massena, who was starving to death within its walls. That brave veteran thought so too, and long and patiently waited to hear the thunder of his cannon, amid the Appenines. But Bonaparte was seeking the Austrian general, Melas, though, strange as it may seem, when he had reunited his divisions in the plains of Piedmont he could not find him. It was owing to this ignorance of the whereabouts of Melas that his army became so divided. Having scoured the plains of Marengo, of which a few months before he had spoken as the spot for a great battle, without finding the enemy, he supposed he must have taken flight. He never dreamed that if he intended to give battle at all, he would leave the plain--above all the village of Marengo unoccupied. He, therefore, left Victor with two divisions at Marengo, and Lannes with one division en echelon in the plain, and hastened back to his head quarters at Voghera, hoping to hear news of the enemy from Moncey on the Tessino, or Duhesme, on the Lower Po. Luckily for him, however, the Scrivia had overflowed its banks, so that he was compelled to stop on the other side. Despatches were received from these officers, stating that all was quiet in their sections. He then decided that Melas must have gone by way of Novi to Genoa, and despatched Desaix with a single division, to intercept him. Great was his surprise, therefore, in the morning, when a courier from Victor, burst in a wild gallop, into Torre di Garlfolo, announcing that the whole Austrian army was crossing the Bormida and marching straight upon Marengo. Victor had scarcely sent off his despatch before the enemy, 40,000 strong, sustained by two hundred pieces of artillery, was upon him. Sixteen thousand men were all he had, with which to oppose this formidable array. But for the little muddy stream of Fontenone, along whose banks he had placed his army, the battle would have been irretrievably lost, long before Bonaparte could arrive. As it was, nothing but the most stubborn resolution held that ground. Immense batteries thundered on his shivering lines, almost within pistol shot, making horrible gaps at every discharge. His ranks melted away around him like men of mist, still he maintained his ground, anxiously waiting the arrival of Bonaparte. If he could not hold that position he was lost, for nothing by the little village of Marengo lay between him and the vast open plain, where the cavalry of the enemy would scatter his army like dust before the wind. For two mortal hours did he stand on the edge of that narrow stream and see his army sink, whole ranks at a time, before the murderous discharges of artillery. One division, stationed in the open field, was almost entirely annihilated by grape shot. At length the Austrians forced the stream. The French commanders put forth almost superhuman efforts, to stop the flow of troops across it. But they were compelled to retire, leaving the field heaped with the dead. The road was filled with wounded and disbanded soldiers, the latter crying that all was lost. Lannes, though outflanked, was making desperate efforts to hold on with his wing to Marengo, his last remaining hope. Retreat was impossible, it would become a slaughter in the open plain. Pressed by that mass of artillery, and chased by clouds of cavalry, his beaten, and already half destroyed division, would be crushed to atoms.

This was the state of things at ten o'clock, when Bonaparte came on a full gallop to the field. As soon as he received Victor's despatch, he sent for Desaix, and taking with him a single division and his Consular Guard, set off; a reserve of cavalry was to follow. Casting his eye over the disastrous field, he saw but the shattered and flying remnant of the army, but he also saw, at a glance, that where Lannes still held Marengo, was his only hope. He must there make a stand and rally his troops in the rear. It was then he rode up to the Consular Guard, and bade them march into the open plain and hold the cavalry of the enemy in check. These eight hundred forming instantly into a square, moved forward and presented their wall-like sides to the Austrian horse. In the meantime Bonaparte flew with his fresh troops to the help of Lannes. As the wearied soldiers of the latter saw the escort that told of the approach of their commander, they sent up a loud shout, and rushed with renewed fury to the assault. Lannes performed prodigies; and at first, success smiled on the efforts of Bonaparte--but at length overborne by superior numbers, he was compelled to retreat. Then came a trial to which all the rest, murderous as it had been, was as nothing. To move into the open plain, pressed by a victorious army, with such heavy artillery and numerous cavalry, was testing the nerves of officers and men to the utmost.

Yet all this time the Consular Guard remained unshaken. "A living citadel" it moved over the plain, rolling from its adamantine sides the successive waves of cavalry that dashed against them. Bonaparte's eye often turned anxiously to it. At moments it would be lost to view, apparently engulfed by the enemy. The dark mass that shut it in, would then rend asunder, and there moved that wall-like enclosure, the fire pouring in streams from its sides. Lannes fought like a lion, carrying his squares slowly and sternly over the plain, though eighty pieces of artillery hurled their iron storm upon his mutilated ranks.

The Consular Guard till now had been attacked only by cavalry. It seemed impossible that so small a body of men, forming but a mere speck on that vast plain, could resist the overwhelming squadrons. Astonished at such resistance, the enemy at length brought forward his artillery. Round and grape shot smote through the thinned ranks till it was supposed they were so dreadfully shaken that the cavalry could ride them down with ease, when they were ordered again to charge. Advancing on a sweeping gallop, they burst with redoubled fury upon this mere handful of men. Again and again they thundered on that firm formation, but when the dust and smoke cleared away there it stood solid and terrible as ever. Recoil and melt away it must, and did, but break or fly it never would. In the midst of a vast plain, surrounded by tens of thousands of men and horses, pressed by a victorious foe, enveloped in dark masses of cavalry that kept falling in successive shocks on its exhausted ranks, rent by cannon shot--in the intervals of the roars of artillery their ears assailed by cries of terror from their flying comrades--ignorant how the battle was going in other parts of the disordered field, save that the whole army was in full retreat, this band of eight hundred men, now reduced to a mere handful, never thought of flying.

In the midst of this tumult and carnage, when they seemed no longer struggling for victory, and intent only on showing how brave men should die, a sight burst on them that filled every heart with the wildest enthusiasm. As the cloud of battle rent a moment before them, they saw in the midst of the turbulent plain, Napoleon, surrounded by his staff and two hundred mounted grenadiers, bravely breasting the storm. At the view an involuntary and frantic hurrah burst from that solid square, and "vive Napoleon," rolled over the field like the shout of victory.

That single square, though dreadfully narrowed, and bleeding at every pore remained as perfect in its formation at the close of that disastrous retreat, as when it first marched into the plain to stem the tide of battle. To use the expressive metaphor of Bonaparte, it stood, during those five hours of slaughter, a "column of granite."

The arrival of Desaix, and the defeat of the Austrians, are well known. Italy was reconquered. Bonaparte, after the battle, addressing Bessieres, who commanded the guard, said, "The Guard which you command is covered with glory." The lesson he learned that day was not lost upon him. He saw what could be done with a body of picked men, bound to him with affection, and borne up with the consciousness of the high trust committed to their charge. Such men were irresistible.

This was the first baptism of the Guard, and a more bloody one it could not well have had.

Lannes, as a reward for his bravery, was appointed commander of it. In November of the next year, 1801, however, it underwent a change, and four general officers were appointed over it. General Davoust for the Foot Grenadiers, General Soult for the Foot Chasseurs, Bessieres for the Cavalry, and Mortier for the Artillery and Matelots.

Lannes, of course, lost his command which he had so nobly earned, some say because he managed the chest of the Guard loosely, and rendered false accounts of the money he received. This is doubtful, still he lived in the most prodigal manner, and expended more than he was authorized to do, thus setting an example which would not answer in the commander of a Guard, whose character Bonaparte had determined should be without reproach. Others attributed his dismissal to his too great familiarity of manner. The dignity of the First Consul could not permit that freedom from his first lieutenants, which the extravagant notions of equality then pervading the army, sanctioned. Lannes and Augereau, blunt and republican in their habits and thoughts, often took unwarrantable liberties with Bonaparte, relying on their great deeds to screen them from rebuke. It is said that a short time previous to the new appointments in the Guard, as Bonaparte one day ordered some Barbary horses, which had been sent to him as a present, to be brought into the court of Malmaison, Lannes, who was present, proposed a game of billiards, the stake to be the price of one of the horses. Bonaparte consented; they played and Lannes won. The former, no doubt, designed he should, making use of the proposal of his brave lieutenant to bestow on him a favor.

"I have beaten thee," said the latter, (for he was accustomed to thee and thou Bonaparte like a quaker,) and of course I have the right of choice," and without waiting for permission, he ran out and examined the horses, and having selected the most beautiful, put on the saddle and bridle, and springing into the seat, spurred away at a gallop saying, "Adieu, Bonaparte, I will not dine here to-day, for if I remain thou wilt succeed in getting back thy horse." Napoleon did not esteem his Ajax any the less for this; he knew his brave heart too well, but he saw that the repetition of such scenes would weaken his authority and prevent the absolute submission to his will which he required of the Guard. Lannes was sent ambassador to Lisbon.
 
 

Bonaparte soon issued a new decree respecting the Guard, augmenting it still more. Among other changes he made soldier of the drivers of the artillery wagons. Upheld by no feeling of honor and subject to no promotion, however daring they might be in carrying the guns into the enemy's fire, they at the moment the action became hot, would cut the traces and gallop off. Bonaparte decreed that they should wear the uniform of the soldiers and be incorporated into the army. He decreed also that the whole military force should be called upon to furnish recruits whenever needed to the Guard--their admission in it to be the reward of bravery and good conduct. Several qualifications were necessary to render a soldier a fit candidate. He must be in active service, he must have made at least four campaigns, obtained rewards for deeds of arms or noble conduct, or been wounded. The grenadiers must be at least five feet six inches high, and the chasseurs five feet four inches, and each one to have maintained an irreproachable character.

An incident occurred at this time which shows how sensitive Bonaparte was to the least demoralizing influence in his Guard. Two grenadiers having committed suicide, he added the following note to the order of the day, "The grenadier Gabon has committed suicide from disappointment in love; he was in other respects a good subject. This is the second event of the kind that has happened to the corps in a month. The First Consul ordains that it shall be affixed to the order of the Guard that a soldier ought to know how to overcome the grief and melancholy arising from his passions; that to bear with constancy the pains of the soul, shows as much true courage as to rest fixed and immovable under the fire of a battery. To abandon one's self to chagrin without resistance, to slay one's self to get rid of it, is to desert the battle-field before the victory."

It was by such means he taught those who were in future to serve him with blind devotion, never asking or caring what were his orders, that self-endurance and heroic resolution which, years after, in the snows of Russia, astonished the world.
 
 

After various political changes, Bonaparte was at length declared emperor. The decree of the 10th Thermidor, 29th of July, was simply added, "The Consular Guard will take in future the name of the Imperial Guard, and will continue to be specially attached to my person."

Soon after he began to introduce changes in the uniform of the Guard. The first innovation was a bold push, laughable from its insignificance, but withal, a serious matter; this was no less than to dispense with their long queues and long hair of which they were so proud and tenacious as the Germans and Gauls, according to Tacitus, were in the time of Caesar.

One day after a review of the troops, Napoleon standing in the hall of the Marshals, surrounded by the chiefs of the separate corps, broke out into one of those biting sarcasms which so often made those wince who heard them. He began with the hats. "Decidedly, gentlemen," said he, "I do not wish to see my troops any more wear the chapeaux. It is always placed on their head in such a manner as to make a gutter of one corner. It is as disagreeable to the sight as injurious to the health of the soldier. It is ridiculous in a day of rain or great head, or as to-day when we have had both together; to see a soldier with the collar of his coat covered with a white paste, his hair badly held together by an equivocal riband, his forehead and cheeks running with a milky water, and the whole covered with a narrow hat, badly shaped, which protects the face from neither rain nor sun! One needs only to see them in Italy and Egypt. Poor devils, I suffered for them." One of the officers hinted at an ordinance, when Napoleon broke out again, winding up with an attack on "long tresses and useless queues." "How, sire," exclaimed the same officer, "would you shear all without distinction," "Yes sir," he replied, "like sheep." The former suggested that it would be impossible to obtain the consent of the officers to such a change, so attached were they to their locks. A glance of fire was the reply, as he exclaimed, "I should like to see, Monsious Colonel, the men who owe everything to me, my soldiers, in a word, to reflect on the thing at all, is it not sufficient that I wish it? Is it for my Guard to object when I require that all should have their hair shorn?" Passing his hand quickly over his own head, he added, "Do I wear a queue, is not my hair cut close?" "Yes," said Junot, "and the soldiers of the Guard call you nothing by the "little shorn"--le petit tondu.

Napoleon smiled in spite of himself, and said, "very well, the more reason--a soldier should always follow the example of his chief. I am aware that some fop or Adonis of an officer will not be very well satisified; but those who will not be content * * * *" He left the sentence unfinished, and crossing his hands behind him, promenaded awhile in silence, in the circle of officers that surrounded him. At length he said, "I will speak to Berrieres and Murat about it, I will commence by demanding Murat to sacrifice that head of hair a la Louis XIV., which, with our habits and military costume is ridiculous. The chiefs of the army must show examples of obedience. I wish neither tresses nor queues nor powder nor pomatum." Saying this he bowed and passed out.

The same day Murat who had assisted at the review of the morning, coming to receive the orders of the Emperor, asked if he had been pleased with the review. "Yes," said Napoleon, but (fixing his eyes on the long hair of his beautiful brother-in- law) added, "I should have been pleased if you had cut off all the tresses and queues of your cavaliers." Murat said nothing, but bowed and disappeared among the crowd of officers that were assembling. He saw at once that the reign of queues was over. At the extremity of the gallery he met Bessieres, one of the kfour commanders of the Guard, whose immense queue was a subject of remark throughout the whole army. "Eh bien, my dear fellow," said he in a tone half sorrowful and half joking, "thou hast heard the words of the Emperor--no more queues! Accept in advance my condolence on the approaching fall of yours." "My dear sir," replied the young marshal, "the roots of a queue like mine reach near to the heart, and the Emperor with all his power cannot make me cut it off. I hope our old comrades of Italy and Egypt will prove refractory as myself in this matter."

The next day Napoleon spoke again to Murat, who although he sympathized with Bessieres, did not dare to express his sentiments. At length turning towards him, the Emperor said laconically, "My Guard alone shall wear the queue, and it shall not be more than two inches long, such shall be the ordinance."

The reign of queues was over; the young officers adopted the change cheerfully, and on the day of the publication of the ordinance, the barbers' shops near the quarters of the troops were filled from morning till night, and more than two thousand queues were sacrificed. But in the same evening there were more than twenty duels. A quarrel commenced by one calling another just sheared, a spaniel. Friends on either side, took part in it, till the whole corps was involved, and, for awhile, serious difficulty was threatened. It required great tact to settle quietly the rage caused by this onslaught against tresses and queues.

An appropriate uniform for every portion of the Guard was adopted and it soon reached that eminence and deserved the character given of it in the preceding chapter.

Each of the corps of foot and mounted grenadiers and chasseurs of the Guard furnished a battalion and squadron to attend the emperor in his imperial residence. They were relieved every three months. Each of the corps of infantry was on service alternate weeks.

Soon after Bonaparte's elevation to supreme power, he made a grand display in the distribution of the cross of the Legion of Honor to those of his Guard who were selected as members. Surrounded by his magnificent staff, escorted by his troops, met with salvos of cannon, he proceeded to the place where the distribution was to take place. The decorations were taken from a basin of gold, and affixed to each one pronounced worthy of the honor. No one at this day can conceive the excitement and enthusiasm caused by the distribution of this simple decoration. At Boulogne, shortly after, the same distribution was made to the army, and, if possible, in a more imposing manner and causing greater enthusiasm. As Napoleon in the presence of the assembled thousands called the scarred veterans of Italy and Egypt to him and spoke of Montenotte, of Lodi, Arcola, Marengo, of the Pyramids, and of Egypt, tears rolled down their cheeks, and when the cermony was finished, the very heavens rocked to the shouts of "Vive l'Empereur."

In addition to the more regular corps of the Imperial Guard, there was a squadron of Mamelukes, a memento, as it were, of the Pyramids and the battles of the Nile.

It was formed from the corps of "Guides" which Bonaparte had in Egypt, and had nothing of the Mameluke about them but the oriental costume. This squadron with its horse-tail standard, its white heron plumes rising over the Asiatic turban, its timbrels and trumpets and all the trappings of the horses, a la Turk--its elegant dresses covered with gold lace and silk--its bright Damascus blades, presented a most singular yet picturesque appearance, amid the bear skin caps and heavy armor of the cuirassiers. There was also a small corps of Marines, with a blue uniform. It had also two squadrons of gend'armes d'elite, who preformed the police duty at head quarters, and a fine Italian battalion. Its artillery arm was at this time strengthened, numbering in all, 24 pieces of cannon. At the close of the year 1804, the Guard numbered 9,798 men, though nominally composed of but 7000.