Napoleon Bonaparte is one my Idols and Heroes. He was such a great man, in fact our modern military structure was thanks to him. the Corps structure was created by him, which was the demon he unleased to Europe that crushed virtually all his enemies. Yes, he failed to conquer Russia, and yes he was defeated at Waterloo. But he was the most successful General/Commander of all time. He has won more decisive battles than Alexander, Julius Cesar and Hannibal combined.
Even today I can feel his electric personality as I read his stories.
In April 1796 the twenty-six year old Napoleon Bonaparte was named commander of the French Forces fighting the Austrains in Italy. For many officers his appointment was something of a joke : they saw thier new leader as too short, too young, too inexperienced, and even too badly groomed to play the part of “general”. His soldiers, too, were underpaid, underfed, and increasingly disillusioned with the cause they are fighting for, the French revolution. In the first few weeks of the campaign, Napoleon did what he could to make them fight harder, but they were largely resistant to him.
On May 10, Napoleon and his weary forces came to the Bridge of Lodi, over the river Adda. Despite his uphill struggle with his troops, he had the Austrians in retreat, but the bridge was a natural place to take a stand, and they had manned it with soldiers on either side and with well-placed artillery. Taking the bridge would be too costly– suddenly the French soldiers saw Napoleon riding up in front of them, in a position of extreme personal risk, directing the attack. He delivered a stirirng speech, then launched his grenadiers at the Austrian lines to cries of “Vive la Republique!!” Caught up in the spirit, his senior officers led the charge.
The French took the bridge, and now, after this relative minor operation, Napoleon’s troops now suddenly saw him as a different man. In fond recognition of his courage, they gave him the nickname : “Le Petit Caporal”.
Napoleon’s soldiers did not see him often, but when they did, it was as if an electrical charge passed through them. It was not just his presence ; he knew exactly to show up.
If a squad were about to lead a charge or seemed in trouble, he would ride over and yell, ” Thirty-eighth : I know you ! Take me that village — at the charge!“ His soldiers felt they weren’t just obeying orders, they were living out a great drama.
Napoleon rarely showed anger, but when he did, his men felt worse than just guilty or upset. Late in the first Italian campaign, Austrian troops forced some of his troops into a humiliating retreat in which there was no excuse. Napoleon visited thier camp personally. “Soldiers, I am not satisfied with you,”"You have shown neither bravery, discipline, nor preserverance. . . You have allowed yourselves to be driven from positions where a handful of men could have stopped an army. Soldiers from the Thirty-ninth and Eighty-Fifth, You Are Not French Soldiers. General, chief-of-staff, let it be inscribed on thier colors : ‘They no loner form part of the Army of Italy!’ “ he told them, his very large grey eyes seemingly on fire. . The soldiers were astounded. Some cried; others begged for another chance. They repented their weakness and turned completely around: the Thirty-ninth and Eighty-Fifth would go on to distinguish themselves for strenghts they have never shown before.
hahaha