Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1913 — NNAPOLEON AND LETTER “M” [ARTICLE]

NNAPOLEON AND LETTER “M”

Both Napoleon I and Napoleon 111 attached a most superstitious importance to the letetr “M.” -Marboeuf was the first to call attention to the genius of the young Bonaparte at the military college. Marengo was Napoleon's first great victory. Melas was the name of the general whom he superseded in the command of the French army in Italy. Mortier was one of his best generals. It was Moreau who betrayed him. Murat, King of Naples, was the first martyr to his cause. Marie Louise shared the culminating point of his success. Moscow was the scene of his greatest disaster. and it was Metterulch who defeated him in the field of diplomacy. No fewer than six of his field marshal's and twenty-six of his best generals had names beginning with “M,” and Maret, Duke of Bassano, was his most trusted confidant His very first battle was that of Moulnotte, and his last that of Mont Saint Jean, subsequently and more universally known as Waterloo. Among his victories were those of Milleslmo, Mondori, Montmirall, Montereau and Montmartre. His first chamberlain was M. de Montesquieu. His last residence in France was at Malmalson. He surrendered himself to Captain Maitland, of his British majesty’s ship Bellerophon. and his attendants at St Helena were Montholon and Marchand. The superstition attached by Napoleon 111 to the same letter may be accounted for by the fact that his wife was a Countess of Montljo, that his most intimate friend was the Duke of Moray, and his moot dreaded enemy Mazzini. The most

glorious feats of arms by the French army dur tag his reign were the capture of the Malakoff and the grim Mamelon during the Crimean war. His most famous field marshals were MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, and the Duke of Malakoff. The great victory of Solferino, in 1859, too* place on the banks of the Mlnclo, and the cities of Mantua and Milan played an important role during the campaign. The Mexican war and the execution of the Emperor Maximilian caused his power to wane perceptibly; Malmesbury was the name of his most intimate friend in English political life. Sedan, which witnessed his fall, Is on the banks of the Meuse. The surrender of Meti rendered his restoration to power Impossible, and Moltke was the name of the man to whose genius he chiefly owed his defeat.