Tranquillity was now restored in Paris; and the Directory had leisure to turn their attention to the affairs of the army of Italy, which were in a most confused and unsatisfactory condition.  They determined to give it a new general; and Buonaparte was appointed to the splendid command.  It is acknowledged, in one of Josephine’s letters, that the First Director had promised to procure it for him before their marriage took place.  “Advance this man,” said Barras to his colleagues, “or he will advance himself without you.”

Buonaparte quitted his wife ten days after their marriage; paid a short visit to his mother at Marseilles; and arrived, after a rapid journey, at the headquarters at Nice.  From that moment opened the most brilliant scene of his existence; yet, during the months of victory and glory that composed it, his letters, full of love and home-sickness, attest the reluctance with which he had so soon abandoned his bride.

[Footnote 6:  De Bourienne.]

[Footnote 7:  According to some, the last clause ran “die in an hospital,” and this was in the sequel interpreted to mean Malmaison—­a palace which (like our own St. James’s) had once been an hospital.]

CHAPTER IV

     The Army of Italy—­Tactics of Buonaparte—­Battle of Monte
     Notte—­Battle of Millesimo—­Battle of Mondovi—­Armistice of
     Cherasco—­Close of the Campaign of Piedmont—­Peace granted to
     Sardinia.

Buonaparte at the age of twenty-six assumed the command of the army of Italy; exulting in the knowledge that, if he should conquer, the honour would be all his own.  He had worked for others at Toulon, at the Col di Tende, at Saorgio:  even in the affair of the Sections the first command had been nominally in the hands of Barras.  Henceforth he was to have no rivals within the camp.  “In three months,” said he, “I shall be either at Milan or at Paris.”  He had already expressed the same feeling in a still nobler form.  “You are too young,” said one of the Directors, hesitating about his appointment as general.  “In a year,” answered Napoleon, “I shall be either old or dead.”

He found the army in numbers about 50,000; but wretchedly deficient in cavalry, in stores of every kind,[8] in clothing and even in food; and watched by an enemy greatly more numerous.  It was under such circumstances that he at once avowed the daring scheme of forcing a passage to Italy, and converting the richest territory of the enemy himself into the theatre of the war.  “Soldiers,” said he, “you are hungry and naked; the Republic owes you much, but she has not the means to pay her debts.  I am come to lead you into the most fertile plains that the sun beholds.  Rich provinces, opulent towns, all shall be at your disposal.  Soldiers! with such a prospect before you, can you fail in courage and constancy?” This was his first address to his army.  The sinking hearts of the men beat high with hope and confidence when they heard the voice of the young and fearless leader; and Augereau, Massena, Serrurier, Joubert, Lannes—­distinguished officers might themselves have aspired to the chief command—­felt, from the moment they began to understand his character and system, that the true road to glory would be to follow the star of Napoleon.