Life of Napoleon, tr., with notes by H.W. Halleck. With an atlas

Front matter

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Chapter I. Early Life Op Napoleon

ROM HIS BIBTH TO HIS APPOINTMENT TO COMMAND THB ABMT Of ITALY.

Plan of the Work — Napoleon's Birth and Parentage — Character and Education — His first Appointment to the Army — Franco before the Revolution — Summary of the Events of the Revolution — Events of the 17th, 20th, and 23d of June, 1789— Grand Coalition against France- Russia and Poland — War with Austria — The Prussians invade Champagne—The Republic proclaimed — Retreat of the Prussians — Invasion of Belgium — Death of Louis XVI. — War with Spain, Holland, and England — Dumouriez driven from Belgium — He treats with the Austrians — Committee of Public Safety — Sieges of Mayence and Valenciennes — Fall of the Girondists, May 31st — England heads the Coalition — Affairs of Poland — The Ottoman Porte — Situation of France— Energy of the Convention — Oarnot appointed to the Committee of Public Safety — Decree for a levSe m masse — Revolutionary Government — Reign of Terror — Faults of the Allies— They are driven from France — Death of Marie Antoinette— Political Results of the Revolution— Napoleon appointed Chief-ofbattalion — His Republican Opinions — Siege of Toulon — He is made General of Artillery — Conquest of Belgium, Holland and the left Bank of the Rhine— Naval Battle of Ouessant— Insurrection in Poland—

Contents

p Fall c. f Robespierre — Peace with Russia and Spain — Fate of the Royal Family — Napoleon employed at Pari** — Xc\\ r Insurrections — the Quihen.n Expedition — Constitution of the Year III. — A flair of the 13th Ycndeiniairv — Military Operations of 1793 — Napoleon's Marriage to .b»ephine — His Plan for the Tiiv:i<iou of Italy — Appointed Oeiirral-in-ehicf of the Army of Italy

CAMPAIGN OF 1700 IN ITALY;

FROM TIIK BEGINNING OK THE CAMPAIGN' TO THE l'EACK OF Tof.FS'TlN'0.

Chapter III. Campaign Op 1797 In Austria

FROM THK CBOSSIKO OF THB TAGLIAMENTO TO THK PEACE OF CAMPO-FORMO.

Preparations for a new Campaign— The Archduke Charles takes Command of the Austrian Army — f reaty with the King of Sardinia — The Affairs of Venice— Troubles with the States of Terra-Anna — Negotiations with Pescaro— Armaments of the Senate— Napoleon resolves to attack the Archduke before he can unite his Forces — Plan of Operations — Passage of the Piave— Affair of Tarvis— The Archduke is reenforced by the Detachmeuts sent from the Rhine— Armistice of Leoben — Operations of Joubert in the Tyrol— Veronese Vespers — Victor suppresses the Insurgents— Condition of the two Armies — Preliminaries of Leoben — Armies of the Rhine — Destruction of tho Venetian Republic — Napoleon goes to Milan — Revolution of Genoa — Chango of Constitution— Provisional Government appointed— The Disorders continue — Negotiations of Udina and Passeriano— English Affaire — Naval Battle of St. Vincent — Naval Tactics —Mutiny in the British Fleets — Negotiations of Lille — Internal Affairs of France — The eighteenth Fructidor — Foreign Nejrrtintions — Resignation of Napoleon — Cobeutzel negotiates on the part of Austria — Napoleon and the Directory— Peace of Campo-Formio— Conditions of this Treaty— Its Results — Revolution of La Valteline — Negotiations with Germany at Rastadt— The Passage of the Simplon asked of the Valoia — The Directory foments a Revolution in Switzerland — Proclamation of the Vaudois —Invasion of Berne— Helvetic Constitution— Neutrality of Switzerland and Faults of the Directory — Revolution in Rome— Proclamation of the Roman Republic — Napoleon leaves Rastadt — His Reception at Paris — General Remarks 162

Chapter IV. Expedition To Egypt

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN 1798 AND PART OF 1799.

Difficulties ot Napoleon's Position at Paris — Origin of tho War in Egypt — State of Hindostan — Projects of the Sultan of Mysore, and the Apathy of

CONTENTS.

PAGE

KruL'.-'.— -.-.UV of the- English Forces. — Obj ct of the Expedition into Egypt — Napoh "U •■xainifi'-s th- Pott of Antwerp — TI.e Continent again involved i;j ho-me Preparation- — Napoleon U-pai -t> from Toulon — Capture o! Malta — Deba.nat.oa at Alex^lidua — M..icii on Cail'o — BalU: of tut- 1 yrumids — Entran".- into Cairo — Naval Bath" of A'^-ukir — Results of this Buttle — Diilhulties with the Pone — Revolt of Cairo — Expedition into Syria — Pasrage ot the lA-ert, an<l taking M .laiVa — Resistance of St. Jean-d'Acre — Bar i ho! M^nt-Tab »r — ConUnuathn of the Si -ge- of M. Jean-d'Aere — Raising of thi< Si«^ ( . — Return to Cairo — Debarkation ami Rattle of Aboukir — Napjkon decides to return to Fiance *j()l

CAMPAIOX OF 17*.>1>;

MILITARY OPERATION'S IV GKRMANY, KWH ZERLAXD, AN!» ITALY.

Situation of Europe in lTi^S — Exorbitant Demands of tin- Directory at Ra-tadt

— Russia in Favor of tin* Empire — Negotiations of I'ri nee Rcpnin at Berlin

— Enibanawnent-* of Pru-da — Views of Au-tria — .Sent Convention between England and Naples — Favorable Chances tor Au-fria — Alliance between Austria and Rus-da — Policy of the L ireetoiy — A flairs of .Switzerland — Treaty of Alliance eonehaled at Pari The smaller Cantons

retuse t)i'; Oath of Fidelity — Expedition of Sehawemhourg against Stanz — T!i • < rri-ons rail iip<>n the Austrian* — Fi.neh Law of Conscription — Con* :«'U -iicc-i of tl-o l»-teat j 1 A bmikir and the Declaration of War by tli • Oilman Porte — p. er. e for a Levy of two hundiv d thousand Men — Embarrassed Stato ot the Finance,- — Negotiations paralyzed by the Intermission of Spain — Male- of the Negotiations at Rastadt — England — Ru-^a — Spain — Portugal — Sweden ai.d Pcmnaik — "War commenced by tip" Court of Naples — Jnulu rt r-<MZ' s upon Piedmont and occupies Tuscany — F< rdmaud flies t» Sicily — ( hnmpionnet takes Possession ot Naples — Erection of th«? Pa: th< i:op<-an Repu 1 lie — The Rw«-:ans. advance toward Italy — The Dire to-v tah s t* e Initiative without Preparation— Masseim ifi-t- Pos>e>s:ou of tli j Orisons — The Archduke march's against Jourdaii — Battle of Stockach — Rovers s in Paly — Retnal of the Army behind the Rhinr — Attack i;n<n our T'Vmpotcntiaii s al Ra-tadt — Tardy Enterprise of (In* Archduk* — SuwaiT' w in L>mbardy — Oraud Naval Expedition <»!' Admiral Brui\ — MacioiiaM'^Army evacuates Naples — Suwarrow outers Turin — Mas-ena driven from the Orisons — The Archduke penetrates into Switzerland — Mas-serin evacuates Zurich — The Archduke paralyzed by Cabinet Orders — Macdonald n. turns upon M«-dcna— Suwarrow attacks him on the Trebia— 0; n< ml State of A flairs— Dissatisfaction against, the Directory — Political Operations of Sieves — Addn ss to tho Councils — The Nomination of Tivilhard is annulled — Merlin and La rv veillore resign— Const- rnatiou at the Result of the Rattle of Trebia, — Forma-

CONTENTS. if

PAOI

tion of Clubs— Talleyrand is replaced— Tbo Director)* close the Manege- New Plan of Operations proposed — Joubert is charged with its Execution — He debouches from the Apennines — Battle of Novi — Maasena recaptures the smaller Cantons — Project of thu Arcbdukt — New Han of the Coalition — The Archduke Marches on Manheim — Plan of Suwarrow — Battle of Zurich — Korsakof retires to the Rhine — Suwarrow passes the St Gothard and inarches on the Muttenlhal and Claris — Di feat of the Austrians in this Canton — Difficult Retreat of Suwarrow — Efforts of Korsakof on Winterthour — Movements of the Archduke and Suwarrow — Descent of the Anglo-Russians into Holland — Lecourbe raises the Siege of Phllipsbourg — Efforts of Championnet to save Coni 236

Chapter VI. Campaigns Of 1800 And 1801

FROM NAPOLEON'S RETURN FROM EGYPT TO THE PEACE OP AMIENS.

Napoleon's Return from Egypt — Necessity of a Change in the Government — Sieyes had long meditated a Change — Revolution of the eighteenth Brumaire — Project for a Constitution — Consular Government — Napoleon proposes Peace — Fall of Tippoo-Saeb— Maritime Affairs — Continental Armies — Plan of Campaign — Pius VI. and VII. — Project of the Allies on Genoa and Toulon — Massena blockaded in Genoa — Napoleon's Plan of Operations on the Rhine — Carnot Minister of War — Passage of the Alps — The French Army arrested by Fort Bard — Melas deceived — Combat of Chiusella — Napoleon marches on Milan — Passage of the Ticino — Disposition of Melas — Surrender of Genoa — Passage of the Po— Battle of Montebello— Battlo of Marengo — Convention of Alexandria — Negotiations of General St. Juheu — Disapproved by the Cabinet of Vienna — Negotiations for a Naval and Military Armistice — Klebcr proposes to evacuate Egypt — Ho is forced to conquer at lleliopolis — Important Convention with the United States — Tho English quarrel with Neutrals — Rupture of the Negotiation of London — Conspiracy of Cerrachi — Expeditions against Ferrol and Cadiz — Resignation of Thugut from the Ministry — Occupation of Tuscany — Preparations on tho Continent — Plan of Operation — Brilliant Success of the Army of tho Rhino — Armistice of Steyer— Inaction of Brune— Passage of the Splugen — Operations of Brune— Juuciion of the Army of the Grisons — Armistice of Treviso— Infernal Machine— The Neapo.itans beaten in Tuscany — Expedition of Murat against Naples — Armistice of Foligno— Peace of Luneville — Campaign of 1801 — Euglish Expedition against Copenhagen — Naval Battle of Copenhagen — Armistice with the Daues aud Death of Paul L — English Descent upon Egypt— Resignation of Pitt— Situation of France— Necessity of a new Religious System — Best means of accomplishing this Change — Chances in Favor of the Reformation— The Concordat— Objections

CONTENTS.

made to it — Fault of my Successors — Negotiations of London — Preliminaries signed — IV. ire with Rus>ia and the Porte — Ac»pii>ition of Louisiana — Tlie Jul.tute of Parma, King of Ktruria — Kxpcditiou to M. l'umin-o and • Juadaloupc — Piowsiuuai Rcuiion of Piedmont — Alfuirs of ^w.tzeilaud and tli" Cisalp'n- — Italian Republic — Tlio KultIMi — Lord Cornwallis Envoy to Aniens — Pcbalos upon Malta — The definitive Peace — Its Reception in London and Fraii< v — The Tribunat abolished — Consulate fur Life — The Principles of my Works — Solemn Publication of the Concordat — Reunion of Piedmont — Counter- Revolution in Switzerland — Friendly Relations wirii Ru>-ia — Indemnities in (lerinanv 'J04

LIST OF MAPS

TO ILLUSTRATE

JOMINI'S LIFE OF NAPOLEON,

VOL. I.

1. MAP OP THE VALLEY OP THE PO, to illustrate the Campaigns of 1796-97 and 1800.

2. BATTLES OP LONATO AND CASTIGLIONE, on the 3d, AND AT MEDOLA, on the 5th August, 1796.

3. 8IEGE OP MANTUA AND THE AFFAIRS OP ST. GEORGE AND LA FAVORITE, 15th September, 1796.

4. BATTLE OP ARCOLA, 15th, 16th and 17th November, 1796. (1st day, 15th November.)

& BATTLE OP ARCOLA, 15th, 16th and 17th November, 1796. (3d day,

17th November.) a BATTLE OP RIVOLI, 14th and 15th January, 1797.

7. MAP OP LOWER EGYPT AND PART OP SYRIA, to illustrate the Expedition to Egypt and the Campaign of 1798-1801.

8. SIEGE OP ST. JEAN D'ACRE, from 19th March to 2Ut May, 1799.

9. BATTLE OP MOUNT THABOR, 16th April, 1799.

10. BATTLE OP MARENGO, 14th June, 1800. (1st Sheet)

11. BATTLE OP MARENGO, 14th Jane, 1800. (2d Sheet)

SKETCH

LIFE AND WRITINGS

GENERAL JOMINI.

1() SKKTCIL OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

with the rank of captain, he was promoted, in 1799, to the "Hide of chief of battalion.

o

After the peace of Luneville, in 1801, Jomini returned to Paris to seek military employment, but receiving very little encouragement, he accepted a position in a commercial house. In 1805, Ney gave him a situation on his staff, with the promise of appointing him an aide-de-camp, which promise was afterwards redeemed, lie served with Ney in the campaigns of Uhn, Jena, Eylau, and Spain, and was promoted to the rank of chief of Ney's staff, lor services in the field. In these campaigns he acquired a brilliant reputation as a stall officer, and as a strategist ; hut the reputation thus acquired, as is almost invariably the case, created jealousies, and made for the Swiss orrie< t numerous enemies, at the head of whom was Berthier, the Major-General and Chief- jf- StafF of the Imperial Army.

After the capitulation of Dupont at Baylen, in 1808, Napoleon determined to direct in person the military operations in Spain, and ordered Ney to join him with the sixth corps d'armee. Colonel Jotnini made preparations to accompany Ney in this new field ; but the indiscreet admirers of his chief-of-staff hid incited the jealousy of the Marshal's wife, by reporting that Jomini had planned or advised Ney's most successful operations. This feeling made his position, for a time, anything but agreeable ; nevertheless he served through the campaign, and was sent by Ney to Napoleon, at Vienna, to explain the Marshal's objections to serve under Soult. After the battle of Wagram, he returned with Napoleon t > Paris, whjre they m<*t Ney. The latter was immediately ordered to return to his command, and Jomini was about to accompany him, when he found that Colonel Be'chet had been selected by Ney in his place as chief-ofstaff, Jomini beins: assigned to duty in the general staff' under Major-General Berthier. Rather than serve under the Prince

OF GENERAL JOMrNI. 17

of Neuchatel, who had always been his enemy, Jomini tendered his resignation, intending to enter the service of the Emperor of Russia. But Napoleon refused to accept it, and placed him on special duty, in Paris, to enable him to write his history of the campaigns in Italy. The progress of his investigations, however, was much impeded in 1811, by Colonel Muriel, Chief of the D6pot of Archives, who would not permit him to examine any paper without a special requisition and order, designating the particular paper to be inspected.

Meeting the Emperor one Sunday, Napoleon made inquiries in regard to his progress in writing the history of the Italian campaigns. Jomini explained his embarrassments, and was ordered to report in person the next day.' He repaired to the palace at the hour appointed, and met the Mameluke, Roustan, passing from the apartment of the Empress to that of Napoleon, announcing the birth of the Prince Imperial. Jomini immediately withdrew ; but the Emperor sent for him and reprimanded him for not keeping his engagement. Jomini excused himself by. saying that under the peculiar circumstances, he had supposed his Majesty would be too much engaged to receive him. Napoleon's reply was characteristic : " Your conclusion was not logical If the Empress had continued to suffer, the case would have been different ; but as she was safely delivered, the best thing I could do was to let her repose, and attend to my own business." At this interview, Napoleon spoke of Berthier's dislike to him, and asked the cause of this illfeeling. Jomini replied that he had done everything possible to conciliate the major-general, even offering to dedicate to him his Treatise on Grand Operations ; that Berthier consented to accept a simple dedication, but no letter of dedication. " He showed bad taste," said Napoleon ; " you would have done better to dedicate it to me ; I should have been

18 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WHITINGS

pleased to accept it." Jomini replied that he could not venture to take such a liberty.

When the war of 1812 broke out between France and Russia, Jomini, not wishing to fight against the Emperor Alexander, who had previously offered him a high position in the Russian army, but which Napoleon would not permit him to accept, asked the pacific position of Governor of a province, and was assigned to the Governorship of Wilna. He was afterwards sent to replace General Barban&gre, in the Government of Smolensk, and rendered most valuable assistance to Napoleon in the retreat from Moscow, especially in the passage of the Beresina, at which place he was ordered to select, in conjunction with General Ebl6, the points for placing the bridges.

He suffered terribly in this retreat, and several times very nearly perished. When almost on the point of death, he met General Guilleminot, the chief-of-staff of the Viceroy of Italy, who presented him to Eugene as an officer at his service. Eugene received him kindly, but with the significant remark : " What, my poor general, can I do with you, when I can do nothing with myself ?" On his arrival at Stettin, he received orders to join the Emperor at Paris, to assist in the organization of a new army. General N&grc, of the artillery, was the only other officer who received the honor of such an order. Jomini obeyed, but, on his arrival at Paris, his health was such as to confine him for three months to his bed.

He rejoined the army on the day of the battle of Lutzen, and was appointed by Napoleon chief of Ney's staff. He reported to the Marshal, at Leipsic, on the 4th of May. The meeting was embarrassing to both, as neither had asked or expected the appointment. But their old relations were soon renewed, and Jomini distinguished himself at the battle of Bautzen, by the judicious advice which he gave to move on the enemy's right, instead of the left, an opinion subsequently confirmed by the receipt of orders from the Emperor, which had been miscarried. Ney, grateful for the services of Jomini, recommended his promotion to the grade of general of division ; but the old hatred of Berthier prevented this, and, instead of rewarding him for services rendered, the Prince of Neuchattl charged him with incapacity and ordered him in arrest 1 This was a little too much for the proud spirit of Jomini, and he resolved to no longer serve under an ungrateful flag. He, therefore, left the French army, and repaired to the head-quarters of the Emperor of Russia, and was received into his service.

The desertion of Jomini from the service of France caused much comment and discussion. His friends defended this act as perfectly justifiable. They said that, in the first place, not being a Frenchman, or a French subject, he was under no obligations of patriotism to France. He was simply a soldier of fortune, whose offers of service had been accepted, and that this obligation continued only so long as the two parties agreed. The service itsolf was not obligatory, nor the term of the engagement for life ; that there could, from the nature of the case, have been no implied understanding, between the parties, of such a character. They said further, that when General Jomini tendered his resignation, and asked to retire from the French service, all obligations on his part ceased, and that subsequently he must be considered as an impressed foreigner, who had a right to desert on the first opportunity. The Emperor having refused to accept his resignation, he remained an unwilling servant, until the illtreatment of Berthier compelled him, from a sense of selfrespect, to desert. That his leaving at the time, and in the manner he did, was in every respect justifiable, and under the peculiar circumstances of the case, entirely unavoidable.

His enemies contended that, having once entered the

20 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

French service, he had no right to leave it without the consent of the government, and that, so long as that consent was refused, he was bound to continue in service. That his leaving at the time, and under the circumstances of the case, constituted a real military desertion. Some, moreover, at the time, went so far as to charge him with virtual treason, alleging that he took to the enemy important documentary and parole information.

At this distance of time, and after a full examination of the evidence and arguments on both sides, it is not easy to agree entirely with either party. To hold that an officer, who voluntarily enters a foreign service, is bound to remain in that service against his will and for life, is very unreasonable. On the contrary, it is equally unreasonable to contend that he may leave at any moment he pleases ; for instance, to leave the field of battle, and join the ranks of the enemy. If Jomini, after the campaign in Spain, had insisted upon his resignation, and had declined any other voluntary duty in the French service, no one could have blamed him for leaving it on the first favorable opportunity. On the contrary, after Napoleon had refused to accept his resignation, he continued in the willing performance of the duties of his office. Moreover, he accepted promotion to a higher grade and a most confidential trust. Nevertheless it must be admitted that, if anything can ever justify an act like that of General Jomini, in 1813, it was excused by the refusal of his promotion, so earnestly solicited by Marshal Ney, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Bautzen, and by Berthier's unjust treatment, and especially by the disgrace of arrest and trial on unfounded charges.

On joining the service of the allies, the conduct of Jomini was in every respect honorable, and proved that he fully appreciated the embarrassments of his position. When asked by the King of Prussia certain questions in regard to the position and numbers of the French troops, he politely declined to answer. The Emperor of Bussia, who was present, justified his refusal, and openly approved his delicate sense of honor in regard to the service which he had just left.

The absurd charge that Jomini conveyed to the allies the plans of the Emperor, was forever put to rest by Napoleon himself, in his Autographic Memoirs, dictated at St. Helena. In commenting upon the "History of the Campaign in Saxony/' where this accusation was repeated, he remarked : "The author of this book is wrong in charging General Jomini with having conveyed to the allies the secret of the operations of the campaign, and the situation of Ney's corps. That officer did not know the Emperor's plan ; the order of general movement, which was always sent to each of the marshals, was not communicated to him, and he did not know what it was. The Emperor never accused him of the crime which is here imputed to him. He did not desert his flag like some others. He had great injustice to complain of, and was blinded by an honorable sentiment. He was not a Frenchman, and there was no love of country to retain him."

During the remainder of the campaign of 1813, General Jomini rendered most valuable service to the Emperor of Bussia, by his opinions in regard to military operations. On reaching the banks of the Rhine, he advised against the invasion of France, and in favor of a treaty of peace, honorable to both parties ; but Teutonic exaltation at that time would be satisfied' with nothing less than the conquest and partition of France. Jomini entered France with the Emperor of Bussia, but, on his urgent solicitations, was permitted to return to Switzerland, aud was of great service to his native oountry in saving it, through the influence

22 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

of Russia, from the intended conquest and subjugation of Austria.

After the occupation of Paris by the allies, and the restoration of Louis XVIII., General Jomini repaired to Vienna in a politico-military capacity, as a Russian officer, and as a representative of his native Canton of Vaud. In these negotiations he greatly exerted himself to secure the liberties of his native country from the rapacity of Austrian diplomacy. It was fortunate for Switzerland at this period, that Jomini, and several other distinguished Swiss, held high positions in the Russian army, and in the councils of the Emperor, who used his power and influence to protect their country.

In 1815 he returned to Paris, with the Emperor Alexander, where he so warmly opposed the execution of Marshal Ney, that it was proposed to strike his name from the list of Russian generals. This act of the allies is a lasting disgrace to their character and cause ; and the course pursued by Jomini, on that occasion, constitutes one of the most praiseworthy incidents of his history.

After the peace, Jomini accompanied the Emperor to Russia, and was promoted to the rank of a general-in-chief, that is, a general eligible to the command of an army — a rank next to that of Marshal in the Russian service, which no one can there hold, who has not gained a battle. Thus, Prince Gortschakoff, notwithstanding his brilliant defence of the Crimea, could not be made a marshal, because he had won no battle. Jomini successively received the grand crosses of St. Anne, St. Waldimir, and St. Alexander ; assisted the Emperor at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1818, and at the Congress of Verona, in 1823 ; was made president of a committee for organizing the Military Academy ; and was afterwards charged with preparing plans for fortifying and defending the frontiers of the empire. On the accession of Nicholas to the throne, he received many proofs of the confidence of the new Emperor, was appointed aide-de-camp general, and charged with directing the military education of the imperial heir. His health, much broken by his sufferings on the Beresina, was too delicate to withstand the rigors of the climate of St. Petersburg, and he had permission to spend much of his time in Paris and in the south of Europe. Jomini has two sons and three daughters. His eldest son was aide-de-camp to Marshal Paskewitz, and afterwards left the service to reside at Payerne. The second is first Counsellor of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs at St. Petersburg. His eldest daughter is married in Bussia, to a nephew of the Princess Orloff ; the second, to a superior officer of the French corps of Engineers ; and the third, to a proprietor on the Loire.

NOTICE OF HIS WRITINGS.

To the foregoing sketch of Jomini's life, we will add a brief notice of his published works.

After studying the principal authors on the military art, and comparing their views with those developed by the campaigns of Frederick and Napoleon, Jomini made a scientific analysis of the principles which seemed to lie at the foundation of military operations, which resulted, in 1803, in the preparation of a work entitled a " Treatise on Grand Tactics," in which was set forth his views, with abundant illustrations, from the campaigns of Frederick and of the French Bevolution. On reflection, he decided that such a work would not succeed, and in a fit of dejection, he burned the manuscript. Adopting a new plan for the enunciation of his views, he drew up his "Traite dts Orandes Operations Militaires" ( " Treatise on Grand Military Operations"), the first two

24 SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

volumes of which were published in 1804. The fifth volume, including the wars of the French Revolution, was published in 180(j, before the third and fourth volumes, in order to incite the interest of the readers, by a recital of recent operations. The other volumes were completed in 1810. The second edition was published in Paris, between 1811 and 18 16*, in eight volumes. A third edition appeared in 1818, in three volumes, the author having suppressed the first six campaigns of the Revolution, in order to include them in his " History of the Wars of the Revolution." which he was then preparing. The fourth edition of this work appeared in 1857, in three volumes, with an atlas.

This is considered by military critics the most important of all his works, as it embodies the main principles of the military art, with numerous illustrations drawn from the campaigns of the great captains of different ages. All succeeding military writers have borne testimony to the great ability displayed in this work.

In 1811 Jomiui began the publication of his u Jlistoirc Critique ft Militaire ties (htrrrvs <!<■ la Il'rohitioir ( 4; Critical and Military History of the Wars of the Revolution"), in 15 volumes, with 4 atlases, containing in all 39 plates. This was a work <f immense labor, and in some respects it formed the basis of most histories of the same period, which have followed since its publication. The analysis of campaigns and battles, and the critical discussion of plans and military operations, render it of great value to military readers. Its character is scientific, rather than literary, or historical, and, notwithstanding the great ability displayed in it, with general readers it is not popular. The narrative is clear, and the style perspicuous, but the minute details of scientific discussions, render it somewhat tedious as an historical work. The publication was not completed till 1824.