The dark days of the French Revolution were rapidly approaching,
when it seemed as if the whole world would be engulfed in disaster.
With the fateful year of 1789, the hour struck--and Napoleon was then
just twenty years of age.
On the first echoes of Revolution which reached Corsica, Napoleon was
on the alert. He thought he saw a golden opportunity to throw off the
shackles of the conqueror. But one of the first acts of the National
Assembly was to recognize the full rights of the island as a part of
the State of France; and Napoleon, who had already made an attempt to
organize a sort of Home Guard, felt himself disarmed.
"France has opened her bosom to us," he said. "Henceforth we have the
same interests and the same solicitudes. It is the sea alone which
separates us."
With but one lapse, he became a loyal son of France henceforth. The
Assembly, builded stronger than it knew, when it recognized Corsica!
After the first mutterings of revolt France became comparatively quiet
for nearly two years. Napoleon joined his regiment in 1791, and was
promoted to first lieutenant, in the Fourth Artillery, stationed at
Valence. It was at this time that the ill-starred king, Louis XVI,
tried to flee from the country, but was seized and held a prisoner.
The National Assembly was in complete control, and Bonaparte with other
officers of the army subscribed to a new oath of allegiance.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95