These were the
reasons for the war settled upon by the government, and as they were
as satisfactory to Napoleon as any others, he gave the order which
set the army of Italy in motion.
"How shall we go, General?" asked Augereau, one of his subordinates.
"Over the Alps?"
"Not this time," returned Napoleon. "It is too cold. The army has
no ear-tabs. We'll skirt the Alps, and maybe the skirt will make
them warmer."
This the army proceeded at once to do, and within a month the first
object of the war was accomplished.
The Sardinian king was crushed, and the army found itself in
possession of food, drink, and clothes to a surfeit. Bonaparte's
pride at his success was great but not over-weening.
"Soldiers!" he cried, "you have done well. So have I. Hannibal
crossed the Alps. We didn't; but we got here just the same. You
have provided yourselves with food and clothes, and declared a
dividend for the Treasury of France which will enable the Directory
to buy itself a new hat through which to address the people. You
have reason to be proud of yourselves. Pat yourselves on your backs
with my compliments, but remember one thing.
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