Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/509

 Xapolcon Bonaparte 471 Headquarters at Cherasco, 7th Floreal, Year IV [April 26, 1796]. Soldiers : You have in a fortnight won six victories, taken twenty- one standards, fifty-five pieces of artillery, several strong places, and conquered the richest part of Piedmont ; you have made fifteen thousand prisoners and killed or wounded more than ten thousand men. Previously you had fought for sterile crags, which, although you made them famous by your prowess, were useless to your country ; to-day your services put you on a footing with the army of Holland or of the Rhine. Without any resources you have supplied all that was necessary. You have won battles without cannons, passed rivers without bridges, made forced marches without shoes, camped without brandy and often without bread. Only republican phalanxes, soldiers of liberty, would have been able to bear what you have borne. Thanks be to you, sol- diers, for this. Your grateful country will owe its prosperity to you. As conquerors at Toulon you but foreshadowed the immortal campaign of 1794 ; even so your present victo- ries are but harbingers of still greater. The two armies which but recently attacked you with con- fidence are fleeing in consternation before you. Those mis- guided men who laughed at your misery and rejoiced in the thought of the triumph of your enemies have been confounded. But, soldiers, you have clone nothing as yet compared with what there still remains to do. Neither Turin nor Milan yet belongs to you. . . . You were destitute of everything at the opening of the campaign ; to-day you are provided abundantly. Numerous stores have been taken from your enemies and siege and field guns have arrived. Soldiers, your country is justified in expecting great things of you. Will you fulfill its hopes ? The greatest obstacles un- doubtedly have been overcome, but you have still battles to fight, cities to take, rivers to cross. Is there any one among you whose courage is slackening? Is there any one who would prefer to return across the summits of the Apennines and 421. Bona- parte's proc« lamation to his soldiers on their arrival in Italy.