ly more feverish, as the defense of the Tuileries and the
riding-school attached to it, in which the Convention sat, was a
grander task than the never-accomplished capture of the Corsican
citadel. The avenues and streets of a city somewhat resemble the main
and tributary valleys of a mountain-range, and the task of campaigning
in Paris was less unlike that of manoeuvering in the narrow gorges of
the Apennines than might be supposed; at least Buonaparte's strategy
was nearly identical for both. All his measures were masterly. The
foe, scattered as yet throughout Paris on both sides of the river,
was first cut in two by seizing and fortifying the bridges across the
Seine; then every avenue of approach was likewise guarded, while
flanking artillery was set in the narrow streets to command the main
arteries. Thanks to Barras's suggestion, the dashing, reckless,
insubordinate Murat, who first appears at the age of twenty-seven on
the great stage in these events, had under Buonaparte's orders brought
in the cannon from the camp of Sablons. These in the charge of a ready
artillerist were invaluable, as the event proved. Finally a reserve,
ready for use on either side of the river, was established in what is
now the Place de la Concorde, with an open line of retreat toward St.
Cloud behind it. Every order was issued in Barras's name, and Barras,
in his memoirs, claims all the honors of the day. He declares that his
aide was afoot, while he was the man on horseback, ubiquitous and
masterful. He does not even admit that Buonaparte bestrode a
cab-horse, as even the vanquished were ready to acknowledge. The
sections, of course, knew nothing of the new commander or of
Buonaparte, and recalled only Menou's pusillanimity. Without cannon
and without a plan, they determined to drive out the Convention at
once, and to overwhelm its forces by superior numbers. The quays of
the left bank were therefore occupied by a large body of the National
Guard, ready to rush in from behind when the main attack, made from
the north through the labyrinth of streets and blind alleys then
designated by the name of St. Honore, and by the short, wide passage
of l'Echelle, should draw the Convention forces away in that direction
to resist it. A kind of rendezvous had been appointed at the church of
St. Roch, which was to be used as a depot of supplies and a retreat.
Numerous sectionaries were, in fact, posted there as auxiliaries at
the crucial instant.