te and dispassionate criticism must decide that
every step in Bonaparte's success was won by careful forethought and
by the most effective disposition of the forces at his command. So
sure was he of success that even in the crises when Massena seemed to
save the day on the left, and when the Austrians seemed destined to
wrest victory from defeat on the right, he was self-reliant and
cheerful. The new system of field operations had a triumphant
vindication at the hands of its author. The conquering general meted
out unstinted praise to his invincible squadrons and their leaders,
but said nothing of himself, leaving the world to judge whether this
were man or demon who, still a youth, and within a public career of
but one season, had humiliated the proudest empire on the Continent,
had subdued Italy, and on her soil had erected states unknown before,
without the consent of any great power, not excepting France. It is
not wonderful that this personage should sometimes have said of
himself, "Say that my life began at Rivoli," as at other times he
dated his military career from Toulon.

Wurmser's retreat to Mantua in September had been successful because
of the strong cavalry force which accompanied it. He had been able to
hold out for four months only by means of the flesh of their horses,
five thousand in number, which had been killed and salted to increase
the garrison stores. Even this resource was now exhausted, and after a
few days of delay the gallant old man sent a messenger with the usual
conventional declarations as to his ability for further resistance, in
order, of course, to secure the most favorable terms of surrender.
There is a fine anecdote in connection with the arrival of this
messenger at the French headquarters, which, though perhaps not
literally, is probably ideally, true. When the Austrian envoy entered
Serurier's presence, another person wrapped in a cloak was sitting at
a table apparently engaged in writing. After the envoy had finished
the usual enumeration of the elements of strength still remaining to
his commander, the unknown man came forward, and, holding a written
sheet in his hand, said: "Here are my conditions. If Wurmser really
had provisions for twenty-five days, and spoke of surrender, he would
not deserve an honorable capitulation. But I respect the age, the
gallantry, and the misfortunes of the marshal; and whether he opens
his gates to-morrow, or whether he waits fifteen days, a month