oselle, and owed to his talents, as
well as to his republican principles, a rapid promotion. Successively
raised to the rank of General of Brigade, and then to that of General of
Division, he took part in all the campaigns of Germany until 1799, when he
followed Massena into Switzerland, and thence to Genoa, where he was
wounded and taken prisoner. Set at liberty after the battle of Marengo,
and raised to the command of Piedmont, he returned to France at the peace
of Amiens, and was named one of the four Colonels of the Guard of the
Consuls. When the Empire was proclaimed, in 1804, he was nominated Marshal
of France, and during the campaign which terminated in Austerlitz, held
the command of the fourth corps of the grand army. After the conquest of
Prussia and the battle of Eylau, Marshal Soult solicited and obtained the
command of the second corps of the army of Spain, with which he overran
Galicia and the Austrians, and passed into Portugal, where he fought the
memorable battle of Oporto. Forced to abandon that city, when delivered up
by treason to the English, he effected into Galicia a bold and perilous
retreat, which did the greatest honor to his energy and presence of mind.
Being named Commander-in-Chief of the army of Spain, he marched to the
succor of Madrid, menaced by the Anglo-Spanish army, and his movement was
crowned with full success. He continued in this command until March, 1813,
when he was appointed in Saxony to the command-in-chief of the Imperial
Guard. The disasters of Vittoria decided Napoleon to again confer on
Marshal Soult the command of the French troops in Spain. The point then
was to defend the menaced frontier of France. Forced to fall back on
Toulouse, he there terminated by a brilliant engagement, due to most able
strategic arrangements, the fatal campaign of 1814. On the announcement of
the event at Paris he signed a suspension of arms, and adhered to the
reestablishment of Louis XVIII., who presented him with the Cross of St.
Louis, and called him to the command of the 13th military division, and
then to the Ministry of War (Dec. 3, 1814). On March 8th, learning the
landing from Elba, he published the order of the day which is so well
known, and in which Napoleon is treated more than severely. On March 11th
he resigned his portfolio as Minister of War, and declared for the
Emperor, who, passing over the famous proclamation, raised him to the
dignity of Peer of France and Major General of th