THE 76TH REGIMENT RECOVERING ITS COLORS.
A French regiment, the 76th of the line, had lost its colors in the Grisons; it knew that Europe had not forgotten its misfortune, which was not occasioned, however, by want of courage. After the taking of forts Charnitz and Neustark on the 9th of November, 1805, this regiment entered Inspruck; an officer of the guard recognized in the arsenal the long lost colors and announced it to his comrades. The soldiers crowded forward, when their chief, Marshal Ney, standing in the midst, exhibited these flags the subject of so many regrets. “I return them to you,” said he, “confident that you will never lose them again.” On the right of the engraving, a young soldier, raised upon the arms of his comrades, is seen tracing these words upon the wall: “Le 76e retrouve ses drapeaux dans l’arsenal d’Inspruck, 1805.”
This picture formed part of the exhibition of 1808, when the committee deemed it worthy of honorable mention. In painting it, the artist, M. Meynier, had a great difficulty to overcome, that of so many men clad in uniforms of the same color; this, however, he has overcome with great success.
By order of the Bourbons, the head of the General has been changed; they were not willing that aught of Ney should be seen, to remind his judges and executioners of the part they acted in his political murder.
THE 76th REGIMENT RECOVERING ITS COLORS.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ.
It is said that Napoleon, after having ascertained the exact position of his army, on the night previous to the battle of Austerlitz, fell asleep in the midst of his general officers. This was about midnight, when he snatched an hour from his important duties to restore the energies of his wearied frame. Ingratitude and treason were alone able to conquer the will and the power that were to astonish future ages, and to be felt, if not acknowledged, to all time.
