precipice, and so far only four recruits had come in: two soldiers from the
garrison at Antibes, a policeman and a tanner from Grasse.
Leaving Grasse on 2 March, the tiny army proceeded to trek thirty
miles through the snow over a rough mountain track, passing through
Sermon, St Vallier, Barreme and Digne. The Emperor's health, which
had been excellent on Elba, held up well through this ordeal. On 4 March
his advance guard took Sisteron and on 5 March reached Gap. Two days
later came the moment of truth. At Laffrey, 25 miles south of Grenoble
Napoleon's forces met a slightly smaller detachment under Major
Delessart, sent to intercept them by General Jean Marchand, comman
dant at Grenoble. Ever the gambler, Napoleon decided on a bold stroke.
He might have been able to sweep Delessart's men of the 5th Regiment
from his path, but that would mean bloodshed which he was anxious to
avoid. He knew from his spies that one of his former aides commanded a
regiment at Grenoble, and it was possible that imperial sentiment was
still thriving in the 5th. It was worth the risk.
After telling his band to play the Marseillaise and getting his men to
slope arms ostentatiously, he set off alone on horseback towards
Delessart's infantry. At gunshot range he dismounted and, in his familiar
grey greatcoat, began to walk towards the lines where several hundred
muskets were trained on him. His histrionic talents had always been
superlative, whether before the Pyramids or in the courtyard of
Fontainebleau. Now he gave his greatest performance. He opened up his
coat to expose the white waistcoat beneath, then called out in a loud
voice: 'Here I am. Kill your Emperor, if you wish.' He then added,
falsely: 'The forty-five best heads of the government in Paris have called
me from Elba and my return is supported by the three first powers of
Europe.' He was just a single bullet away from oblivion, but instead of a
fu sillade of shots there came back a mighty roar: 'Vive l'Empereur!' The
soldiers crowded around him in high emotion, pledging eternal love and
support.
On the crest of this wave Napoleon swept into Grenoble on 8 March
after a 240-mile march through icy mountains that had lasted six days.
The garrison at Grenoble refused to open fire and instead opened the
gates to him. 2,ooo peasants with flaming torches lined the route for his
triumphal entry, yelling 'Long live the Emperor!' In euphoria Napoleon
acknowledged that he had easily won the opening round of the contest:
'Before Grenoble I was an adventurer; at Grenoble I was a reigning
prince.' On 9 March the Army that continued the march north was 8,ooo
strong, with 30 guns. Proceeding via Rives and Bourgoin the Army's
vanguard reached Lyons at 10 p.m. on the gth. When Napoleon came in
marcin
(Marcin)
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