Famous and Infamous

Famous and Infamous

A comparison of Washington and Napoleon

 

“What a story my life has been!” Napoleon, the “terror of Europe,” exclaimed as he lay dying. Before hygiene and proper medical techniques, doctors often killed patients who had minor illnesses. The doctors were not trying to kill patients, but their improper understanding of the way illness operates and spreads would many times lead to the patient's death. Napoleon's illness might have been curable by modern science, and he was not the only great man to fall because of inferior medical development. Another famous case is that of George Washington. The main cause of their deaths presents only one of the many similarities between them. Some of these include their love of children and the respect and admiration they gathered. At the same time, the circumstances of each leading up to their deaths are quite different, presenting one of the still more numerous differences between Washington and Napoleon. A few are how they dealt with power, their personal lives, their military tactics, and their situations when fighting.

Though the two leaders have many striking differences, they also shared some traits. Both enjoyed children, and Napoleon had several himself. Washington and Napoleon were both generals who have come down in history for their feats of war, though that may not be the only reason. Fate decreed that they should share a common enemy, the British. Though later America and Britain were to form a strong bond of friendship, it still holds true that the two nations fought each other. France and Britain would also fight on the same side in later wars, but before then an almost continuous history of war and animosity exists between them. Another similar point between these two great and famous men is that they liked fine clothing. Both men dressed well and fashionably, which to Washington meant having fine manners as well as clothing.

Washington and Napoleon both gained great respect and admiration, both among their men and others whom they met. Under them, troops would follow anywhere. Washington's troops were ready to march on Congress and disband it, if he wished. His presence helped to quell the small number of rebellions that arose after the Revolution. Napoleon's men followed him until his defeat and first exile, but still remained loyal to him as evidenced by the mass return when Napoleon escaped. Not only men, but nations, followed both leaders. All America went into mourning when Washington died. Likewise, France mourned Napoleon's passing. Those who met the great men at social functions, or in Napoleon's case as he was going to his new “island empire,” were impressed and remembered the incident for years.

Both leaders are similar in several respects, but there are many more differences than similarities. One of the most prominent is how they each handled power. Washington refused to take over the government when asked to, and would not serve as president for more than two terms. But Napoleon seized control of the government and kept it until forced to abdicate. Washington kept the government's powers small and limited its power. Instead, Napoleon chose to grow his government until it was extensively involved in the business and affairs of several nations, all under his eye. Under Napoleon, private rights, unless you were French, were mostly ignored. Nations he conquered lived in fear of his army. Washington presents a great contrast, with most personal rights being protected and recovery from the war moving along rapidly.

Their personal life and appearance also present great contrast. While Washington kept his temper under control except for a few instances, Napoleon threw huge fits, rather like Kylo Ren. If he didn't get his way, a tantrum followed. Washington seldom raised his voice and never threw a fit. Napoleon was quite short, while Washington was tall. Like many powerful people, Napoleon had several mistresses. Washington had none.

As leaders, they conducted their careers differently. Washington did not use much, if any, propaganda. Napoleon employed propaganda so much that he ended up believing it. Throughout the war, Washington had enormous difficulty in obtaining necessary supplies such as food and clothing. Napoleon was an emperor, and the decision-maker, so he had no trouble about the granting or collecting of supplies. Napoleon's troops had rigorous training, strong discipline, good equipment, and numbers on their side. Washington's troops had varying levels of training, little discipline, poor or no equipment, and the army was small. Even their tactics were different. Washington fought a war of endurance, and his men performed best in a guerrilla-style war, shooting like Indians from behind trees. Napoleon fought European-style, though this only worked well against Austria, Prussia, and those others who fought likewise. Against the Russians, this tactic led to disaster.

Also, the two leaders fought in different situations, with different outcomes. Washington battled the British alone, but Napoleon attacked most of Europe. Only Britain, safe over the Channel, kept well away from Napoleon. Napoleon fought to subdue and conquer both countries and people. In contrast, Washington sought only to defend and protect his newly-formed country. Like the Spanish fighting Napoleon, in a way, France helped Washington finish the war. French troops and ships helped corner Cornwallis at Yorktown, and the French provided much-needed supplies. When Napoleon battled his way across Europe, he had no allies—except those forced to help because they were conquered. And when given a chance, these “allies” turned against him. Washington's allies stayed with him.

Two leaders, two different, even contrasting, places in history. Yet similarities are easily found between them, such as their fondness for children and the admiration they inspired among their men and others. Still, more differences than similarities present themselves to the observer. Though Washington and Napoleon were both leaders, they handled power differently, behaved differently in personal life, used widely separated military tactics, and fought in different situations. Because of these differences, Washington and Napoleon cannot be called similar. Washington went down to history as famous, and Napoleon went down as infamous. The two leaders are not equally worth of praise. 

Bell 
Note: Sorry about the different line spacings! I copied this over from a word processor and it did not transfer correctly.   

In Freedom's Cause

Archie captured the castle with little resistance. Douglas captured another castle which made Randolph anxious to capture one as well. Archie and Randolph also bagged one by climbing a wall that was supposedly impossible to climb. (This was repeated many years later by the British to capture a French castle.)
Now almost all of the castles were in the hands of the Scottish. England was stricken by civil war, and her king was rather bad at the time. Finally Edward the 2nd decided to crush Scotland once and for all. He sent a huge army to invade Scotland. They met at a place by Bannock's burn, hence the name Bannockburn for this battle. Bruce formed his men in ranks four deep, so that they were all engaged at once. The English had too many men to all fight at once, so they were unable to use their strength to the best advantage. The English archers weren't able to shoot or they would hit more of their own men than the Scottish. They tried what had proved disastrous to the Scottish before: going around their flank and shooting from at their side. This time, however, the Scottish cavalry were not commanded by traitors. They chased the archers off and the Scottish archers took the field.

The Scottish won the Battle of Bannockburn.
End of Book
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In Freedom's Cause

Archie was now free. He was very glad that he had chosen Mary Kerr as his wife. She was a true Scotchwoman and had now saved him several times.
The fighting continued, and the resistance of the Scotch was still strong. They captured more and more castles, with just mere handfuls of men. Some determined men who were not even in Bruce's army captured a castle by surprise.
Archie set out to capture a castle that was very difficult to take by surprise. The drawbridge was only lowered twice a day and then it was carefully watched. Archie decided to dress some of his men as fishermen, arrange with the villagers to hide the rest, and pretend to be selling fish because he had been driven into the harbor by the storm.
The chapter ends before he puts his plan into action.

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In Freedom's Cause

Chapters 19-20
Archie rescues Marjory MacDougall, or as her real name is, Mary Kerr, from the convent of St. Kenneth. He weds her, and they go back to his castle to strengthen it so that the English won't take it.
Chapters 21-23
Archie goes out to join Douglas but he is attacked by the English, who he routes. They are met by Douglas who tells Archie that his castle is about to be under attack. Archie turns back, using his secret passage to get in. Archie takes most of his men to attack the camp with him, and, of her own will, has almost all of the rest of the men go and burn the machines the English were battering down the wall with. The English were in great disorder.

Archie was captured in a fight that followed, and he was taken to Berwick. Iron cages had been constructed there, made so that a normal-sized person could not lie down at night. The governor was a humane man, and he unlocked the door to the inner cell so that Archie could lay down.
He was to be killed in a few days, when he noticed that there were two women that had been staring at him for a long time. One of them was his wife! He couldn't recall the face of the other, but it looked familiar.
That night, he was passed up a rope with a saw and a bottle of oil. Using these he made his escape, and was taken into the home of one who was loyal to Scotland. He escaped out of the gate in a coffin, and soon was safely on his way to his own castle.

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In Freedom's Cause

Chapter 16:
The wild Irish took Archie and Ronald to see their chief, Fergus. He told Archie that, well the Irish wanted to get rid of the English, it would not be possible to do what the Scots had done and were doing. The Irish had no patience for that kind of fighting.  Archie then went to see another chief, and found the Irish there already in one of those small uprisings that occurred often. But they would not do anything except charge the enemy. Archie saw that the Irish could not do what the Scots had done, and so he went back with Ronald to the island were the king was.
Chapter 17
The king went back to the mainland, and he decided to keep on harrying the English. The English went after him several times, but they could not lay hands on him. They caught many others and killed them without mercy. The king would not kill any of his prisoners, but the young Douglass did. Douglass killed any and all of his prisoners, giving no more quarter than the English.
A great danger here came to the king. The English had his favorite blood-hound, and they kept trying to catch him with it. Archie determined to either kill the hound or to set it loose.
Chapter 18
Archie went to the English camp, and acted like he was a poor, half-witted man who had been one of Bruce's retainers. The English lord in charge of the camp gave him charge of the dog, Hector, on Archie's pretending that he used to wash the dog. Hector knew Archie, and they got along very well. A traitor came in and told them were Bruce had last slept. They took Hector out there and they almost caught the king. But they were going up a steep hillside, and when he got to the top ahead of the knights on foot who had followed him he set Hector free and pushed boulders down on the knights below. He then escaped and joined his men and later the king.
Marry Kerr sent her retainers to join him, which very much confused Archie, and here the chapter ends.
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In Freedom's Cause

Archie was on the island of Rathlin with Bruce and such of Bruce's followers as remained with him. The fishermen had to go out in many weathers now, because of the visitors. Archie went out with them one day but a gale blew up so they turned back. The wind prevented them from getting to the land, and they had to head for an island where some monks had a monastery. The monks sheltered them until the storm had abated enough for them to get back to land. The king and his followers were very glad to get Archie back, and the king had a mission for him: to go and see if the Irish could help them or not. Archie set out with one of the fisherman's sons as interpreter. They got to the island and ended up in the same cave as some of the wild Irish.

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In Freedom's Cause

Chapter 12
Bruce had gathered his followers and they were ready to oppose the English. They were camped at Methven, having prepared to meet the English the next day. Archie was not pleased with the way that Bruce had thrown away all the advantages of the Scottish mobility.
They were resting, when the English charged then in the dark. The Scottish were defeated, but the king was saved though many nobles were taken prisoner.

Chapter 13
Bruce and his followers had to split and take to the woods. Archie went off hunting, and was attacked by some of the McDougalls  who were escorting a young lady. He surrendered to her, as he would have been killed otherwise and she promised him his life. She took him to the castle of Dunstaffnage where her uncle lived. He imprisoned Archie, to kill him the next morning. This would have been done but that the girl, Marjory, imposed upon the priest to help her set Archie free. This was done, and he rejoined Bruce in the forest.

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In Freedom's Cause-Chapters 10-11

Chapter 10
Edward was coming with an army, so Wallace got ready to meet it. He would have won the battle of Farlkirk, but Comyn, one of the Scottish nobles, deserted at the critical moment and insured that the Scots would lose. After this defeat, Wallace decided to go to France. He was sure that if he stayed in Scotland, the nobles would never join him. But if he left, they might rally together to help Scotland.
11
Archie was now 23 years old, and was tall and strong. He helped Comyn, the new champion of Scotland, when called upon, but did not really like Comyn.
Comyn surrendered to England, and Archie realized that there was no hope unless Robert the Bruce could be persuaded to join Scotland's cause. He went to London dressed as an English middle-class person and persuaded Bruce that his duty rested with his country.

Bruce and Comyn had made an agreement about the division of land and kingship that left Comyn the more powerful, though Bruce had not realized that. Comyn now went and revealed it to the king of England, betraying Bruce. Flight was unavoidable, and Bruce could do nothing about it. He and Archie fled to Scotland, there to finish what Wallace had begun.

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In Freedom's Cause chs. 7-9

Chapter 7- Archie and his band are still hiding out in the cave, but Sir John Kerr has found them and he means to smoke them out. Archie sends some of his lads to explore the windings of the cave and they find a passage that, if widened, will let them escape. They set to work, while the English are building a fire at the entrance. The lads take off some of their unnecessary clothing and make bundles of it, stuffing the clothes with earth and making a barricade at the entrance to the tunnel to keep the smoke out. The Kerrs think that the lads are dead, but really they escaped and they burn some more houses to show this.

Still in Chapter 7, Archie goes with his band to try and get Sir Robert Bruce to meet with Sir Wallace. He lays in wait on a cliff over looking the road for several days. On the fifth day, Sir Robert came along the path with just his brother, Sir Nigel, and three of his sisters, with just four men-at-arms. Archie arranged his men so that the little company would be surrounded. Sir Robert came with Archie after some parleying.

Chapter 8:
Sir Wallace gets Sir Bruce to throw in his lot with them, and Sir Bruce goes back to command his vassals. Sir Wallace goes to Stirling to attend a council with some other Scottish nobles. Sir John Kerr spots him and tries to kill him. Archie arranged an escape plan, and puts it into action. Sir John is killed by Wallace, and they make it out to the marshes where a boat is waiting. They get across the river and then they are safe.

Chapter 9:
Archie is given Sir John's castle by Sir Wallace, who is acting as temporary king of Scotland, and Archie starts fortifying it. He makes it strong enough to withstand a siege, because Sir Allan Kerr is almost certain to try and retake it.

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In Freedom's Cause, Chapters 4-6

In chapter 4,  William Wallace captures Lanark by strategy. He sneaks in a sally port and the townspeople join him in killing the English.  Archie brings the lads that he had played at war with in the village to join Wallace. They are primarily messengers, but when needed they could fight.
In chapter 5, the English governor invited many Scottish nobles to his town to discuss something. Wallace accepted the invitation, but Archie was uneasy. He sent Cluny and Jock into the town to see what they could find out. When he joined the band, Cluny had brought some of his sister's clothes with him. He used those now. They found out that treachery was intended by some words of the governor's, and ran back to Wallace with much haste. Wallace did not go, and they put men on the roads to warn people against entering.
Afterwards, they found out that when each man entered, he was stopped just inside the gate, and killed. Many good Scotchmen were killed that day, but Archie's uncle escaped. He was always late and this had saved his life.
In chapter 6, Archie took his band and they harried the Kerrs, burning barns and making mischief. They made Sir John very angry, the more so when they knocked the drawbridge down while people were crossing it, and many of Sir John's men were drowned. He kept trying to kill Archie and his band, but could not succeed.

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In Freedom's Cause: Ch. 3

Archie's mother finally let him go to his uncle, Sir Robert Gordon, so that Archie might learn more advanced swordsmanship. He had already learned as much as Sandy could teach him. Sir Robert found a man whose skill was famous in the town of Lanark, Duncan Macleod. He had in trials of skill beaten the best in the English garrison easily.

Archie practiced as much as he could, and his instructor was very happy with him. Duncan had learned his trade in France, where they were more skillful than in Scotland, where they trusted more to strength.

Sir William Wallace was a frequent topic of discussion at firesides all over Scotland. Sir Robert spoke little on this subject, except to point out that Sir William did not really help Scotland, for he wanted no war.  He was alarmed by Archie's enthusiasm for the man. There was a girl, Mistress Marion Bradfurte, who came by to do embroidery with Archie's aunt. Though she was quiet and spoke little, Archie could see that she was of his mind in the matter. He had escorted her back to her house one night, and she told him that if he wanted to see Sir William, he should come tomorrow. She had left a piece of embroidery on the table, and it would be a good excuse for him to come and see her. She then told him that she was married to Sir William! This startled Archie, but he said he would be there the next night.

He came, and Sir William was pleased with him. He said he would be glad to have Archie in his band as soon as the lad was 18. Archie was to join sooner than that, however. He was taking a message to someone in town for his uncle, when he saw a large crowd and went over to see the reason why. Sir William and another knight were pressed against a wall, with many English soldiers attacking them. Archie joined in, and Sir William said he was able to strike a good blow, as he killed one man and  disabled another upon joining them. They then had to make a retreat or the soldiers would have cut them off.
They had gotten to the house in which Marion was staying, when she opened the door and called for them to come in. They did, but Sir William wasn't happy with her. The governor would hurt her or do her some mischief, he was sure.  But she just urged them to get out quickly, and they escaped. In the midst of all this, the Kerrs, father and son, had come and Sir John had tried to kill Archie. But Archie instead nearly killed him. The son, had, however, seen him so it was not safe to go back. He joined Sir Wallace, and went with him back to his hideout. Soon they recieved the news that Marion had been killed by the governor's orders for helping him.

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In Freedom's Cause Chs. 1-2

The village of Glen Cairn was without a Scottish leader at the moment because he had been killed by the Kerrs on his own hearthstone. The Kerrs were the formally recognized leaders, but really the villagers (at least the other lads) saw the young son of Sir William Forbes as their future leader. His mother saw that if the attention of the Kerrs was drawn to her son he would be in grave danger. She told him not to take command of the other lad's play, but to treat them strictly as equals.
He practiced the art of sword-fighting with Sandy, the man who tended to the gardens and made sure that things were going right about the place. Lady Forbes had been allowed to stay in the castle as long as she did not stir the people up to rebellion. Archie was told stories of Sir William Wallace, for as quiet as his mother seemed, she really burned for her injuries to be avenged.
Archie wanted to know one night why the Kurrs were the lords of the village, and why the English lorded it over them. His mother told him to wait for the morning, when she would tell him the whole story.
He reminded her the next morning, and she told him how the only children of the king had died, the king himself had died, and many claimed the throne. The king of England had said that he would judge who was to be king of Scotland, and all the nobles agreed to this to have a chance at becoming king. They had made a treaty with him that strictly stated that Scotland was a free kingdom.
But after a king was made, they had to acknowledge the king of England as their lord paramount. Then some of them were required to appear in England, which was not allowed by the treaty. When they refused, Edward seized some of the towns and would not give them up unless they obeyed him. The king of Scotland, Baliol, soon found that he was just a puppet in the hands of Edward. He was forced to give up his office because he would not submit. All the nobles made peace with Edward, and it was shameful how they all flocked to make peace with a underhanded, mean man. The treaty had been revoked because Edward forced Baliol to do so, and Edward had made sure that the revoking covered all treaties that were made and that might be made. They were all illegal.

Archie was filled with indignation at this, and he said that he would one day help to free Scotland. Unknown to all but the participants, he formed a band of lads, all the same age as himself or older, and they had mock battles with each other. They said that they had been playing rough if they were asked about their bruises, and none suspected the existence of the Scottish Avengers. 
One day they were surprised by Red Roy, one of Sir John Kerr's henchmen. He asked them questions about what they were doing, and one of the older boys answered. They had been playing Picts against Scots, that was all. Yes, they had been fighting rather hard, but they did not mind, and it was all better training for when they should serve under Sir John's banner. No, Archie did not really participate, he did not do well with a bow and his mother did not like it if he came home with some hard knocks. Red Roy went off, satisfied. They had been playing Picts and Scots, because no one would be called English,  even in play. Picts, however, was fine, and it proved well that they had taken that title for the other side.

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