Star.
London, England, 1829-11-06 00:00:00

GENERAL GNEISENA U.

The late Prussian Field Marfa!, Count Neidhardt Von Guin-
n iu. Governor of Berlin, was the son of an officer, arld born at •
Schilda. in 1760. He had the misfortune of losing both his pa-
rents when very young ; be therefore was brought' up by his
grandmother, at Wilitzburg, where he soon manifested a strong
inclination for the military career. From his early youth he dili-
gently applied himself to the studies relative to his future profes-
sion, without neglecting other sciences, such as natural hiattorv,
agriculture, &c. Having attained kis 20th year, he entered the
military service of the• Margrate of Anspach as an officer, and
went with the troops of this Prince to America, to assist the
English in the vain attempt to recover the American colonies. Nine
years after his return from the American war, when, in 1792, the
Margraviate of Anspach was ceded to Prussia by the last Mar-
grave Chinks Alexander, Gneisenan entered the Prussian service.
His regiment was quartered in Silesia. In the Intervals of peace
be devoted his leisure to a more profound study of the'
sciences, in which pursuit be was considerably assisted by the valu-
able library and ixcelleht information of a neighbouring nobleman.
Gnelsenau soon Pasted for the most leirrnesiteleet•of his 'regiment,
—a reputation which he, however, lowered In•eome degree. by
jocosely observing that he was the only ode of the regiment who
could resolve the problem of Pythagoras, known. by the name of
Zeiler Mialsesios.. He niarried In 1796, and had by his lady,
who, we believe, turviSeshim, seven children, the eldest of whom,
a son, is andflicer in the Prussian Foot Gilled% -and was Aid-dc.
camp to the Field Slat doll.
Tn 1802. Gueisenau obtained a company in one of the Fu-
silier battationi* of. the Silesian tight Brigade. In 1806 he
was made a Major, and in 1807 the King of •Priissia sent him from
Konigsberg, with the -rank •st Lieutenant.Culonel, to take the
command of Cnlberg, hi the room of an old Chicane' 14oucadou,
win; was 'incapable of defending this small fortress against the
French. Gltstsenau. lindieaiately On his arrival, took such Ago-
ny' measured, end inapired'his weak garsison, us well as•the brave
and patriotic inhabitants, with so much confidence and courage,
that they not only withstood all the assaults add bombardments of
the besiegers, but alsia made many successful sallies against them.
Thus Colberg, thlauglehlk exertions, was one of the few strong-
/Sends of Pru.sia *Mick had »di' Surrendered to the enemy before
the peace of Tilsit. During the siege Oneleetian was protected to
the rank of Colonel. • . .
Atter the pi.ce of Tilsit he left the army, as it were, in disgust.
and went tn.-F.4l2nd- but id reality he Was sent thither on a se-
erre diplomatic `mission, froni4Wheiteelid Pettardietto Berlin in'
10.10, when hq
.was for some timareenployetirmblvadMitilatiration.:,
a 1813 he was !Toadied M
uajoraGilderef-athd QuasMediestet..Ge-i
eerafEiti which c• achy he nithictfd that memorable retreat *fa
thi.combined Pi WO ind Itii.sian' fottis %Ins 'Me held of battle'
of Lateen to '•itelliair;°'' pur4iing • Prdiell hid. 48 minima
taken from' them, Whilst the retreadngtritirdid 'Riot Omni moping).
one. Durie toe ar!) iatice, :Gotham*, .epetle4.llllsln4ll6ol

ties in the formation of the Prussian national Wilda, tolled the
'Laodwebr. At the death of the celebrated General Scharnhont,
be was appointed chief of the Prussian staff ; and after the
=Solstice be remained with Blucher's army. The destruction of
the French Marshal Mudonald'a corps on the Katzhaels, the
crossing of the Elbe at Wattenburg, and the glorious results of the
battle of Modern near. Leipgig. on the 16th of October. 1813,
were mostly due to °adman's able advice and great military
talents. He was now raised to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
In 1814, be greatly contributed to the victories of the allies at
'Baum° and Paris, as be had done in the battle of Montmirail. It
was chiefly his opinion which, determined the bold march upon
Paris. After the first treaty of Paris the King of Prussia raised
bins to the dignity of Count, appointed him General of Infantry,
and gave him landetestates in Silesia, the rent-roll of which ex-
ceeded 10,000 dollars a.year.
In 1815, it was Count Gneisenau who, in a few hours, enabled
the Prussian army; which had been defeated by the French near
Ugny, to resume the offensive, and to advance tot. the assistance of
the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, with whom be, under
Blucher's command, vigorously pursued the enemy up to the very
gates of Paris, where he had a share in the diplomatic transactions
that preceded Bonaparte's second abdication and flight. He then
was appointed Governor of the Prussian provinces on the Rhine ;
but political circumstances induced him to resign this high office in
1816, and to solicit leave to retire for the benefit of his health. The
King of Prusda allowed him to retire on full pay, and to reside
wherever be liked, on the express condition, however. that his
Majesty relied on his services in cue of a war. Count Gneisenau
repaired first to the celebrated bathing-places of Bohemia. and then
to bit estate, Grosseedusannsdorf, between Hirschberg and Schmie
leblerg, in Silesia. Here he continued a few years. at the end of
which be was appointed a Prussian Field Marshal, Governor of
Berlin, and Colonel of the militia regiment of Colberg, incarnate-
moratiaa of the eminent services which be bad rendered to that i
town by his able defence. He occasionally. resided at his estate,
where he died lately in the 69th year of his age.
To the various knowledge and accomplishments requisite for a
Commander-in-Chief, which he possessed in the highest degree,
Count Gnelaenau added an admirably (pick judgment of the mili-
tary capabilities of the ground on which he found himself With his
troops, and an jastonishing sagacity in rapidly turning them to the
best we. His presents of mind never failed him under the most
disastrous reverses even when he resorted to measures bordering
on temerity, his orders and instructions were given with the utmost
precision. propriety, and calm intrepidity. He never for a single
nthnient Teemed to labsur under any embarrassment in the midst
of the most perplexing difficulties. His coup Wail on the field of
bottle was as prompt as perfect.. But Count Gneisenau enhanced
alitbese brilliant qualities which constitute a great General, by his
unaffected modesty and the most interesting domestic virtues. The
constant amiability of his disposition, and the cheerfulness of his
social intercourse, gained him the love of all who approached him
him great a degree as his military talents excited the general ad-
miration of.those who were able to discern bis transcendent merits