Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-15
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAR,
SIIAL BLUCHER.

'SAa-Al<
6 OF this interesting and authentic Mar.
rative, we shall endeavor to give as clear
an ABSTRACT as our narrow limits will allow.
Geohard Lebrecht Won Butcher, the des-
cendant OF noble family in the Dachy of
Mecklen5urgh Schwerin, was born at hos.
took. Dec. s l742, being the. Youngest of
six brothers. His father was cantSin Of
dragons III the service Of the Eiector of
tiesse Cassel and vixen Young BIucbep
was twelve years old. fonr of his brothera
were serving in the Prussian. Russian and
DANISH armies. At this early period he
became cadet hpaself In the Swedish re-
glment OF Murnnr Hussars !; but being sent
with detachment ofte men, he was sur.
priced and made prisoner, after having
had n morse shot under him. When he
was brought before Colonel Won Bellinp,
that ohicer asked him many questions, and
hnaily suffered him commission in tha
Prussian service This, however. Butcher
refused, unless he could gain his dismiss
sion from that to which ne owned alIeoi-
ance. This the Colonel succeeded in Oh
tanning bv an exchange sand imme,liatelv
appointed his young friend to a Iieutenan.
cy;purchased for him the eauipape tb,s
had belonged to his predecessor. and final
ly made him his adiutant. Under that
officer, Butcher acquired thoropoh know.
ledge Of military dity: but when IN. O.
loHei incurred the dispIeasure of his soyer.
eish' ana was displaced, his friend expcr;-
enced some i'll treatment iii consequences
OF u the zeal manifested by him in the de-
renee o. one whom he Justly regarded as
parent. biucher was at that time a can
tam and when the Major of his regiment
dleo, aJunlor officer was placed over hix
mead on which he demonstrated earnestly
WITH Frederick the Great, but received no
REDRESS. lie then wrote letter to tbs
hlng, requesting permission to.ss resign
rather 'nan expose himself to the most a.
cute sensations during every hour of his
ne 10 this letter Frederick wrote fine
Following note, addressed to the comman.
dant of the regiment:
captain Won Elucher has leave to re.
s,sII, and may go to the devil as soon as h1
p'efses. FREDERICK,
our hero was at this time about to be-
married to lady Of great merit but small
fortune; aid as his means were ayso con-
traetea' che disappointment he had ana.
taIned ~ the loss of his inaiority WIS 80.
yece However, the union took mace. and
Blacher armed an estate in Pomerapis'
w,iere by ms diligence he in n few Yeas
acquired 2 considerable landed Dronerty.
:. y ma province he was also chosen Hin,
t3i}lit and It should be mentioned. 10 he
nc nor % fFederick, that however harsh ho
lfsa OenaYed towards Butcher in the army.
nc ac'ed ilberally towards him In Other
- poets, particularly by giving him such
geeapiary assistance as enabled ;nm To
.HEcsase acknowledgements, and to imnroya
nis estates. On the death of that monarch
fliteen yeats after the retirement Of Blnca,
ef, ne was again recalled TO the serv;ce.
ana appointed Major Of the second bsffa,
ion o. his former regiment Of Black Yus-
sars. -AN9r
$ he soon rose to the rank If J;en+
Colonel, and in 1889 being then far g;oln'
nel, he was invested with the Ocdsr IS
'1grlt. lis career Of glory may be said
~ nave commenced IN the campaign on the
thihe m 1895, where he distinguished
nlfhsen Z, SO coaspicuousl7 as to receive The
year following the regiment Of Black Hus-
'ars as reward for his services. The
same year he was promoted to the ranI, az
MAJOR General, and was invested with the
grand order OF the Red Eagle. At this me-.
TOO ne hecame an author in the line af his
profession, by publishing valuable book.
!, On war OF Posts and Skifmishes. with
observations on Amhuscades.g. In tsG1.
le was made Lieutenant General. AZ
which tine he took possession Of ErG,,t5
md eialhausen. being also appointed CO.
vernon OF Munstef. At the battle of lena.
l?'ucher performed wonders, though somc
'iame has been uniustIy cast upon birn for
Us Preclpltancy, when, IN fact, the yhoIe
of that day was owino n No,
NAL Mellendorf After that battle. Blncb.
= was appointed TO Che command If ths
sHnee OF Wirtemburg's corps, with orders
% conduct i across the O,ier. and whiIs
= Engaged m this service, he feIi in with fhe
french light troops under General Klein.
%ntn, by great presence of mind. he corn,
'ietely deceived the enemy, with decIa.
alton that peace hal bcca concluded he,
wcen France an1 Prussia. BonanaSts
noticed this occurrencoib nss
u ms bulletins, accompanied bv sewers
on the conductor b;s off,
,ers. Alter succession of skirnishes
no t"rced marches, Butcher threw hin
e't INTO i.ibec, which he defended Win
,1eat o91,stInaey against superior Numbers.
,huer bernadOtte, with whom At letotl,
he FguQrtan ho-< .-4 - 'N--t5'h