Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-01-14
GENERAL GNEssENAu.

NcidhaTdt ' on onelSenau, Goxceu0r of Der
lin. was The son Of an officer, and born at
Seihlda, In 1860 lie bad the misfortune Of
losing both his psrcats when very young he
therefore was brought up by his grandmother,
at Nur;zburs, where he soon manifested a
strong inclination for the military career
From his early youth he diligently applisd
hiInselft 10 The studies relative to hi. future
profession, without neGlcctinG other sciences,
such as natural history, agriculture, &c.
Having attained his Goth year, he entered the
military service of the Margrave of Anspach
as an officer, and went with the troops oil ihis
Prince to America. 70 assist the English in the
vain attempt to recover their American colo
MES. Nine years after his return from Amer.
lea, when, IN 1892, the MareraviGie of An
spach was coded 10 Prussia BY tae last Mar
grave. Charles Alexander, Gnesenau entered
the prussian service. His regiment was
| quartercd in Sesia In the intervals OF
peace he devoted his isisure fine to profound
study OF the military sciences. in which p.r-
suit he was considerably assisted by the Yalu-
able library and excellent information Of a
neighboring nobleman. Gneisenan soon passed
for the most learned officer OF his regiment
a reputation which he, however, lowered in
some degree by loosely observing that he
was the only one OF his re giment who could
resolve the problem Of Pythagoras, known by
i The name OF .Magister .Hathese0s. He MARI
ed in 1896, aud had by his lady, who, we be-
| liere, survives him, seven children. the eldest
of whom, a son, is an officer in the Pfussian
Foot Guards, and was Aid de-camp TO the
Field Marshal
Ia 1902 Gneisenau obtained company in
| one of fhe Fusileer battaiions of the Slesian
| Light Brigade In 1906 he was made a Ma
| ior, and in 1907 tie King al Prussia sent him
| from konigsberg, with the rank OF Lieutcn-
ant Colonel, 10 take the command of Col
| berg, IA The room of an old Colonel Loueado,
/ who was Incapable Of defending this small
! fortress against siae French. (lnelsenau, int
J mediatcly ON his arrival, look such vigorous
! measures, ana inspired his weak garrison, as
well as the brave and patriotic inhabitants,
with so much confidence and courage, that
they not only witlistsod all the assaults and
| commandments of the bcsiegers, but also
made many successful sales against them
Thus Colberg, through his exertions, was
| one of the few strong holds of Prussia which
had not surrendered TO the enemy before the
peace Of Ttlsit. During the seige of Colberg
Gneisenau was promoted TO the rank of Col
onel
After the peace OF Tilsit, he left tbs army.
as it were. IN disgust, and went TO England:
but ia reality he was sent thilher IN u secret
diplomatic mission, from whence he returned
10 Berlin in 1910, when be was for some time
|empioyed IN the administration. In 1913 he
| was appointed Major General. in which espa-
city be conducted that memorable retreat of
the combined Pr,lsslaa and Russian forces
from the field of battle Of Lutzen to Bfesiau,
The pursuing French had forty cannons ta-
ken from them, whilst the retreating army did
not Lose single one. During the arnaistice,
Gneisenau exefted his eminent abilities in the
.f
called the Landwehr. At the death Of the
celebrated General Scharnhorst, he was apz
pointed chief ef The piussian staff: and after
the arln'siice he renamed with Bucher's ar
my. The destruction ei the French Marshal
! Siacdonaids corps on the katzbaeh, the
crossing Of the Elbe at Wartenblrg and the
| glorious results OF the battle of Moekern, near
Leipzig, on the 10Th of October, 1913, were
| mostly due TO cheeseman's able advice and
| great military talents. He was now raised to
| the rank Of Lieutenant General
In 1914, he greatly contributed to the VIC
| tories of the Allies at Brsenae and Paris, rs
he had done in the battle of Montnirail II
i was chiefly his opinion which determined the
bold march upon PARIS. After the first treaty
of Paris, the King of Prussia raised HIM to
the dignity OLA Count, appointed him Cen
eral Of infantry, and gave ham landed estates
in Silesia, the rent-roil ofwhich exceeded TO-
600 dollars year.
1 Ia 1915, it was Count Gneisenau who. m a
few hours, enai.iesi t.,e prussian army. wlI,ch
mad been defeated BY the French near Liarsg
to resume the offensive, and 10 advance 10 tie
| assistance Of the Duke Of W ellington ut Wa
terloo, with when he, under BlHcher's com
mand, vigorously pursued the enemy Up te
the very gates OF. Paris, where he had share
IN the diplomatic transactions that preceded
Bonapartc's second abdication and fight. lie
twas then appointed Governor Of the prussian
provinces on the Rhine: bat political cffeun-
stances induced him TO fesig4, his high office
in 1916, and 10 solicit leave to retire for tie
benefit of ATS health The King of Prussia
allowed ham to retire on fu1 pay, and to II, !
side wherever he liked, on the express eendi
tion, however, that his Majesty relied on his
services in case of a war. Count aineisenan
repaired first to the celebrated bathing places
of Bohemia, and then 70 his estate, Gfoszenl-
nlannsdori, between IIirschberg aud Schnad-
eberg, ia Silesia. Here le continued a few
years, at the end Of which he was appointed