Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-05-29


the guidance and the Instructions oI
the celebrated Charles Maurice Tai
lcyrand, then minister for foreign at.
fairs to the French Republic-snd GER
tainly the greatest diplomatist Of this
or perhaps any former age.
Michael Ney was appointed Mar.
shall Of the French Empire, in his thir-
ty-iiith year, and from that period he
shared. day by day, all the eiories and
per'is Of Napoleon. As he vas Of no
party. but devoted wholly TO his coun.
try, whatever its form of government.
he lent hts sword and talents to the
chief whom il had chosen. This was
his principle through life, and IL &C
counts for serving Louis XVIII. in
1914, as well as for his joining his Tor.
mer master and friend when he found
his efforts to oppose him unavailing-
when the whole Of his army had gone
over to Napoleon, and the positive will
of the nation, afterwards put down by
the united armies Of Europe, recalled
the exile Of Eliza TO the imperial throne.
The talents, the dauntlcss vaior, the
high minded generosity, and the con
slderate kindness Of Ney, arc proven
bal in the French army; and he dwelis
IN the memory OF tho veterans who
served under him, like one Of the he
rocs or demigods of old.
From Ney's activity and daring spi,
rit. combined with consummate skill
and prudence. aud from his particular
talent in providing for the wants of the
I troops, without expressing the inhabi-
tants OF the country overrun by the
French armies, he was generally en-
p'oyed by the vsnguard-a cireum-
stance which had led 20 the error in
which many OF his own countrymen
share. that no was a mere soldier Of
action. excellent i'm leading an attack.
but devoid Of the high requirements.
extensive knowledge, and strategic
skill SO necessary to WELD and manuu-
vre large masses Of soldiers. The mis-.
taken notion has been strengthened
by some Of his old companions in arms,
who now attempt to vttuperatc his
memory, because he would not allow
them, when under his command, to
practice that system of robbery and
plumber which disgraced the French
armies IN the countries through which
they passed, whether as friends or foes.
and by means Of which some Of Ma.
poleon's generals acquired immense
wealth. These men, since Ney's death,
have attempted to undervalue his Ia.
Tents as n commander. Others, with
view Of elevating themselves. have
sought to found military reputation at
the expense Of his, and among the lat
ter, is a certain General Jnmini, aid.
de-camp to the late Emperor Alexan-
der, q Swiss BY birth, and ilippani
writer about campaigns and battles
Ney, having met with him in Swi,Zer-
land in an almost destitute condition,
made him enter the French service,
brought him rapidly forward, and uIti-
mately placed him st the head Of the
stan. JotiiIi now pretends that while
lilIing this situation, he was Marshal
Ney's providence that he constantly
directed all the brilliant achievements
Of which his general obtained the cred
~, and got Ney out OF all the scrapes
into which his deficiencies as com
mander were continually leading him.
Now, supposing this contemplate rho
domantade to be true, how happens il
THAI this same General Jomini has ne
yer distinguished himself by his militia
ry talents since he left Ncy TO enter
the service of Russia? His name is
quite unknown, even among the third
and fourth-rate generals Of the dav.-
Surely he cannot ailege the want Of
opportunity; for in the service of no
European State is high military talent
made more availabls than in that vi
Russia.
The truth is. Ney never asked the
advice either Of his staff collectively, I
or OF It's officers 10 particular, on those 4
grand and extraordinary movements
by which he often bailled and defeated .
an enemy Of vastly superior force. -
They were the rapid Inspirations Of his
own instructive genius, and 10 this may
perhaps be attributed the most Unva-
RED success that attended them
With regard TO his skill as a theoretical
az we'll practical warrior, he was IN.
quesiIenably superior 20 every other
ollicer III the French service. even 10
Msssens. by many considered the best
OF Nspoleon's generals. THIS may
appear, to some, very hazardous a.
sertion IL is nevertheless true. Mar.
shal Ney was second only 90 the EN-.
pcrnf, who on many important occa-
sIons. even yielded to his opinions.
Ney's retrest from Rgssia. N 1915, I
was master piece Of siratagem u j.
equal to any thing Of the kind ever
performed by the g'cates, generals Of
ancient or modem tunes, and will hold a
prominent place 10 TIVE military snnal.
81 the nineteenth century. That Ney
united profound science IN the rxperi
rnce Of a l,fe 81 active warfare. - plac
Ell beyond a doubt BY the manuscripts
left N his own hand writing. contain
ing his observations upon the various
campaigns IN which he served, and al
70 his military studies for the use Of
- on A a -