American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-13
The French Generals.

A Paris correspondent of the New York Id
pertiser gives some piquant sketches of the most
conspicuous generals of the French army at
this time.
One Of the most celebrated French generals
has not been in France since 1835-'36. This
is General Useff. He was born in Tunis, Of
French parents. At the death of his father,
which happened when he was about sixteen, he
entered the service of the Bey of Tittenie, q
subordinate to the Dey Of Algiers. His energy
and bravery secured him post in the body
guard of his master, and an apartment in his
palace. Whilst occupying this position, he at
tracted the favorable regards of the Bey sister
An intrigue followed, which was discovered by
Christian slave, who hastened to gain the fa-
vor Of the Bey by disclosing it. usef followed
him unobserved to the Bey's apartment, and
heard the terrible order for his own execution.
On the return of the slave to his quarters,
whilst passing along the corridor Of the inner
court, a strong hand seized him by the neck
and drew him with violence into q chamber.
Within half an hour afterwards, says the cor
respondent, the Bey's sister received basket of
roses, under which were an eye, tongue, and
hand. Accompanying them was this pithy
episte:
/" Madam: have the honor to present you
the eye that played the spy on you, the tongue
tHuo DStAhyou JOu, duu thC uuuu luuI
you. UsEFF."
Pretty well for boy of sixteen!
Useff escaped from the palace, enlisted in
the French army as q common soldier, from
which position, by his desperate courage, he
has risen to his present rank of General. His
campaigns against the Arabs have been marked
by the most savage ferocity and cruelty This
wild beast is married to most gentle and deli
cate wife, to whom, when absent, he writes
once day, and his devotion to her. the only
redeeming trait Of his character is standing
subject of jest in the French army of Africa.
Lamoriciere, another distinguished French
general, is said to have exhibited no dispos-
tion to leniency in his wars with the Arabs. He
never hestated to burn their towns, or, in the
heat of victory, to let loose the passions of his
infuriated soldiery.
Cavaignac is the only one of the French
| generals who exhibits n human temper, and in
him it is said to be so marred by indecision and
irresolution, that the Arabs gave him the nick
name Of g the bending rose-tree"
| Changarnier appears to be French edition
| of Claverhouse He is described as q slightly
built slender-faced, finger -ringed, soft-man-
nered gentleman in the saloon, but in the field
fierce and remorseless as an incarnate fend.
He is witty and ironical in conversation, yet
you soon discover that his leyity is but a grace
fully-worn mask. There is something about
him dark and mysterious, and you "do not
soon forget the doing panther's expression of
those blue eyes," AS military leader, it is
said that he has no superior in France. In fe-
rocity Of character this delicate looking dandy
has few equals One of his feats in Arabia was
the surprise Of an Arab village, in which b.
butchered every soul--men, women, children
and infants at the breast-ending by the gen
eral confagration Of the whole place. In th,
attempted insurrection in Paris on the 18th o.
June, man attempted to drag Changarniel
from his horse. The General seized him by tn,
throat, and, making his horse leap forward
dragged him some distance, and dashed hin
with great force on the pavement, just befor
one of his aids-de-camp, crying, Finish tina
assassin" A moment after, and the brains o
the rash assailant were scattered in the Boule
ward.