The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-09-27
From the Cincinnati Gazette
SOM Experience with FOREIGN Officers.

Soma Experience with Foreign Officers.
A fatality seems To have attended a Ger
tain class OF the military officers who lefl
foreign services 10 tender their swords 10
the great republic
The other day, for example. Major Won
Hammerstein, formerly an officer OF McClcl-
lan's staff, was mustered ont of the service.
He drew seventeen hundred dollars OF back
pay and allowances, and went over 10 New
York. A born gambler, as SO many OF the
Austrian and Prusslan army officers are, he
could not resist his temptation 10 try his
luck with so handsome Il sum. in the New
York gambling dens. In a single night he
lost the entire amount The next morning.
pennilesS, utterly destitute, and stung with
Il sense or his disgrace this high-bOrn Aus
TRAN noble, and meritOriOus officer. enlisted
as private in our regular army, and is now
carrying a musket.
Major Won Hammerstein was an officer OF
fair standing in the Austrian service, and
inherited the title of Baron. Ii was limited
that he lefl Austria because overwhelmed
with gambling debts, which the slender
pay of an army officer would never suffice
to wipe out. He was here first appointed
on Blenker'5 staff subsequently he was
transferred 10 McClellan's and after that to
McDOwelrs. Finally be got command OF
a regiment And now, as has Just been
stated, he is serving as a private in the
regular army.
\ more disgraceful case was that Of Col.
Won RadOwitZ, a son Of the distinguished
PruSsian statesman, and noted military au-
thor, Gen. Won RadOwitz. This officer
served for a time on the staff OF Gen. Nc
Clellan, and subsequently on that OF Gen.
Heintzleman. He was detected in the crime
Of drawing pay several times for the same
period Of service, applying TO the different
paymasters and satisfy i'm each that no had
not been previously paid for that month or
quarter He was dismissed the service.
Appealing 10 a brother officer he succeeded
in procuring a temporary loan OF hu.-
bred dollars and with this and his steal
ings from the government, no has started
for California. He was an officer in the
Prussian army, and is also understood to
have been overwhelmed with gambling
debts at home.
Foreigners familiar with the Prussian
service say that by common repute through
ont the army. Prince Salm-Salm was the
stupidest officer IN it, The stupid fellow
had the fortune chose knowing all the cir
cumstances would hardly venture to say
the good tOrtune) to marry pretty and very
smart American woman whom he found in
Havana. This pretty woman made des-
perate effort, ut the beginning OF the pre-
sent administration, to get her husband APP
pointed in the regular army. She enlisted
grave and polished assistant secretaries in
her service, and is thought to have come
very near succeeding in her struggle for
the appointment. Failing, however, il
this, she did get a presidential permit fol
bringing out 1000 bales Of cotton, from
which, with reasonable activity, she may
have made something handsome before al
trade restrictions were removed.
The Prince Qor he really bears the title
in his own country was nearly buried IN
der debts of one kind and another befOr,
/ he left Prussia. In New York he once man
/ aged in some way 10 get arrested for debt
and he now owes considerable sums to con
I tding cOuDtrymen in Washington, whC
have exceedingly small hopes OF ever get
/ ting their money back. But withal he hai
prOspered by his desertiOn Of subOrdinat,
rank and mountainous debts in Prussia
/ He has risen here TO be a brevet brigade
general and is now, | believe, command
ant of the post at Atlanta.
Washington was place Of refuge to th,
whole class of foreign officers who left th'
armies of their own countries to escap,
debts. or because, being born adventures
they could not resist the gipseY desire t,
wander, or the gambling propensity Il
stake their fortunes on their swords, il
market 10 the highest bidder. None O
them We're lacking in assurance, and. il
| the confusion that marked the outbreak o
the war, assurance went a great ways
One man, for example, gained an entrance
TO the hest society, and was everywher
treated with consideration rs the represen
tative of a noble and historical English fam
ily. He turned out TO be the son OF Ger
man Israelite. who had served a term in tn
army OF his native country, and then en-
listed under the banner Of Garibaldi H
was an excellent officer; but whether iustl
or unjustly, the enemy thought he could b.
bribed 10 surrender his command. and &C
tually sent him part OF the purchase money
which, however. tell into the hands OF th
Government There was no evidence tina
ne ever cOuntenanced such expectations Oh
the part of the enemy, or indeed that h
knew them; but the Government was afrai
TO trust him, aud he never afterward he'll
any place of responsibility, though be was
for a long time, retained on half pay.
Another, q young man from one of III
northern provinces Of Germany. thought a
the outbreak OF the war he would ike TO ge
q second lieutenantcy in the regular army
A relative Of his. native of COR rather
long resident in Russia, had been teache
Of languages in some Of the best families i
Washington, and was able to procure 70
the young man the recommendation Of som
well-knOwn names. Armed with these b
went TO the President, told him he though
the Germans had supported him so nobl
that they were entitled 10 some recognition
but that as yet they had received none
, Mr.. Lincoln told him 10 leave his paper,
\ few days afterward. 10 his utter astonisl
ment, he received 4 commission as Captai
in the regular service, ! believe he after
ward did good service.
Captain Fox tells \ ludicrouS story of
= fellow who applied at the Navy Departmer
+ early in ISL for 4 position. He repr,
, Sented himself a. having been an Admir-.
in the Turkish Navy, and for time he dc
ceiyed almost everybody. Nothing les
than COmmOdOre'S command would su
; him; but the captain was suspicious. an
preferred TO investigate. The man was %
ing far toward making out a case OF perss
: cuuon against the Navy Department, whe
some lucky accident disclosed the facts
his career, and showed him to have one
: ornamented an English chain gang.
Sucn are few CT the anomalies which on
Qealngs with acceSslOns from the foreig
services have shown rs. Over against theI