Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-15
From the Warrenton Indicator.
Peter Ney.


His own account was that he was sen
fenced to death, but that through the In
lterference of friends at Court, the execu
ton was a sham. He was put into coffin
instead of being buried, he was taken tc
the coast, thence to America, and that he
sought the interior for privacy.
Certain it is, they say, he was martial
figure, fine French scholar. He taught
school in Rowan, and always maintained
that he was the genuine Marshal New"
We clip this paragraph from the Wilson
North Carolinian. The editors refer to
the statement of ''Itinerant" of the Senti-
mel and say:
1--WE have often heard this singular indi-
vidual spoken of, and it is not altogether
improbable that he was what he represented
himself. Many people in that section OF
country earnestly believe 1t.
| So have we heard often about this very
remarkable character, and purpose to lay
before our readers what a friend twenty
years ago told us about him. When at the
University of n. c., a gentleman well
known for ability and varied accomplish
ments, was our intimate friend. On several
occasions he entertained US with some
pleasing "reminiscences concerning the
strange school-master to whom he went in
his younger days. The Frenchman was
then teaching, iii we remember aright,) i'll
the county Of Cabarrus, some SIX miles
| from Concord. He boarded in the family
of Mr.. H, a brother-in-law OF our
| friend. His name, as he always wrote 1t,
was Peter Ney. He came to North Carroll
Ma about the year 1914. He was an ac-
complished and able man with some strlk-
ing peculiarities. He Was for long years a
regular contributor to the National lntelll-
gencer, the only paper he read. HIS artl-
cles bore the impress of gifted and Guilt
waited mind. He was noble looking man,
his figure and features being alike lmpos-
| ing. He would never receive but certain
sum for teaching. Ii his school brought
in more than the regular amount he was
willing to receive, you could not induce
| him to avail himself of it. lie was q good
teacher, tirst-rate discipllnarlan, but eX-
| pected his boys to - turn him out once a
year. If they accomplished this feat with
skill and courage, he seemed well sat-
1sfied if, however, they betrayed tlmldlty
and aWkWardness in their attempt, he took
offence Another feature i'll his govern
ment, was his promptness to fog boy II
he was known to tamely accept an insult.
| He admired boldneSs and intrepldlty OF
spirit. Now and then, once or twice a
year, he INDUCED himself in drink. He
lived to a green old age, and just before
his death, burned every paper that was OF
any Interest or could throw light upon his
mysterious antecedents. He was Il WOr-
shipper of the great Napoleon, and when
the news came that his son was dead, the
old school-m master went to bed and grieved
| for week. He was in constant CORES
pOndence with distinguished perSonageS IN
| France, the letters he received always
being sealed with wax and stamped with a
court-of- arms indicating rank. He had
a magnificent gold pencil case, sur
mounted with a huge head, the en-
cravings and seal Of which proved it to
have once been the property of some
royal or other person eminent for rank
He acknowledged that he had been Il
soldier of Napoleon, and was IN the fatal
retreat from Moscow. He was thoroughly
| familiar with all of Napoleon campaigns.
On one occasion he drew plan Of the
battle Of Waterloo upon the smooth sand
bank of stream rec lily at freShet, and
being under the influence of liquor pointed
out where his command was, saying that he
was Marshal Ney. He infinitely described
| the action and pointed out the mistakes OF
| the English historians in their accounts OF
that decisive battle. He afterwards told
the two gentlemen, to whom he made the
confession, to forget what he had said.
This, according to our recollection, our
informant said, was the only time he ever
set up any claim of being the brilliant
Marshal of the Empire. We will mention
one other circumstance connected with this
luncOmmOn character When bent with
AGE. he overheard an Irishman abusing
Napoleon. He fired up at once, and
Strengthening himself to his full height,
with quivering lip and flashing eye, he
asked the Irishman if he knew anything
about the quarter staff. An affirmative
reply being given, he and the offender
were soon hard at it, and after a few passes
or ticks, the Irishman fell sprawling under
a heavy blow from the fiery Frenchman's
staff Our friend did not know how to
regard his old schoolmaster. Whether he
was the genuine Marshall Ney or not, he
could not say, but that he was very
remarkable character there could not be
any doubt.
One word more as to Marshal Ney's
death. Our friend once relating the par
ticulars Of Peter Ney's life in North Caro-
lima, to Colonel Lauranouski, a Pole, who
had fought under Napoleon with distinc
ton, but afterwards Lutheran preacher
in the United States, found in him an ex
ceedingly attentive listener. The Colone
was clearly of the opinion that Marsha
Ney was never shot, but escaped after {
mock death, to this country. He was anX
ious to see Peter Ney, and felt satisfied tina
! he could easily identify him, if really h
were the great Marshal. But they neve
met The schoolmaster died and the mys
terry connected with his life lies burie'
: with him. There is now none to make /
, plain.
We have written after twenty years hav
= passed since we first heard the particular
given above. We have tried to be accnrat
in our recollection, but may in some PAL
ticulars, have varied from the story as W
heard it. Pliny Miles, traveller from til
: North, visited Western North Carolina once
for the purpose Of investigating all the eli
| cumstances and particulars connected wit
) Peter Ney. We met him afterwards, an
he told us that there was a great deal {
s evidence to establish the identity of Pete
g Ney with Marshal Ney, the Marshal {
), France. If our friend, who we are glad
g know is fond of letters, and OCCASIONAL
= contributes excellent articles to the Ian
= We Love, will take as his next them,
q "Peter and Michael Ney Identical" {
f " Marshal Ney identified in the strane
O French schoolmaster of Cabarrus," he wi
a be able no doubt to throw more light upo
the subject than any other living writer ca