The Shasta courier., 1868-01-04
A Man who Claimed to have been Marshal
Ney, Napoleon's General--An Interest,"
ing History.

A correspondent of the Raleigh Sentinel
has recently stood by the grave of French.
man in the county of Rowan, who, he saws,
always claimed to be the veritable Michael
Ney, one Of Napoleon's greatest Marshals.
His own account was, that he was SEN
fenced to death, but through the interference
of friends at Court, the execution was a
sham. lie was put into coffin, but instead
of being buried, he was taken to the coast,
thence to America, and that be sought the
interior for privacy.
Certain it is, they say, he was martial
figure, fine French scholar. He taught
school in Eowan, and always maintained
that he was the genuine Marshal Ney.
We clip this paragraph from the Wilson
North Carolinian. The editors refer to the
statement of 8 Itinerant," of the Sentinel,
and say:
I'VE have often heard this singular inli-
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 it,"
SO have we heard often about this very
remarkable character, and purpose to lay
before our readers what friend twenty
years ago told US about him. When at the
University of North Carolina, a gentleman
well known for ability and varied accom-
plishments 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 (if we remember aright) in the
county of Cabarrus, some six mics from
Concord lie boarded in the family of Mr..
Il, brother in.law of our friend
His name, as he always wrote it, was Peter
Ney. lie came to North Carolina about
the 1914. He was an accomplished and
able man, with some striking peculiarities.
lie was for long years regular contributor
of the National lntellgencer, the only paper
he read His articles bore the impress of
gifted and cultivated mind. lie was noble
looking man, his figure and features being
alike imposing. He would never receive but
a certain sum for teaching. If his school
brought in more than the regular amount he
was willing to receive, you could not induce
him to avail himself of it. He was good
teacher, frst.rate disciplinarian, but ex
pected his boys to turn him out'' once a
year. If they accomplished the feat with
skill and courage, he seemed well satisfied !;
if, however, they betrayed timidity and
awkwardness in their attempt, he took
offense Another feature in his government
was his promptness to fog boy if he was
known tamely to accept an insult. lie ad-
mired boldness and intrepidity of spirit
Now and then, once or twice year, he in
dulged himself in drink. He lived to 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 worshipper of the great Napoleon,
and when the news came that his son was
dead, the old school master went to bed and
grieyed for week. He was in constant cor
respondence with distinguished personages
in France, the letters he received always
being sealed with wax and stamped with a
coat of arms indicating rank. He had a
magnificent gold pencil case, surmountcd
with huge head, the engraving and seal of
which proved to have once been the property
of some royal or other person eminent for
rank. He acknowledged that he had been a
soldier of Napoleon, and was IN the fatal
retreat from Moscow. He was thoroughly
familiar with all of Napoleon's campaigns.-
On one occasion he drew plan OF the battle
of Waterloo upon the smooth sand bank OF a
stream recently at freshet, and being under
the influence of liquor pointed out where
his command was, saying that he was Mar
shal Ney. He minutely described the ac-
ton, and pointed out the mistakes Of the
English historians in their accounts OF the
decisive battle. He afterward told the two
gentlemen to whom he made the confession,
to forget what be had said This, according
to our recollection, our informant said, was
the only time he had sot up any claim OF
being the brilliant Marshal of the Empire
We will mention one other circumstance
connected with this uncommon character
When bent with age, he overheard an irish
! man abusing Napoleon. lie fred up at once