Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-02-18
MARSHAL NEY.

hAAN9lAhh Nh1t
The Mddletown (Del.l Transcript
says The old story of Marshal Ney
being no other than Michael Rudolph,
Of Elkton, Cecil county, Md, is revived
again in the extract which follows. It
is worthy Of mention, that the Rudolph
family, highly respectable one still
living in the vicinity Of Elkton, re-
ject this Marshal Ncy story in toto.
There is just enough truth in some Of
the circumstances TO give a coloring
of probability 20 it. Michael Rudolph
did live near Elkton he did trade to
the West Indies, either as master or
supercargo Of vessel, and was never
afterwards heard Of His relatives
suppose that vessel and cargo and all
on board went down in the depth of
the ocean. A French gentleman,
travelling "a few years ago between
Philadelphia and Baltimore, over the
New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad,
when the cars were about crossing
the lima into Cecil county, casually
mentioned to a connection Of the Ru-
dolph family, whom he did not know,
but who happened to be a fellow-pas-
senger, that Cecil county was the for
mer residence of Marshal Ney, whose
real name was Michael Rudolph. The
circumstance was strange one, and
is worthy of mention, but his friends
all reject the story Of the identity of
the parties:
"Mr. e. III. Browning contributes
to the Round Table a curious nara
tive concerning the early career of this
famous French soldier, which differs
materially from the current biogra-
phies. According to Mr. Browning's
story, Marshal Ney's proper name was
Michael Rodolph. lie was captain
in General Wayne's army 10 the war
with the Indians. His career was
marked by the most daring deeds of
valor, and he was called among the
soldiers by the last title Napoleon
ever gave him-the "Bravest Of the
Brave" Captain Michael Rodolph
was young and fiery, and on one occa-
sion feeling himself insulted dy Gen.
Wayne, be challenged him. General
Wayne reported bis insubordinate con-
duct TO the government, and General
Washington struck his name from the
army list. Rodolph then turned his
attention TO farming on Elk creek,
near Elkton, Nd, and possessing him
self of a small vessel, be traded in to.
bacco 70 the West Indies Such a
restless nature could not be satisfied
with so prosaic a pursuit. Having
unexpectedly put back from one OF his
trips, he found his wife engaged in q
suspicious affair with another man.
Without saying a word to any one, he
left her and her children in peaeeable
possession of his rival, returned TO his
vessel, made sail, and never returned
an. Pinckney, then our Minister in
France recognized him shortly after
wards, under his new name, in q
review in the Champ de Mars: and
Mr. Browning says his friends in
Maryland carry out the theory Of the
identity Of the two men, by supposing
that Rodolph proceeded to Bordeaux
with his cargo, sold his vessel, estab-
lished a shop, retailed his tabacco I;
and with his daring military taste and
genius, enlisted in the army OF the
revolution as common soldier, from
which his general superiority and the
technical knowledge acquired under
General Wayne soon raised him.
"The wife Of Rodolpb married again
af(er her husbands deserlion, and set
tied IN the obscure town of Brunswick,
in Georgia; and it is a noticeable fact
that some years ago, young Ney-
Count Ney, who was for some years
French charge at Rio dc Janeiro, well
known TO many officers of our navy
visited the United States, and set
out Immediately after his arrival in
New York for that place and remain.
ed several weeks in the neighborhood
as the guest of the Rodolph family,
who were independent and respectable
farmers, but not people likely to re-
ceive visit from Count Ney, under
ordinary circumstances. Altogether,
this is most romantic story, and
Count Ney will do the world a great
service by disclosing the facts in his
possession regarding il as Mr.. Brown
ing earnestly calls upon him to do"