The New York herald., 1870-09-09
oBIT



distinguished soldiers.
Marie Edine Patrick Maurice do MacMah0n, Mar
shal and Senator Of France. was born ut suiy near
Autun, In July, ls0s. He was descended, as hrs
name indicates. from an Irish family the head OF
which loft England with James II. and settled In
france. At the seminary OF Autun the future Mar
shai received good education until he was seven.
teen years OF age, when he was sent TO the military
school OF st. Cyr from which he graduated two
years later and joined the Star School OF App,lcs
tlon as sous lieutenant Subsequently he was
commissioned In the regular army and sent to AL
geria, whore he arst saw military servleo In the
capacity OF orderly ofIcer TO General Achard he
accompanied that commander IN the frst Medeah,
expedition. During an engagement on the Mouzaia
river ne performed feat OF great daring In carrying
despatch through the entire Arab army 10 Didah.
At one time he was entirely surrounded by enemies.
and only escaped by loaptng down an abyss on the
brink OF which his pursuers paused expecting that
he had been dashed to pieces. His horse was killed,
but beyond few bruises he suffered little injury,
and was able to continue MS Journey. For this bril-
liant exploit he decorated with the Cross OF the
Legion OF Honor. On the French government de-
Gliding to intervene In the Belgian war he was SENT
still attached 10 the stan OF General Achard. TO
Belgium and so distinguished himself ut the Siege
OF Antwerp that at Its close he was commissioned
ordered back TO Algeria where he again saw
scsase s,aas service in the ield At the second
acting as aidc-de-camp to General Damremont, be
received severe wound, and for his gallantry on
Honor. In 1910 ho was commissioned major Of foot
chasseuls aud assigned to duty aide-te camp of
General Changarnier. Soon after lie assumed COM
mand OF battalion OF chasseurs belonging to the
force organized by the Duo d'Orleans Al the head
OF these men he achieved greater honOrs in several
campaigns against the KaDyes, and took promi-
nent part In the operations which resulted 10 the
overthrow Of the famous Arab chief Abd-e-Kader
For these services he twice promoted, winning
the rank Of lieutenant colonel OF the Foreign Legion
IN 1872 ana colonel ofthe Foryrst regiment Of the
When the revolution of ls4s took place Colone,
MacMah0n gave in his adhesion to The republic, and
was at once commissioned brgadier general de
the overthrow Of the republic and was one OF the
frs; officers OF the army to support the restoration
deceased soldier was never republican nor was ho
ever partisan Of LOUIS Napoleon. 1t IS stated that
ne was an aderent OF the Orleans dynasty, but this
Is not certain.
On the outbreak Of the Orimean war General Mac
Mahon was sent 10 the scene OF hosiilicies at the
robert left the Cri1nea and MacMahon succeeded
him in command oil the First division OF the French
army. When the heads of the allied forces decided
upon carrying the deiences OF Sebastapol by storm
to General MacMahon was assigned the periDus
duty Of taking the Malakor, acknowledged to have
been the strongest of all tile Notifications surround.
ing the place. How we'll he performed this task is
matter OF history known to all. His men were han
and intrepidty, no less than to their courage and
dash, were due the complete success Of the
assault. His brilliant cOnducJ on this occasion won
for him the Grand Cross Of the Legion o; Honor and
in 1855 Queen Victoria named him Knight Grand
Cross OF the Order OF the Bath. During this same year
he was promoted to the rank Of major general and
few weeks later the dignity OF Senator OF France
was conferred upon him.
Late In 1856 General MacMahon returned 10 Aige-
ria, and during the following year took active part
IN the campaign against the hostile Arabs. He was
appointed Commander n-Ch!ef OF all the forces In
n
moned to France to take part ii the war
against Austria, AT tho head of his corps he
again distinguished himself on the battle field.
On the Both OF June ne won the victory Of TurbigO
and Immediately pushing his troops forward ar.
striking The Austrians OH the 1ank and enabling
the French to gain splendid victory. For this
and was named Due de Magenta, ooth honors peing
conferred upon him on the field OF battle. After
peace mao been declared Mar,nal MacMahon re-
having been sent there during that year, In the
capactyloflAmbassador Extraordinary, to attend the
nagnlfcence OF his display during this period at
tracted marked attention, Is 1t almost ecipscd the
In 1862 Marshal MacMahoa was made Governor
in.Chief OF Algeria where he was when the present
war oetWcen ppamcs aa germany DIohe out ne
the command Of the army designed to operate on
the Rhine frontier. At Wissembourg one division
by the forces OF the Grown Prince. Marshal Mac
Mahon Immediately advanced 10000 men to Frosch
by the entire army Of the Crown Prince,
numbering some one hundred and forty
thousand men. After a desperate struggle he
was defeated, principally as Is stated, on
account Of the treachery or bundering Of General
de Failly who, with nearly fifty thousand men, was
stationed near Bltche, few miles on. DE Failly
was ordered TO advance his CORPS to Sarbacii and
attack the Prusslan flank. The order was never
obcyed. FIT had been the entire history of the pre-
sent war might have been reversed MacMalion.
with the remna 1t of his force, retreated TO Saverne
and thence TO Nancy and Toul, hating finally at
"a nrDn ri mt Nt,
and having been reinforced attempted to relieve
Bazaine at Metz by Hank movement
capacity. OF General de Faiy ruined all his plans
and the Marshal aiter three days OF bloody Hghting
near sedan, was totally beaten. On the last day Of
the battles no Was wounded In two places, but re
maned on the field unlil the last hope Of retrieving
the fortunes OF IN me day had utterly perished
been informed. HIS has been the death OF soldier.
His fame will never De linked with dishonor; for,
though the end Of his career was clouded by an
Overwhelming disaster, history we venture to say,
Will acquit him OF all responsibility for tie ms
fortune which annihiated an army and destroyed
an empire.
Colonel james Monroe.
This well known citizen died on Wednesday night
last at tue residence OF his son-inaw. Douglas Rob.
inson, In Orange New Jersey. He was the secund
son OF James Monroe, amember OF highly respect.
abe family which for many years had occupied
leading position in Virginia, In Albemarle county.
He was born OH the 10th OF September l790, at the
latter place, and was nephew OF President Mon
roe, an elder brother Of his father During the time
he was passing through the preliminary portion Of
his education his father observed In him many Of
those estimable qualities which indicated
that at no distant date he would probably
take leading part In the affairs OF his
country. Ever ready to- Join in the political and
military conversations which occasionally took
place in his fathers house; foremost among his
schoofellOws in the manly sports OF the field or the
school ground generous and afrable In his manners
to all with whom he came In contact, and coura.