New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-18
OFFICERS OF THE FRENCH ARMY.
MARSHAL IMAGINATION.

Marshal MacMahOn, who holds chief command
OF the French army has well earned the reputation of
brave and skifu soldier. His father Lieutenant
General in the armies Of France and had him educated
at the military school OF St. Cyr At the age Of 10 he
was subIeutenant in the 4th Hussars. He exchanged
into a regiment bound for Africa where the hill OF
Monzai Gen Clanzel rewarded him with the Cross OF
the Legion OF Honor account Of the reckless daring
hehad displayed. An incident in the African cam
pagn shows his intrepid character At the close Of the
successful battle Of Tercha Gen. Achard wished to send
an order to Col Ruhieres at Bdah, between three and
four miles off, to change the order of his march. This
commission he entrusted to MacMahOn, and offered him
squadron of mounted chassenrs as an escort He de-
clned their protection and rode of alone His journey
Ways en rugged SHS Irregular About go yards
from Bdah lay rayine, broad, deep and preciptous
MacMahon had risen close the rayine, when suddenly
he beheld host OF Arabs in full pursuit Of him from
every side One look told him his chances. There was
butchered by his pursuers He set his horses
the leap put and whip TO it, and cleared the ravine
tured no further, and only sent after the daring
soldier shower of bullets as horse and rider rolled over
the other side with the poor steeds leg broken Az
the attack Constantine he received further promotion
He continued connected with African warfare ana pubic
affairs until the opening OF the Russian war, when
more favorable opportunity to attain military iai h
ss eS O the on him on Of dpsSr the
Malakof, which formed the key Of the defences
troops proved irresistible They entered the works and
maintained for hours a desperate connict with the
pueai Pplli9Ser,
the fort was mined MacMahOn orders to retire
n villa hold my ground, was the reply dead or alive
Success crowned his bravery, and the trcoor soon
foated above the fortress. ,
war next called him TO the field. In one week from the
OF hostites the French had driven back
the Austrians across the reino, turned Their
flank and forced them give battle. With suddenness
which the French had not anticipated the Austrians on
the Ith OF June 1859, with force OF 10000 men, attacked
the advancing French at the bridge of Magenta The
met the attack with unbroken front and drove
back the foe with loss. But the Austrians;
re- the Vctors MacMahon with the force under his
nand had early the day crossed the river farther up
to execute flank movement He heard the booming OF
the guns and in q moment realized the situation.
Hastily reversing his orders he advanced against the
enemy The movement proved decisive. The Austrians
were utterly routed and fed in disorder leaving 1000
prisoners the hands OF the vctoss, and 10000 soldiers
killed and wounded the field OF battle In 1901 Mac
Mahon now Duke OF Magenta, attended the coronation
ly warfare In physical appearance Marshal Mac Mahon
Il rather below the mdele size, with small nut well
shaped face and head and spare ghtsome figure He 10
in In his sixty second year.
MARSHAL CANR0BERT.
Marshal Canrobert has been the companion
in-arms OF MaeMahon on many q hard-fought flied. Al
the age of % he left France for the African campaign,
and took an active share desperate conflicts. In
1,7 ne received his first the breach at the
sault on Constantfne He fell at the side Of Colonel
Combes who dying, recommended him to Marshal
VaIlee saving There Is brilliant future for this OH
GER" Until S49 Csnrobert engaged in the most des-
ne rate engagements OF the Algerian campaigns, and on
the accession OF Prince Napoleon to power he at,
tached himself TO his fortunes: He commanded
fhe French forces In the Crimea for some time, and
shared In oil the earlier battles fought during the oper
atoms against sebastopol During the i'aLan war ne
charged with duties upon which depended the issue OF
that battle.