The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-09-07
The French Commanders.

The French commanders.
1t is noted a remarkable fact that all the great
Generals in command both sides of the conflict IN
Europe are over sixty years of age. The opened
as military competition between old men, trained TO
arms indeed decorated with and orders, and
Scared many of them with honorable wounds, but all
past three score Should the struggle be prolonged
one younger leaders will surely come to the 'front.'
eager for the Marshals baton and the Black eagle;
but for the present the public interest is centered
dozen figures less bent by the weight of
years and the hardshps of former campaigns. We con-
dense article from the Commoner into brief no.
tice of eseb of the French Generals.
Marshal Valiant Jean Baptiste Philiberr), is the
Oldest, having reached his eightieth year. He was
born in the first revolution became pupil of Poly
technic; served with distinction in the Grand Army
in Russia participated in the battles of Ligny and
Waterloo; was engaged in the siege of Antwerp, in
1882; went to Algeria, where he lost a leg in COM
mand Of the engineers; conducted second in COM
mand, but really commander nchief the siege of
Rome; was Minister Of War during the struggle with
Russia in 1854; military Governor of Milan in the
Italian campaign of 1859, and is now Grand Marshal
of the palace and Senator of France
Changarnier is II years DID, He was pupil of the
Academy of St. Cyr; belonged to the body-guard of
Louis XVIII; won distinction in Algeria, and had
command Of the National Guard in the days preceding
the coup d etat His arrest at midnight BY Louis
Napoleon, and subsequent Punishment from France
will be remembered by many of our readers. He re.
turned to his estates on the Seine and Loire after
the general amnesty, and has been made Mar
shal and placed in command of the reserves which is
40 doubt done a concession to the Republican ele.
ment of France
General Cousin de Montanban Count de Palikao)
who has attained the age of "a served in Algeria with
credit but is chiefly remarkable for having led the
French forces after the affair of Pebo TO the capture
Of Pekin His title is derived from his victory over
the Chi1ese at Palikao.
Marsha! Forey, 66 years DID, was educated at St.
Cyr and his earliest services il Algeria His
most remarkable achievement was the repulse of the
Austrians at Montebello, goth May, 1885, He COM
manded the French expedition to seat Macmillan on
the throne of Mexico but soon gave way to Marshal
Bazaine, and returned to Paris
The three men, however, on whom the public at
great columns of the French army, Mcmahon, Canro-
BERT and Bazane, nearly the same age-a year or
two over sixty. Mcmahon is of Irish descent With
Canrobert he was cadet of St. Cyr while Bazaine
rose from the ranks. He showed conspicuous courage
at the storming of the gate at Constantine in the
Algerne war; it was bis command that carried the
Malakof in the Crimean war, and he was created
Marshal of France and DIXIE of MAGENTA for x;nniDo
the battle Of that in the war 10 Italy in COM
mand of the second corps.
Francois Certain de Canrobert who has been one of
the steadiest adherents of the present Emperor was
conspicuous in Algeria in Paris at the time Of the
coup detat, when he commanded one of the divisions
of the Army of the Capital, and in the Crimea. He
was wounded both at the Alma and Inkerman. He
succeeded St. Arnaud in the command of the French
troops, but yielded tie command in turn to Pelisser
IN consequence OF disagreement with Lord Ragln.
He was at Magenta and Solferino in the Italian war
Francois Achile Bazaine was trained to arms in that
practical school which made so many soldiers-tha
Algerine straightforward played part at the sur
render of AbdelKader He arrived at SebastopoI
the very day on which the bombardment was opened
and having contributed materially to its reduction
especially in the capture of Knburn, one of the out
posts OF the great Russian fortress he appointed
military governor of the town upon the retreat of the
Russian forces. 1t will be recolected how speedly
ne put Juarez to fight in succeeding to the command
OF the French in Mexico, and also how promptly he
was recalled tc France when Napoleon saw his blum.
der in attempting to establish the empire in that conn
try.