Middletown transcript., 1872-12-14
Popular atlistellanp.
MARSHAL NEY.

After the return Of NAPOLEON from
Elba in 1873, Marshal Ney. who COM
manded an army in the .oulh Of France.
rejoincd his old General In doing this
he was more the follower than the leader
for lis army had no sooner heard of the
approach Of Napoleon than they clamorcd
10 join the host gathered around him.
Ncy, nothing 10th, obeyci the impulse.
sud served Napoleon, during the hundred
days. with all his former z.al aud loulikc
couruge-the bravcst Of the brave. At
Waterloo, seven times dismounted. black
with bruises and covered with mud he
still fought Mt the head of the Imperial
Guard. .hca every ether corps in the vi,
einity was inactive from the failure Of am
munilion
After Waterloo. believing that the
cause Of the Emperor was lost he return
ed 70 Par.>. aud going to the House cf
Peers, he said, in his frank, soldier lkc
way
q Noihiug remains for US, gentlemen.
but 10 negotiate for peace The Bour-
bons must be restored aud. as for my.
self, am bound for the United States 4"
I This too frank ayowal G.gn grca, of
fence TO the ministers. who at the end cf
the session, rcproacuel him warmly for
his indi.crction
" All. gentlemen be replied, =" am
not one of those who think of their in.
I terest at all times and above all things
What shall | gain by it? Ii Louis the
/ Eighteenth returns he will have me shot ;
but my duty is to think Of my country 5
welfare
In u few weeks. as every one knows.
Napoleon surrendered. and the Bourbon
king reigucd in his stead Ney fled from
Paris, Intending to seek momentary re.
fGgc in Switzerland but on the way he
received a letter from his wife, informing
him that be was one Of the nineteen gen.
erals exempted by name from the amnesty
proclaimed by the King. aud strongly ur.
giug him not 10 attempt 10 get out Of ,hC
country nt present. bu, to drec, his course
toward chateau in the south o. France,
near the Pyernees, belonging TO one o
her relations. The roads to Switzerland
she said were so closely watched that l.,
would be likely TO be taken il be attempt.
co 10 cross tue frontier.
The advice, which he adopted, proved
fatal to him. Arriving safely at the cha
teau. he remained concealed for seve.a
days. Almost the only article Of valui
which be had brought with him in hi
Uight was curious and splendid sabrl
which General Bonapar,e had given him
many years before, in Egypt, requestin;
/ h..
ton One day he carelessly left ,hi
snowy weapon lying upon sofa in III
grea, drawing room ofthe chateau Will
it lay there lady Of the neighborhoo
} called at the ehatcan. aud her attention
on entering the drawing room was at,rac
ted to this sword, which she examined
The next day, while visiting another lad
she spoke Of it and described it, II wa
well known in France that during hi
: Egyptian campaigns. Napoleon presen,e
to each Of his favorite officers, such a
t Dessaix, Kleber, Murat Ney and Others
one of the sabres captured from the Name
lukes. accompanying the gif. with the re
Z, ques, to wear it on days of battle. Heuc
it was known that few Of the olde,
generals Of the Emperor possessed sue
sabres.
Suspicion was nrou ed. The tidine
: brought by the lady from the chatsa
found their way to the ears of the Prefec,
. who dispatched fourteen soldiers to ARE,
the owner Of the Egyptian sabre. whoeve
he might be. At the moment Of their Al
: rival in the courtyard, Ney happened ,
be walking about in it. and II was to hi,
that the officer in command 6rst spok,
Fourteen days after he was in prison
= Paris Awaiting his trial for treason. III
i wife hastencd to meet him. and when the
e met. tho warrior. to the astonishment
the guards. burst into tears.
!: g DO not be surprised" said be. -
have no courage when my wife and chill
= ren are concerned" -iH