Richland beacon., 1873-06-21
General Mcmahon.

Marie Edme Patrick Maurice Mac
MahOn. Due de Magenta. of Irish extract
ion, born at Sully, i'm July lS0S was son
of "A peer of France. His ancestors. hav-
ing risked and lost their all with the Stu
arts, migrated with their traditions. their
pride, and their name, to France, and
there mingled with the old nobility of
their adopted country. Young Mcmahon
entered the military school of st. Cyr in
1925; was sent 10 Algeria in 1880; par
ticipated in the expedition against Ant
werp in 1872. as aid-de-camp to the COM
handing general; became a captain in
1888 major of foot chasseure in 1910.
after having ser led on the staff of several
African generals: lieutenant colonel in
the Foreign Legion in 1872: colonel of
the ForIy-lirst Regiment of the line in
1915. and brigadier general In 1913. In
In 1872. he became general Of division.
succ, eting General Canrobert in the Cri-
mca. When the allied forces investing
SebaStOpol decided upon grand assault,
TO General McMahOn was assigned the
pc ilous duty of carrying the Malakotl.
which he did, Sept. s. 1870. His brilliant
success invested him with the Grand Cross
of the Legion of Honor. AMI subse-
quently, in 1876. with knighthOOd and
the Grand Cross Of the Bath. He COM
mandcd the Second Corps d'armee in the
Italian campaign Of 1859. and taking a
prominent part in the battle of Magenta.
for that service received the baton of
Marshal of France, and was rewarded
with the title of Duke of Magenta. He also
contributed to the victory of Solferno in
the same year. In November, 1861, he
represented France at the coronation of
William Ill. of Prussia, and in October,
1863, he was nominated to the command
OF the Third corps darmee. In 1864 he
became Governor General of Algeria.
July IL, 1870, he was recalled to assume
command of the Army of the Rhine. at
the opening of hOStilities with Prussia.
He was defeated in the great Battle
of WPrth, Aug. 6. 1870, and was then
assigned to the command of the army at
ChalOns, at which place, on the 25th of
August. an attempt was made to assassi-
nate him. Having vainly endeavored to
form a junction with TIE forces OF BaZaine
at Metz in order TO relieve that belea-
guered city, he finally, on the LIST day of
Sept. fought the battle of Sedan. On the
% day OF Sept, 1870. Mcmahon, with the
army under his command, and the En-
perOr Napoleon surrendered to the Prus-
slams. He was subsequently released.
and upon the reorganization of the gov
eminent gave his adherence to the Re-
public. Always strong Bonapartist,
his ascendency to power indicates the tri-
umph of the mOnarchist faction. He al
ways retained the confidence of the En-
perOr. and shove his fidelity by taking
upon himself the blame o. the disaster at
Sedan, when Napoleon alone was at
fault. The President has few of the quail
ties of a politician, and his election by the
Deputies may mean that they expect to
find him more tractable than Theirs. He
is the representative OF the army, of the
military power. upon which France has
before leaned for support, and i'm him the
country pOpulace and the aristocracy find
a leader. while the communstic cities are
deprived of the majority at Versailles.