Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-16
FROM An OLD SOLDIER,
The Gratitude Of
James Gordon
New York Herald.
What the COnqnerOr Of hexIcO has TO
Say about his Failures and Faux
Pas at Metz.
His Gratitude TO Bennett, to the English
and American Press, and to the
Dead Emperor.

The New York Herald, of Saturday
{ publishes the French text OF the letter q
! winch The following is free trans atian:
10 =, hr; james Gordon Bennett, proprietor o
BoIs DE BREUx, near Liege, Sept. G, 1874.
olk-Ihe lmparuality OF your honorable
journal before The rude tri ais which 1 hav,
undergone, and the strong marks of sympathy
which have since received from your repre-
Sentatives in Europe. induce me 10 DuhIicI,
ics ny, gSu IN ne press sss, and the Ae
I lIo slses,t 20 hs SIaSsea concerning the terri,
Bile drama in which, next 10 the emperor
have been the most unhappy victim. With
| the exception OF the London Times, whose
| egousm and German sympathieS are well
! known, the English press was extremely IA
| NoTable al the commencement OF the war
| Inc Russian press was also very sensible and
! oIten brought me items Of the most precious
! consolation. But II was in the America an
Journals that found my best defenders and
/ the most impartial criticisms They have
never systematically abused me as others
AMERICAN NsYMPATHIEs.
Recently, as was passing through Cologne,
several parties OF Americans came spontane-
ousiy to visit me and 10 assure me of their
sympathy; American officers wished TO shake
InS hand The same as they had previously
done to General Sherman on the occasion Of
MS passage through Versailles. l care but lit
tie for demonstrations as a rule, but I confess
to having been deeply affected by the exhibit
tion Of American friendliness. American
citizens are not like the French demagognes
" nv HIbtcuu illdb an act OF patriotism
insult to defeated soldiers.
THE VICTIM OF THE ARMY AND NATION.
They deemed it to be the part of good policy
20 make of me an expiatory victim the army
and navy charged me with all their faults,
with all their weaknesses, with all their sins
and then they sacrificed me. l "a not wish TO
complain of the Judgment renGe ed against
me, because that judgment is invalid on ac-
count OF the imposition of the court which
rendered 1t, for the old laws declare that an
accused Individual shall be tried by his peer
This legal guarantee was refused me- The
council was presided over by prince of the
blood, whose name had been removed from
the rolls OF the army since lS4S, when he was
compelled 10 seelade himself in the walks of
civil life, who has never conducted any oper-
ations OF importance, and who possesses no
other military merit than that OF being the
son of king, and OF having been a colonel at
twenty-five years through the privileges of
high birth.
THE TWO SUPPORTS-NAPOLEoN AND
THEIRS.
I have no longer the hope that strict Justice
will be promptly done me. had but tgo sun
ports, whose authority and impartality as
sured me during the contest against those who
allowed me to be inundated in order 10 ap-
pease certain coterte and public sorrow.
These were the emperor, who is dead, and
Theirs, who has been set aside and replaced
by MacMahon, my former comrade. II result-
ed, therefore, that / alone had TO pass through
the whole complexity of events. From the
day That the command OF the Army or the
Rhine was imposed upon me nave drank the
bitter cup even 10 the dregs; but ! ought not
10 complain, for the emperor lost both the
throne and his life, and France, notwithstand-
ing the bravery displayed by her armies has
lost three departments. The Germans alone |
nave pronted by the war,and with them those
VINO remained at home, far from the field OF |
battle, so that they might the better fiatter the
E2ssions Of the people and the more easily |
wing about a great national calamity. 1 |
II light truly say with the ancient Roman, |
+" Justice, thou art but a word :" but l prefer
TO await the verdict OF time and history.
MACMAHONS oPPRESsIoNs.
1 should not even have attempted to escape |
from prison had my former comrade seen ut |
10 lessen the seventies OF my captivity. Dur |
ing my trial l should have employed the same /
weapons that MacMahon used against me. /
should have shown in my defense how Mac
NahOn had been beaten, and had evacuated |
Alsace without endesvortng 10 defend the /
' osges, without resisting the march OF the /
enemy, without utilizing the railroads, leav.
ing my right uncovered and turned, notwith- l
standing The order he had received not 10 re-
pass beyond Nancy. / should have shown 4
MS Ignorance OF the numerical strength and Il
he movements OF the enemy his presumption /
IN accepting battle blndfodedi his impru- /
ience in risktng the reputablou OF the old /
African troops which he commanded in one
battle. could have shown clearly how, In /
the first duties Of a general in order
% play the part of a fighting soldier he must
be regarded as one of the trst authors of our
disasters.
INITIATING THE EMPEROR.
1ever accusing any one, aud never seeking TO
hrow The responsibility upon Others. Mac
dahon had been as unfortunate AT Sedan as l
vas at Metz; as Trochu and Ducrot was at
Paris, as Bourbaki and Clinchaut were in the
East He had forgotten all this when he be-
came president, aud his want OF memory was
he chief incentive TO my escape. 1 envy
Mac Mahon in one thing, and that is the
wound he received at Sedan, which permitted
aim TO honorably pass over the command to
he general who signed the capitulation OF /
sedan, and 10 cast his responsibility upon the
emperor, who most graciously accepted II.
Instead Of indulging in recriminafions think
hat each done ms utmost 10 succeed France |
accustomed to record victories, really be-
leved that she could not be conquered; she
lads been spoiled by the campaigns in the
crimea and in Italy.
rHE MILITARY CAREER OF THE DUG
D'AUMAEE.
Here the letter continues 10 enumerate the
causes OF the disasters TO the French army |
and complains bitterly Of the Due d'Aumaie' !
who had profted by tue opportunity 10 DIsce
himself on the record, and continues:
The only feat Of arms performed by This |
young soldier, who preiends 70 be Rple 10
Judge marshal ike me, was MS adventurous
march 10 surprise the camp OF Abd-el-K aqer :
and capturing The women and cattle A fe-vi
months passed In Africa Il not sufficient 10
make military man, and 10 permit him to