Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-15
EIGHTY YEARS A SOLDIER.
The Oldest Commissioned officer I'm
the WOrId-EighIy Years in the
PFuRsian Army - The EmperOr's
Congratulations.

The oldest Commissioned officer in
the WOFId-Eighiy Years 1n the
PruRsian Army - The Emperor's
congratulations.
On the 18th of August last Mar
shall Won Wrangle celebrated his
eightieth anniversary of the day on
which he received his first commits
sion in the Prussian army. In 1896
Frederick William II. was king,
his famous uncle had been dead
just ten years, General Bonaparte
had just achieved European fame
by his first Italian campaign, and
Washington was President of the
United States; Jena was still ten
years off, and Waterloo nineteen.
In the interval Prussia was to be
reduced to a third rate State, her
army limited to AZ, 900 and a French
emperor was to take away the
sword of Frederick the Great
from the keeping Of a nation un.
worthy to retain it." The gloomy
days passed away; but Wrangle was
to live into another age of troubles
to see a Prussian revolution,
Frederick William ". refusing the
imperial crown of Germany, and a
new French empire menacing the
unity of the fatherlands. Finally,
he has lived to hear of the wonder
full events of 1S70-71. The life of
the veteran has extended over more
than half the duration of the
Prussian monarchy, which is not
yet 176 years old. In his early
youth he might have conversed with
survivor Of the wars Of Marl-
borough, and even listened to anec-
dotes by an eyewitness of Freder-
ick rs coronation.
The Emperor of Germany has
written the following congratula-
tory letter to the Marshal:
Ny Dear Field Marshal General;
The anniversaries Of your busy
life show year by year how favored
it has been by Providence. The
GGtieth anniversary, which is gen.
orally the last stage in a military
career, is already thirty years be-
hind you, and during these thirty
years you have done such great
service and accomplished such great
deeds, that in your case the fftieth
anniversary was only the prelude
to the second part Of your glorious
services. 1t is to-day eighty years
since you first wore the honorable
uniform of the soldier, and you
must feel deeply moved when yor
reflect upon the favor that an ON
nipotent Providence has deemed
you more than any one else to re
ceive. For it is to God alone tina
we owe the happiness Of being abl,
to celebrate this your eightietl
anniversary. l speak not only OIL
my own behalf, but as the heir 0
three kings, when | thank you fo
, having so well kept the oath o
fidelity which you swore to then
and to me, and your name will eve
, retain an honorable place in tn
history Of the Prussian army.
/ desire to assure you, in all sincerity
: that / look upon you as one Of tn
, most eminent men that the Prus
: sian army has produced and
will add, that | have decided t
5 raise a statue to you, in order tina
: the most remote posterity may rec
ollect your services and my graft
4 tude. In recollection Of this day
q / send you the accompanyin
J. sword, the arm with which afte
r Etoges, at the head of your preser
: regiment, you pursued the enem.
d and which has invariably show
|, the path to victory to the troop
: which Won have commanded. Whl