The Cecil Whig., 1877-02-03

portunity. to justify himself for being thus
successful by securing for his name as soon
as possible an European parentage. Then,
too, it was very natural for Rudulph to fix
upon Alsace and SarrelouiS as his birth
place: for in point of fact it might, indeed,
father, more than likely, went from Alsace
to America in 1,52. The Southern Liter
arY Messenger writer of lSt7 goes on to say
"The suspicion of Rudulph's identity with
Ncy is, by no means, of recent origin. II
was entertained at a very early period, and
10y some of the first persons in America.
In all probability they had something more
than mere con lecture TO rely upon. Let us
look a little at these suggestions. Some
where about the year 1913. when General
Pinckney and General William Washing
ton: in our quasi war with France, during
the administration of the elder Adams,
were intrusted with the military charge OF
the Southern portion of the United States
They visited, during their military tour in
Georgia. the residence of gentleman who
had known Rudulph in his youth. Gen
eral Pinckney, who had not long before
returned from France, where he had been
minister, asked his host if such had not
been the case. Being answered in the af-
iirmative, Pinckney replied that he too had
known Rudulph. and that he had become
greatly attached to him, and was much in,
terested in his fate, and that this interest
had been heightened recently by a discov
very which he hai made in Europe. There
while resident in France. he had heard
that there was in the army of Italy an
American officer who had greatly diStin
guished himself; that from every inquiry
not IA doubt remained on his mind that this
American officer was his old friend Michael
Rudulph, but that lie soon found that he
no longer bore the same name General
ing his inquiries, and writing directly To
the supposed American, that he feared. in
his own critical situation and the Difficult.
ties existing between the Directory and his
Government, that such inquiries might only
draw down upon him the jealousy of the
French authorities
Michael Ney was unqueStionably the of
ticer thus pointed at. He was in Kleber's
German Legion, and Rudolph, born of
German parents, at the head of the Elk, in
Maryland, spoke German as well as French
aud English. The character of Ney was
then closely analyzed as far as the materials
could be obtained for such a study, by sew
eral Americans. His career was watched
with interest. He was, as we have said,
already distinguished for his eager spirit,
his skill in strategies, his determined
bravery. in all resembling the characteris-
tics which were ascribed to the military
reputation of Rudulph. When Napoleon
was overthrown and eXiled, most of his
followers came to America. The United
States was, however not a refuge for Ney.
He preferred all the hazaIds of detection
and death to the prospects which lay before
him in America. He had young wife
and children in France. He had a wife
probably, certainly children in America.
When the news of the trial and condemna-
ti0n of Michael Ney reached this country,
a WE'LL known and highly respected citizen
of tie South, through the medium Of a
friend at Washington, addressed certain
inquiries with respect to Ney, to Marshal
Grouchy, who had then only recently
Shn Those
as follows: "W Vas Marshal Ney about five
feet eight inches higho \ muscular man,
though not fat, Of high, flat forehead, gray
eyes, straight eye brows, prominent cheek
bones and fair complexion and did he
speak English ?' The reply of Marshal
Grouchy affirmed the correctness of this
description He said: 1t accorded with
Ney: that he had served in the same divi-
sion with Ney, before they were respec
lively promoted; that he did speak English;
this he knew, as he mentioned on one occa
sion when some English prisoners had been
taken, that Ney had himself examined
them apart" Subsequently the same iu-
quiries were addressed TO Minister William
II. Crawford Of Georgia, who had seen
much of Ney while in France Crawford's 5
testimony on the subject of Ney's personal
appearance also affirmed the description
given above. He said that Marshal Ney
seemed to be much attached to himself.
and often visited him at his hotel, but
never spoke word of English while in his
ba n g., Il;
speak one word of French.
The conferences were conducted through
Or. jackson, Secretary of the Legation
When, on his return to this country, Mr.
Crawford was told of Ney's familiarity
with the English language, he was con
founded, as well he might be. He men
thus speaking through an Interpreter, Ney
should yet have more frequently sought
him out, have appeared more attached to
him. and been more with him than any
officer of rank he met with. Crawford
acknowledged the mystery. The Difficult
ties of the interpreter in the interviews
between Ney an6 the former were no diff
cuities to Ney. How he must have smiled
in his sleeve at the tedious process of ren-
deriug in French for his benefit what he
was already in possession of. Now why
should Ney seek a stranger with whose
language he pretended to be totally unfa
mliar, seek him frequently and conduct
his dialogue through an Interpreter, when
all the while he knew the language of the
person he spoke with just as we'll as the
latter? Why the mystery9 1t may some
what account for it to remember that the
stranger was from the land of Rudulph S
birth, that he came from pant of the
country in which Rudulph not only served
for considerable time, but in which he
resided for a time, where he had formed
several intimacies, and where he had rela-
tions still. That distinguished French Off
Ger, General Lallemand, resided about the
years 1918 and 1919 in the neighborhood OF
Philadelphia, and when the rumor was in
circulation which announced the identity OF
! No,, with R1dulnh bp said he cOnrurre1