The New York herald., 1878-12-16
CLUSERET AND SIMON
Sharp Reply Of the General to the
Historian Of Thiers.
JULES SIlI0N'S MEASUREMENTS.
Cluseret Porlrays His Military Career in
France, Italy and America.
MIGHT HAVE INITIATED B0NAPARTE.
An Insight Into the Workings OF the
Commune in 1870.
JULES SIMON'S MEASUREMENTS.
MIGHT HAVE INITIATED BONAPARTE.
CoNsrANTrSopLE, Nov. 90. 1873.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HElsALD:--
have just read the abusive extracts in tine HERALD
Of October IS which taken from NJ jules ST.
mons book upon the Commune. Hitherto have
not thought it worth the time to reply to the thou
sand and diatribes of petty paragraphers. whom
cannot fairly strike. But scarcely ignore NJ.
Jules Simon, Minister OF Public Instruction, member
of the International Chief of the Cabinet and PAM
phleteer will not call him historian. because l
hope to demonstrate in very brief space that, at
least in the matter concerning myself, there is not
one word of truth in all that NJ. Simon has written
and If all the rest Of the book is in fear
the HERALD has been somewhat hasty in. announcing
it a history Of the Commune. Th at history
has yet to be written rather it has yet to be pub
lished for Felix Pyat the author. the only man ca
pable of writing such work. refuses to print until
he can date it from Paris. And l have followed NJ
Pyas example,. e., touching the events with which
personally familiar While awaiting this oppor
tunity which cannot be far distant to reveathe
history trust that the HERALD having inserted the
error. will also publish the correction In coun-
try of "a free fight and fair play" hope am entitled
to fair hearing. According to theextracts printed
in the HERALD was compelled to leave tho French
army owing to ''irreguar conduct
'.an adventurer;'' "the tool of NJ Caayon
Latour;" / was .colonel and general under
Garibaldi:" was "only coloner' in the United
States; that took part in the attack on Chester
vanced radical journals in England" thatI wanted
to be dictator;" that l 'lacked hrmness." Is this
all? All! was "haus,hty.'
GnEs RECORD.
This is long list OF accusations. but will do my
impartial American. First. to my ''irregua.' con-
duct" entered themitary academy OF St. Cyr III
February. ls4l l. left j the institution as
commanded by my father. ! served success-
fully lieutenant captain and chief Of battalion i
the Fifty fifth and ty-eghth regiments OF the line
| the Third Fourth and Eighth Chasseurs and the
Twenty third and Sixth OF the Garde Mobile.
| In July. 1858. l rendered my resignation.
| not because compelled to. but, in the first
place. because wished no longer to Napolcon
secondly, because I;wshed thoroughly to study my
profession and fst that the French army could
teach me nothing more. Not only Is this true, but
offered and refused previously. Il was oniv when
stated my intention to retire to my estate that my
resignation accepted. Now. if NJ jules Simon is
| the French army acquainted with, will inform
him to this cxtcnt:--There is in every corps
having page devoted to him, which
inscribed all the punishmcnts meed out to him.
and generally all the important incidents of his mill
tary These archives preserved by the
thorities and may always be consulted In fact. this
it is impossible for officer to shroud the smallest
event of his life. These registers existence,
and think all earnest minds will agree with me me
consult authentic sources for the truth. Not
consulting such information, and contenting
himself with title tattle, Mr. Simon remains
| simply pamphlotcer and not a historian.
II he had performed his duty in this respect he
| would have that during nearly Sixtecn years
service officer the only pnnishmenM suffered was
fifteen days of confinement for having termed
my colonel an "old blockhead;" this said to my
fathers successor. certainly meritcd the punish
ment; but did this constitute irregular conduct?"
| MUSTERED OUT NAPOLEON.
On the of the coup d etat and 1.200 other Off
GERS of republican tendencies were retired from the
active list. Our influence the army
| feared. Was this irregular conduct? man.
who can be charged with irregular conduct in the
1c, 1v.,, 1,rJ
! or one who refuses to pay his just debts. never
| gambled in my life. never wus intoxicated and
defy any to name an individual in France Italy,
America anywhere else to whom am indebted to,
the extent OF cent. l will add here that had,
scarcely left the French army when received dozens
of letters from many of my former comrades asking
permission to serve under my orders and expressing
readiness TO resign their commissions to follow me,
j still have these letters and shall publish them ut
| the proper time together with other documents.
Such was the feeling between me and my
| comrades A fow months before re.
/ signed three officers selected from the
entire army to confer them the of officer Of
| the Legion of Honor. had been cnevaer for ten
| years. was the second chosen for the honor the
! first being Foucault. aidedecamp to the Marshal
Governor Whoever is acquainted with the usapes in
the French army knows that this distinction
conferred except upon superior officers, never upon
captains. and for the strongest reasons never upon
| conduct hope have sufficiently proved ON this
point that M. jules Simon has deceived the public. il
he has not deceived himself, concerning my private
/ GOES TO ITALY UNDER GAnIBAIpr.
Il i
| have given my reasons for leaving the French
4 army. My reason for going to Italy was.
to complete my military education, or in
more common parlance, to learn my trade, a black
i smith who wished to become q master OF tho forge.
Fearing, however, that might be taken for advcn-
turer took the only rrecaution Icould-viz.. Sc
cured regular letters of introduction Taking the
military idea first, and as matter of fact my general
i of division, Rcnault, who aferward slam at
! Champigny recommended me personally TO Generals
La Marmora and Vamarine. Henri Martin. the
/ a PcuOt
Y me letters to Caribaldi. l began my military
career in Italy adedecamp to General Garibaldi.
After 10 short time thinking could do better. took
command of the French legion and performed tho
| duty of advance guard But my rank not
changed that account, and it was not until after
had been wounded at tho siege of Rome that was
Il peace had been declared to the rank OF stan major
7 general of the army. was neither colonel nor gen.
eral In Italy. was made major for the second time
then received the rank Of lieutenant colonel upon the
| Vrld of battle. On this point again NJ Simon evil
! gently did not know what he was writing about.
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
II,.1SG1 the broke out in the United States and
the ,ame motives that had led me to Italy then led
| me America. 1t was natural that should desire
| 10 take part in which would affect to such
| degree ihe future of republicans in Europe. l
addresses myself to Mr. George Marsh, our Minister
at Turin, asking him to send an account OF my pre-
| yious sereccs to Washington. and inquire whether
/ fle goverinuent would give me a command When
! an aiirmathe reply came l Immediately sent in my
resignation 80 the King His Majesty hatly refused
A. arce,t IL II required all my cntrcaty and argi-
ment and mediterranean OF the di Castigone
who held h!en position near the person OF victor
Emmanuel. to inducc the King TO give his consent 10
/ NV departure. took with me a four-pagcd letter
/ from tiaribaIi TO General Mcclellan the longest
i letter Ciaribaidi wrote. In this document he
/ made what appcaxcd to mc somewhat exaggerated
estimate of my services and explained the reasons
/ why he had hastcnod to say this much for me. Me-
xlcilan las This Interesting autograph. Generals
/ vozenz ana Ayizzara also gave ine testimonials in
| Their own handwriting. Count Pulski, the famous
| I.,nnaran exile, was my trcnd and gave inc letter
| 10 Mr. Seward. Hcnri Martin recommended me TO
Sen ator Charles WIN remained my friend TO
| .hn dav ~ MA DEATH when be wrote to me at yor-
| sailkss, after the Commune, he said-"l may not
| hayc been able to explain all your Politi-
| your friends in America still retain their
| cstcemI' l still have that letter. Mr. Marsh
| gave np o personal letter to General John a.
i Dix Cornot wrote that he and his friends agreed
i with me on my Judgment of affairs in America.
plnfnu asked permission to dedicate to mo his "Rol