The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-03-06
MARSHAL NE1.

MARSHAL NE1.
TURXERsBURG, IredelI County, n. c.,
February.-From time to time within
the past few years there have appeared
in print, brief statements seeming to
contradict the account given history OF
the ignominiOus death of Marshal Michel
Ney, the leading hero of the NapOleonic
era. History records as a fact that Mar
shal Ney was publicly shot for treason.
The belief (Which Is general here that
he was not executed, but that he escaped
to America and taught school III the then
backwoods OF Virginia and North Caro-
lima, and finally died in Rowan county
of this state, is based upon the rather
mysterious history of refined and culti-
waited Frenchman, who, III his sober mo-
ments called himself Peter Stuart Ney.
In order to thoroughly investigate this
matter and determine, if possible, if the
history of that strange man can be ident-
fled with that of the renowned French
soldier, a Hcrdld representative has
made a pilgrimage to this region-the
old trampIng ground Of Peter Stuart Ney
and, having spent a week collecting
facts bearing upon the subject, and in
terviewing aged persons who knew him
well, some of whom were his pupils, will
now give the results Of his inquiries for
what they are worth.
HISTORY.
But first let me revert to history and
incorporate here 4 synopsis of what has
been accepted as the true record of the
life and death of the great marshal.
Michel Ney was born January 10, 1863,
in Sarre Louis, Lorraine, twenty-five
miles northeast of Metz, now Prusaian
territory. He was of Scotch extraction
on his mothers side, her maiden name
having been Stuart. His parents were in
humble circumstances of life. AT the
age of 1S Ney entered the army, in 1887,
as hussar, and here began one Of the
most brilliant military careers which his
tory records, not excepting even that
Of the great head of the French army.
He fought his way from the ranks to the
grade of general Of division when only
30 years of age ,l199), and at the age Of
30 he was made marshal tlS0D. His
many hair breadth escapes, his c0Olness
in battle, his innate bravery, are matters
! OF history, and it is not necessary 10
dwell upon them here. While a briga-
der general he distinguished himself at
| DierdOrf, Alteukirchen, and Montab0ur
With 100 cavalry he took :, 1000 prisoners
and obtained possession of Nurburg.
At the battle of Neuwied he had com
mand of the cavalry, and in a furious
charge passed through the Austrian
lines. Here he was wounded in the head,
and becoming entangled under his horse
(both having fallen), he was trampled
over by retreating horsemen, and was
mangled in a manner which makes his
escape a mystery. At Worms, Franken-
thai Frankfort, Stuttgard, and Zurich,
he maintained the bright reputation be
had gained, and, after rising to the rank
of marshal, his career was even more
brilliant. His services at Hohenlinden,
at EIchingen, at Austerlitz, at jena, at
! Magdeberb, his campaign in Spain IN
1909, his conduct at triedlaud, at Bore
dino, and ut Moskva, his command Of
the rear guard during the famous retreat
from Moscow, his victories at Lutz6n,
Bautzen and Dresden, hundreds of bat
ties on the soil of France, and his charge
I at the head OF the famous cold Guard"
at Waterloo, all stamp him the greatest
| soldier of his age, @nd strengthen the
verdict of that grand army of heroes who
named him 1.-The bravest Of the brave.
NEY's SUPPOSED EXECUTION.
After the abdication of Napoleon, Ney
remained in Paris IN almost entire seclu-
sion, finding companionship III books
and quiet dissipation. He gave in a
formal adhesion to the Bourbon dynasty,
! but after Bonaparte returned to France
from Elba the ''bravest of the brave
/. Joined his old commander and followed
the eagle until the star Of the empire
! forever set at Waterloo. The allies, after
/ they assembled in Paris, demanded some
victim to appease their anger. Ney was
! a prominent example. and he was accord
I inglv arranged before the chamber OF
( peers. of which he was a member, for
+ treason, pronounced guilty and there
4 comes the part which the people of this
/ section at least, believe to be false), on
/ the 7th day of December 1915. was pub
I liciy shot in the garden of the Luxem-
bourg, his last words being addressed to
/ the platoon of soldiers drawn up to DO
1 the bloody work, as follows: Fire. my
comrades
Ten balls, says history, entered him
/ and he fell dead.
The last assertion Is the one which Is
/ IUN NtuA6tt, aiItt tiAt tLISCt o4 tiALS III titiS
] is 70 show the grounds for that denial.
his HABITS.
1t is proper however, first to revert 70
history, and mention some Of the charac.
teristics of Marshal Ney. 1t is to be
regretted that his biographer is not more
elaborate IN regard TO the old soldiers
private life, his habits, and his personal
traits. 1t is admitted that Marshal Ney
was kind and gentle to a fault. There
WIS kind OF magnetism about the man
which drew him to the hearts Of all who
/ knew him, Indeed, Napoleon is quoted
as follows The love which the men
bear to Ney wins as many battles for hin
rs does his ammunition He was fond
of books. was mathematician of nc
mean pretensions, and an expert penman.
While he was not dissipsteti man. be
drank wine to excess, and sometimes
lost his equilibrium. Such, IL brief, i,
sketch OF the public career of Niche
Ney, marshal OF France under Napoleon
PETER STUART NEY.