The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-01
An OLD Soldier

Col. John Frederick Won Wcrlcr, aged
ninety nine years, is an inm,tc of The Old
Mans Homc, at Baltimore. He gives the
following account of his life,
81 was born Oh the lst of january, 1880,
i'll East Prussia, about ten niles from the
City of Berlin. ~ strong Inclination for n
military life led me to entel the Prussian
army in the year 1896 us an ensign. In the
year 1900 was promoted toa Licutcnancy,
and in 1906, when the war between France
and Prussia broke out, w wls advanced to
the rank OF Captain. In tlc great battles
OF Jena and Auerstadt, 50 disastrous to
Prussia, l was made a prisoner of-war by
the French. Bcwitchcd By the brilliant
gcncralship Of Napoleon l., entered the
French service as captain in the Cavalry
1t was in the years lS07-8 that | fought in
Spain, and while in Granada, in 1908,
married Senorita Mariana Glacia Nclasuucz.
daughter of Alfonso Marilb Vclasuucz, a
grandee Of the Kingdom. Early in 1909
was promoted to ColoncEy and ordered
back to Germany to conmlnd Il regiment
in the campaign against Austria. | was in
the great battles of AspGn, Eschingen,
Wagram, and many other engagements of
less importance. After tho battle of Wa
gram, was made first AIDE dc Camp to
Gen. Murat, Napolcon's brothcr-in-law,
who was afterward King of Naples aud
Conlnlandcrin-c chief Of the French cavalry.
| attended the wedding Df Napoleon to
Maria Louisa, daughter Of the Emperor
Francis of Austria, in 1870. 1t was late
iii loll when | was Ordc,od to Join the
Grand Army Of Invasion into Russia, which
started in the spring Of 1879. On account
of Murat being ordered to Italy, | was ap-
pointed First Ade-de- Camp to Marshal
Ncy, who was Napolcon's "right hand
man during that campaign. l took part
i'll the fight on the banks Of the Moskwa,
which opened the gates of Moscow, the an
ccnt capital Of the Empire. l entered the
city with Napoleon in all his glory, and
was Quartcrcd with his staff in the ancient
Castle of the Krcmln until the city was set
on fire aud almost annhihtcd by the Rus
slams themselves. Then commenced that
terrible retreat through snow and ice, almost
too awful to remember, with an infuriatcd
enemy at our backs. This retreat, as YOU
know ended Ia the destruction Of NaDolcon's
army. After the fearful battle on the
banks of the River BcIcsina, of my own
regiment, 1,S00 strong when we crossed
the Russian frontier in the spring of 1912,
only thirteen rc-crosscd it in tho winter,
and these were all wounded or sick from
cold or utter desttutin. l was myself
twice wounded at Bcrfsina, from which
still suffer occasionally. After my return
| was laid up in hospital for several
months, and afterwards rejoined the Prussi-
an army with the rank of Colonel, and fought
in all the principal battles in 1918, entering
France, and aftcrward Paris, in 1915 fought
at Ligny and Waterloo and again entered
the Capital of France.
sit was In 1916 and 1877 that obtained
leave of absence and travelled with Col.
Cominsky through Turkey, Egypt and Alb
yssinla, where l first met Lord Byron. l
was with this celebrated parsonage for some
time. In lS10I joined tho secret league
for the liberation of Greece and assisted
Alexander Ypsylanti in organizing the
Greek insurrcction. I can talk Creek flu
emily. l fought from 1920 to 1927 for this
cause, until Greece was free. During that
timo I renewed my acquaintance with
Lord Byron, and had frequent interviews
with him until his death in the ruins Of
Missolonghi. In 1928 l entered the French
army again, and was attached to the forces
destined for the subjugation of Algiers,
where l remained for nine years engaged in
active service against Ab-dcl-Kader and
brahim Pashas, Bedouin Arabs In the
year 1887 returned once more to Germany
and spent part of the time until 1S4S> tray
cling through France, Italy and Turkey.
In the latter year was forced to leave
} Germany for political reasons, and embark
cd for the United States. 1t was in Octo-
Der of the year 1S4S landed in Baltimore
with my wife and two sons and one daugll-
ter We settled in West Virginia, where
established nursery for flowers and choice
plants, and we did we'll until 1862, when a
great flood came and swept away every
thing, leaving us almost in utter destitution.
then went to st. Louis, and in 1854 to
South Carolina, where it seemed once more
as If should spend the rest of my days in
peace and case, but the War broke out,
wrccking our happiness and fortune. In
1852, my two sons fell in the ranks of the
Confederate army, and in 1864 death de-
prived me of my wife and daughter. After
the War went once more to the West,
staying some time in Missouri and Iowa,
but finding no rest. Aftcrward, on the in
vitation of friend, ] visited Florida, where
l remained several years. until compelled
to seek relief for my rapidly failing eye
sight.