The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-19
MARSHAL NEY.
The Duke of Elchingsn and the
Prince of Moskva.
Strange Theories Advanced as to His
Final Fate.
Was the Bravest of the Brave shot, OF
Did He DIE In North Carolina:
from the New York Herald


from the New York Herald.l
TURNERsBuRG, IredeIl Co., N. C Feb. o.
From time to time within the past few
years, there have appeared in brief state
ments, seeming to contradict the account
given in history of the ignomlnious death
of Marshal Michel Ney, the leading hero of
the NapoIeonic era. History records as
fact that Marshal Ney was publicly shot for
treason. The belief which is general. ,here,
that he was not executed. but that he es
capped to America and taught school in the
then backwoods of Virginia and North Car
DINA, and finally died in Rowan county, OF
this State, is based upon the rather Inysteri-
Gus history of a refined and cultivated
Frenchman, who, in his sober moments
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 identified with that of
the renowned French soldier, Herald rep
resentative has made a pilgrimage to this
region-the old tramplng ground of Peter
Stuart Ney-and, having spent a week col
lecting facts bearing upon the subject, and
IN interviewing 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.
But let me first revert to history and in
corporate here synopsis of what has been
accepted as the true record of the life and
IS IL - NJ
born, January 10, 1863. in Sara Louis. Lor
ralne, 25 miles northeast of Metz, now Prus-
sian territory. He was Of Scotch extraction
on his mothers side, her maiden name hav-
ing been Stuart. His parents were in hum
BILE circumstances in life. At the age of IS
Ney entered the army, in 1887, as hussar
and here began one of the most brilliant
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 so years OF age (1799), and at the
age of 35 he was made a marshal (1S04). His
many hair breadth escapes, his GOODNESS in
battle, his innate bravery, are matters of
history, and it is not necessary to dwell
upon them here. While a brigadier general
he distinguished himself at Dierdorf, Alien
kirchen and Montabour. With 100 cavalry
he took 1000 prisoners and obtained posses
sion of Wurzburg. At the battle. of
Neuweid he had command 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 manner which made his
escape from death a mystery. At Worms
Frankenthal, Frankfort, Stuttgart and
Zurich, he maintained the bright reputation
he had gained, and, after rising to the rank
of marshal, his career was even more
brilliant. His services at Hohenlinden, at
Elchlngen, at Austerlitz, st jena, at Magde-
burg his campaign In Spain in 1909, his
conduct at Friedland, at Borodino and at
Moskva, his command of the rear guard
during the famous retreat from Moscow, his
victories at Lutzen, Bsutzen and Dresde n,
hundreds of battles on the soil of France
and his charge at the head of the famous
..Old Guard" at Waterloo, all stamp him
the greatest soldier of hisage, and strengthen
the verdict of that grand army OF heroes
who named him "the bravest of the brave y
NEYs SUPPOSED EXECUTION.
After the abdication of Napoleon, Ney re
manned in Paris In almost entire seclusion,
finding panionship in books and in quiet
dissipation. He gave In formal adhesion
to the Bourbon dynasty, but after Bonaparte
returned to Francs from Elba the "bravest
of the brave Joined again his old master
and followed his eagles 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 prominent example, and he was &C
cordingly arraigned before the Chamber of
Peers, Of which he was member, on a
charge of treason, pronounced guilty and
there comes the part which the people of
this section, at least, believe to be false) On
the 18th day of December, 1915, was publicly
shot in the garden of Luxembourg, his last
words being addressed to the platoon of SOL
diers drawn up to do 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 now
denied, and the obje ct OF this article is to
show the grounds for that Denial.
HIS HABITS.
It is proper however, first to revert to his
tory, and mention some of the characteris-
tics 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 admit
ted that Marshal Ney was kind and gentle to
| fault. There was kind OF magnetism
about the man which drew to him the
hearts of all who knew him. Indeed, Ma
pcleon is quoted as follows: 1.-THE love
which the men bear to Ney WINS as many
battles for him as does his ammunition" He
was fond of books, was mathematician oil
no mean pretenslons, and an expert penman
/ While he was not a dissi pated man, he drank
wine to excess, and sometimes lost his equi
librium Such, in brief, is a sketch of the
| public career of Michel Ney, marshal o.
France under Napoleon.
PETER STUART NEY.
! 1 will now give full description and his
tory of the French school teacher, Petel
Stuart Ney, as obtained from Rev. Mr.. Albea
an aged clergyman of Winston, N. c.; Mr.
Wilfred Turner, of this place, and Mrs
Mary c. Dalton, of Eagle Mills, near here
all of whom were puppies of this man.
also have letters from various other person.
who knew Mr.. Ney well, from which / viii