The New York herald., 1879-02-10
The Duke Of Elchingen and
Prince of Moskva.
THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE.
why Could I Not Die for
France?"
DID HE DIE IN NORTH CAROLINA Z?
TURNERsBuRe. Iredell County. n. c..

TURNERsBuRe Ireden County. n. C.,l
Feb. q 1879.
From time to time within the past few years there
have appeared in print brief statements seeming to
contradict the account given in history OF the igno
minous death of Marshal Michel Ney. the leading
hero of the Napoleonic era. History records as
fact that Marshal Ney publicly shot for treason
The belief (which is general here) that he was not
executed but that he escaped to America and taught
school In the then backwoods of Virginia and North
Carolina and finally died in Rowan county. OF this
State. is based upon the rather mysterious history
Of q refined and cultivated Frenchman, who, in
his sober moments. called himself Peter Stuart
Ney. In order to thoroughly investigate this
matter and determine it possible. if the history OF
that strange man can be identified with that of the
renowned French soldier, HERALD representative
has made pilgrimage to this region-the old tramp
ing ground of Peter Stuart Ney-and. having spent
week collecting facts bearing the subject and in
interviewing aged persons who knew him we'll. some
Of whom were his pupils. win now give the results
of his inquiries for what they are worth
HISTORY.
But first let me revert to history and incorporate
here synopsis OF what has been accepted the true
record of the life and death OF the great Marshal
Michel Ney born January 10. 1769 in Sarre Louis,
Lorraine. twenty-five miles northeast of Metz, now
Prussian territory He Of Scotch extraction his
mothers side. her maiden name having been Stuart.
His parents were in humble circumstances Of life.
At the age Of eighteen Ney entered the army in
1857, as hussar, and here began ono Of the most
brilliant military which history records, not
excepting 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 thirty years
of ago u799). and at the age of thirty-hvs he was
made marshal rso4). His many hairbreadth
I,io In hal hia
matters Of history and it is not necessary to dwell
upon them here. While a brigadier general he dis
tinguished himself at Derdorf. Altenkirchen and
Montabour With 100 cavalry he took 1000 prisoners
and obtained possession of Wurzburg. At the battle
of Neuweid he had command Of the cavalry. and in
furious charge passed through the Austrian lines
Here he wounded in the head, and becoming
tangled under his horse both having fallen he was
tramped over by retreating horsemen and
mangled in manner which makes his escape from
death mystery. At Worms. Frankenthal, Frank
fort Stuttgard 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 Elchingen. ut
Austerlitz. at Jena. at Magdeberg. his campaign in
Spain in 1sO9 his conduct at Frodland. at Borodino
and at Moskvs. his command Of the rear guard dur
ing the famous retreat from Moscow. his victories
at Lutzen Bautzen and Dresden. hundreds of battles
on the soil of France and his charge at the head
the famous 'Old Guard" at Waterloo all stamp him
the greatest soldier Of his age. and strengthen the
verdict Of that grand army Of heroes who named him
"the bravest of the brave
NEY's SUPPOSED EXECUTION.
After the abdication OF Napoleon. Ney remained in
Paris IN almost entire secluson. finding companion
ship in books and in quiet dissipation. He gave in
formal adhesion to the Bourbon dynasty but
after Bonaparte returned to France 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 as
sembled in Paris. demanded some victim to appease
their anger. Ney was prominent example. and he
was accordingly arraigned before the Chamber of
Peers. of which he q member. charge Of
treason. pronounced guilty and (here the part
which the people Of this section at least believe toe
be false, the 7th day Of December, 1916. was
publicly shot in the garden Of the Luxembourg. his
last words being addressed to the platoon of sol
diers drawn up to do the bloody work. as follows:-
s.Ten balls" says history, 'entered him, and he
fell dead"
The last assertion is the one which IL now denied.
and the object OF this article Is to show the grounds
for that denial.
1t is proper. however, first to revert to history.
and mention some of the characteristics of Marshal
Eey. 1t is to be regretted that his biographer not
elaborate in regard to the old soldiers private
life. his habits and his personal traits. 1t is admit
ted that Marshal Ncy was kind aud gentle to fault.
There was kind OF magnetism about the man
which drew to him the hearts of all who knew him.
Indeed Napoleon is quoted as follows :-..The love
which the men bear to Ney wins rs many battles for
him as does his ammunition He was fond Of
books, was q mathematician OF no mean pretensions
and an expert pcnman. While he was not dissi-
patcd man he drank wine TO excess. and ometimes
lost his equilibrium. Such, In brief Is o sketch Of
the public career Ut Michel Ney. Marshal OF France
under Napoleon.
will now give full description and history OF tho
French school teacher. Peter stuart Ney obtained
from Rev. Mr. Abea. aged clergyman at Winston,
Mary c. Dalton, OF Eagle Mills. here all OF whom
were pupils OF this inap also have letters from
r.ous other persons VINO knew -Mr. Ney wen iiom
Information Peter Stuart Ney landed ut Charleston.
8. c., the 18th of January. 1916. He lived South
parts OF which State he resided until 1924, when
he came to this urcdoll county and was
gagged by Colonel Francis Young TO teach the
languages to his sons at the Oak Hin Academy. He
continued to teach In this neighborhood ut intervals
until 1888. being able to secure school whenever he
wished. During most OF this time he boarded with
Mr. y. Huston. the father of Ars. Dalton the lady
from whom most OF che Information upon which
this sketch Is based was obtained He was man u
little under six feet In height, not very hcshy but
quito muscular, and weighed about two hundred
on ono side, which he said was a sword wound res
ceived in battle and his face slightly marked with
smallpox MIR. Ncy was good scholar. and possess
the young. he was regarded ~ arst rate teacher
lie was splendid mathematician and seemed to take
great pride in working difhcult problems. Ills
hapdwriting lmany specimens Of which have been
shown me by Mrs. DLton) WAS simply magnificent,
abounding In all kinds of grand and difficult flour
ishes. Mr.. Ncy was expert fencer and taught his
male pupils the art. and after school duties wero
over he would fence with them for hours. seeming
never to tire of the sport. AZ teacher was very
strict and was regarded by his patrons the best
disciplinarian his day, but at the same time no
was very popular with his students, all of whom
loved and revercd him, and, to the language OF
one OF them. would have fought for him and died
for him had II been necessary"
He spent his leisure hours in reading and writing
and would occasionally furnish articles for the
press. lie took large number of leading news.
papers and read them most atentivey. II was his
cnatoln To aft unite late nj MINT nnlx sle ninn