Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-19
AN OLD SOLDIERS HISTORY.
4 Prussian Who Fought in NapoleOn's
Army and with Lord Byron in Greece.

Army and with Lord Byron in Greece.
In an account Of the Aged Mems
Home in Baltimore, the Baltimore
american gives the following sketch Of
one Of its inmates:
The door of the room at the end Of
the corridor was opened, and inside
was the most iiustriouS OF the inmates
o. the home,-C9l. John Frederick
Won Werder, who is now Just 80 years
z months and n days old. Col Won.
Werder has had remarkable history,
but he looks rs hale aud hearty as the
youngest man in the home. He is
about five feet six inches in height.
rather stout, with - pleasant face. His
head is nearly bald, but what remains
of MS hair is rs white as the driven
snow. His long beard is also exceed
ingly white. His teeth are good for n
man lacking but five months of 100
years of age, while his hearing is ex.
cellent; the only failing is that his
eyes are giving out. He walks about
with cane, and enjoys life as best he
can. He spoke of his late travels in
the east-Japan, China, East Indies,
and other places-and said. II have
travelled much on four legs meaning
that he had ridden a great deal. II
have gone millions Of miles-millons
he continued, and when questioned
as to his life he gave the following
abstract:
81 was born on the LIT of January,
$780, in East Prussia, about ten miles
from the City of Berlin. A strong in
clination for u military life led me to
enter the Prussian army in the year
1896 as an ensign. In the year 1900
was promoted to IL lieutenancy, and in
1906 when the war between France
and Prussia broke on, was advanced
to the rank of captain. In the great
battles of jena and Buerstadt, SO disas-
trous to Russia, | was made u prisoner
of-war oy the French. Bewitched by
the brilliant gcneralship of Napoleon
L., entered the French service as
captain in the cavalry. II was in the
years lS06'8 that ! fought III Spain,
and while in Granada. in 1908, married
Senorito Mariana Fracia Nelasquez,
daughter of Alphonso Marillo Veiasquez
grandee Of the kingdom. Early in 1909
! was promoted to colonelcy ana ordered
back to Germany to command q regl
ment in the campaign against Austria.
| was in the great battles Of Aspern,
Eschlingen, Wagram, and many other
engagements ofess Importance After
the battle Of Wagram | was made first
aide-de-camp to Ger. Murat, Napo-
Icons brother-in law, who was alterward
King Of Naples and commander-in-
caief OF the French cavalry. ! attend
cd the wedding Of Napoleon to Maria
Louisa, daughter of the Emperor
Francis Of Austria, in 1910. 1t was
late in 1911 when | was ordered to
JON the grand army Of invasion into
Russia, which started III the spring of
1912. On account Of Murat being or
dered to Italy, was appointed first
aide-d e-cnmp Il Marshal Ney, who was
Napoleon's ''risr'. hand man" during
that campaign [ took part in the
fight on tie banks of MoskNa, which
opened tho gates of Moscow, the ancient
capital of the empire. | entered the
city with Napoleon in all his glory, and
was quartered with his staff in the
ancient castle of the kremlin until the
Guy WIS set pH mrs dill dllllbSl bi-
initiated 10y the Russians themselves.
Then commenced that terrible retreat
through snow and ice. almost too awful
to remember, with an Infatuated enemy
Mt our backs. This retreat, ms you
know, ended in the destruction of Napo-
Icons army. Alter the fearful battle
on the banks of the river Beresina, of
my own regiment, 1880 strong when
we crossed the Russian frontier III the
spring of 1872, only thirteen re-crossed
ii in the winier, and these were all
wounded or sick from cold or utter
restitution. | was myself twice wound
cd mt Beresina, from which still suffer
occasionally. After my return | was
laid up in II hospital fer several months,
and after recovery rejoined the Prus-
sian army with the rank of colonel,
and fought in all the principal battles
during 1913 entering France, and after
ward Paris, il 1914 with the allied
armies. In 1915 fought at Ligny and
Waterloo, and again entered the capital
Of France.
1t was in 1916 and lSl7 that | OBJ
tanned leave of absence and travelled
with Col. Cominsky through Turkey,
Egypt and Abyssinia, where | first
met Lord Byron. | was with this cele-
hrated parsonage for some time. In
1919 | Joined the secret league for the
liberation OF Greece, and assisted Alex
ander Ipsylanti i'll organizing the Greek
instruction. | can talk Greek tluently
fought from 1920 until 1872 for this
cause, until Greece was free. During
that time renewed my acquaintance
with Lord Byron, aud mad frequent
interviews with him until his death in
the ruins of Missolonghi. In ISIS en-
tered the French army again, and was
attached to the forces destined for the
subjugation of Algiers, where | remained
for nine years engaged IN active service
against Ab-del. kader and lbrahim Pas
has, Bedouin Arbs. In the year 1857
| returned once more to Germany and
spent part of the time until 1S4S in
travelling through France, Italy, and
Turkey. In the latter year wasforced
to leave Germany for political reasons,
and embarked for the United States.