The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-10-05
WHO WAS MARSHAL NEY.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, May l5.-For so1ne
weeks past have noticed various accounts
Of the alleged relationship by descent of
the lady Of our worthy chief magistrate,
Mrs. Garfield, to the world-renowned
grand marshal, Michael Ney nee Rudolph !;
and thinking it might be interesting to
! some Of your many readers to have some
"reminiscences Of the alleged birthplace and
early history OF that remarkable person.
age, will, as briefly as can, give an out
line Of the tradition.
AS far buck as 1888 the writer had often
heard the story related from the lips OF the
late Dir. Tobias Watkins, native Of An
napolis, Md, who during The aunlinfstra-
tion ofJohn Quincy tdams, WAS appointed
fourth auditor Of the treasury. The doc
tor was one Of the most accomplished
bellesIettres scholars Of his time, and re-
signed his position as surgeon in the navy
TO accept the duties gt auditor. He
stated that Michael Rudolph, together
with several brothers, were born and
raised on Elk river, in Anne Arundel
county, Maryland. His parentsge, be-
lieve, was Swiss, and spoke not only En-
glish, but q French pstois, rs did he.
Michael Rudolph moved from that section
of.the country to the vicinity Of Savannah,
Ca, at an early day, and engaged in plant
ing. Whether he married prior to his lesv-
ing Maryland, Or after locating in Geor-
gia, | have forgotten. However, he was
married at the time he WAS living la Geor-
gia, and by the marriage had two boys.
He left his plantation on business trip to
New Orleans, where he WAS detained some
little time. Upon his return, something.
aroused his jealous doubt as to the fidelity
Of his wife. He severely punished the pre-
sumed author OF his troubles, leaving him
IN a dying condition, gathered together
what personal effects he could take with
him, and left, with his two little boys, in
& French ship then lying in the harbor Of
Savannah, destined for Bordeaux. Moth
ing more was heard Of him definitely,
though rumors to the effect OF his troubles
and subsequent arrival in France had
reached his friends in Maryland.
The time of his leaving the United States
and the time Of his turning up Ia the
French army, were III chronological order.
Every school boy is familiar with the man
ncr in which he rose from the ranks and
won the high encon,ium Of "Le plus brave
des braves by Napoleon. The change of
his name from Rudolph to NeT was evil
IDENTIFY al effect Of modification Oh his
proud nature, for Ney would as nearly ex-
press nothing" as he could wish. French
historians nave differed materially as to
his birthplace and early history, aome
stating that he was the son Of a notary in
one Of the taubourgs Of Paris, others that
he Was the son of faninn-keeper Gascony,
ETC.. but all anxious 70 claim him as
Frenchman. In 1S43 ] frequently met
with a DIR. Earl, OF Philadelphia, who was
yisitinggW ashington, and in the course Of
our interviews he, in speaking Of Napoleon
and his marsllals, alluded TO the alleged
by birth, and stated that he had been trav- /
cling over Europe at his leisure, making
all the inquiries possible to find out al he
could upon that subject, and the more he
pursued his inquiries the more he became
convinced Of the alleged fact. Irelnarked
that had heard thenlatter ye-y earnestly
asserted by my friend Watkins, and would
be much pleased to bring them together,
SO as to compare notes. did 50, and tho
result was that their belief as to Marshal
Ney. and Michael Rudolph being one and
the same person was firmly established in
their minds, and corroboratiye of this
theory were two or three prominent facts,
VIZ:
When the French feet under llltnirgl
d Estaing was blockaded in Annapolis
bay BY al English fIeet, many Of the or
ficers who were acquainted with Magahal !
Ney would daily visit the city, and when, t