Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-29
Marshal Ney.

tanned an article on Marshal Ney, Civ
ing evidence in support Of the theory
of his American birth, and alludes to
his career in France as follows:
In France Ney joined the army, and
fought as q private under the great Ma
poleon. Egypt, Toulon. the reign of
terror, the consulate, Marengo, and
Austerlitz, the first empire and the one
hundred days, are some of the scenes
of this stirring period with which the
young hero must have been familiar.
His heart was broken by his wife sup
posed treachery and dishonor. His
soul was fired with an ambition for
military glory, and he fought with the
desperation of one who courts death,
and who has everything to win and
nothing to lose in this life
At that time very few of the French
soldiers could write. During the heat
of terrific battle, the story goes, Ma
poleon wanted to send a dispatch. For
the moment his aides had left or been
separated from him. He turned to a
corps near him.
"Can any of you write?"
Private Ney touched his cap.
Come to my quarters. y.
Napoleon dictated q dispatch. AS
the private sat writing ball from the
enemy's cannon tore through the tent
and exploded between the general and
his improvised secretary, blowing up
the ground at their feet. Ney never
looked up nor moved muscle, but,
finishing the line, shook the sand from
the paper, and handing it to Napoleon,
said:
'They have saved me the trouble of
sanding (blotting) the dispatch"
Napoleon could only gaze on the I'M
concerned young man with admiration,
and exclaimed: THE bravest of the
brave!n
From that time Ney's advancement
was very rapid.
The matters here given are not sup
posed to be strictly historical, but are
givenoas remembered by one who heard
them from the mouths of men who
knew the actors in their lifetime.
After the fall of Napoleon and his
Punishment to EIba Marshal Ney, and
the other great generals of the fallen
hero, was released on parole. Then
came the escape from Elba and the one
hundred days. Ney and Murat and the
other great marshals tlocked to the
standard of the little giant. Where
was their word of parole to bear arms
no more against England and the allies
now?
What next? Waterloo. The treach-
cry or imbecility of Grouchy. Napole-
on's defeat! st. Helena for Napoleon.
Court martial and death for Ney, the
brave Murat and the rest.
Before he was shot, Ney confessed to
the judge advocate, who would fain
have defended him, that he was an
American subject. To his sons he said
that his name was Rudolph, and that
he had abandoned their mother and
left her in America.
On his trial. the judge advocate ex-
claimed: '1f [ can save Marshal Ney
by no other means, | now declare that
he is not Frenchman, but
"Hold!' cried the great general. II
l die will die as q Frenchman. Lei
the past be buried with me!'
He died as he had lived. Murat, the
brother-in-law of Napoleon and king o.
Naples, begged that the soldiers would
spare his face. He was very hand
some man and proud of his looks
though as brave as lion.
Ney drew himself up to his full, fold
ed his arms, declined to have his eye;
bandaged, and said:
Fire where you will. l have faced
death too many times to fear it now.
Ready! Alma long, level row
of muskets pointing at the doomed mer
I-"Fire!n A streak of fire runs alOnc
the line, a puff of smoke, report, anC
the soul of the brave Ney had gone t.
Join its maker.