The Opelousas courier., 1888-09-29
Death of ex-Marshal Bazaine.

- + g e "M
N. o. Times democrat, "a.
A cable dispatch printed else
where announces the death of
this noted ex-Marshal Of France,
yesterday at Madrid, Spain, in
which capital he had lived al
most continuously since his es-
cape from prison in the Island
ofSte. Marguerite in 1874. The
deceased was a conspicuous
figure in the military life of
France, and but for his action in
the matter of the surrender of
the fortress of Metz during the
Franco-Prussian wal would
doubtless have ended his days
in his native country in opnlence
and crowned with honors.
Francois Achille Bazaine was
born on Feb. II, 1911, and was
therefore seventy-seven years of
age. He entered the army from
the Ecole Polytechnique in 1881,
served in Africa in 1882 and
was promoted 5SIlieutenancy
in 1886, having received the
Gross of the Legion of Honor
on the battlefield. After en-
gaging in the campaigns against
the Carlists in 1887, he was made
a captain and returned to AL
geria in 1889. In 1853 he was
engaged in the campaign against
Sebastopol, and was honorably
mentioned in the dispatches of
Marshals Canrobert and Pellls-
sier. He was subsequently made
a General of division. In 1862
he accepted a command in the
French expedition TO Mexico,
where he greatly distinguished
himself and succeeded to the
supreme command in 1868. He
was created a Marshal of France
Sept. ), 1864, having been pre-
viously nominated Commander
of the Legion of Honor in 1856,
and Grand Cross in 1868. His
aggressive and in many ways
brilliant campaigns i'll Mexico
are matters of latter day history
with which readers on this side
of the water are more or less ia
miliar. He evacuated Mexico, as
is we'll known, with the French
forces in March, 1867. The
same year he was appointed to
the Third Army Corps, and in
October, 1869, he was noml,
mated Commanders n-Chief OF
the Imperial Guard. He dis
tinguished himself ia tae early
stages of the Franco Prussian
war, and Oh the capitulation OF
Sedan he retired with his com,
mand to Metz, which he surren'
dered after a seige OF seven
weeks to the German forces I'M
der Prince Frederick Charles
He was summoned to Versailles
from England, whence he had
gone after his capitulation, by
the military commission OF the
National Assembly, and subse
quently tried for alleged inca
pacity and with a treasonablt
design of making himself, by The
aid of his army and the comm
vance of the enemy, independ
ent of the government OF Ma
tional Defense.
The court martial returned NJ
direct verdict on the charge o
politicial bad faith, but he wa
unanimously found guilty of no
having done all that was requir
ed by duty and honor and sen
fenced to degradation and death
The court, however, recon
mended him to mercy. Presi
dent MacMahon committed TIN
sentence of death to confinement
for twenty years in a fortress
but RENTED the ceremon.
which according to law accom-
, panies the sentence of degrade
tion. He was, however, dis
!, missed from the army and sen
to undergo his sentence at tn
island from which he subse
quently escaped with the assls
/, Itance of his wife and her cousin
, He afterward went soCologne
} spent a short time in Englan
and then toeB up his residenc
in Spain. He published in til
New York Herald, in 1874, a
!, elaborate apology for his cor
| duet at Metz, and in 1888 b
! published 4 book dedicated /
i Queen Isabella III, in which b
| describes the part he took in th
, Franeo-Prnssian war. Nine. b;
; zaine has been from first to las
ia most loyal and devoted vii
to her distinguished but III
happy husband, and had share
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