The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-04-11
THE NEY MYTH.


Romantic Story of the Great Soldier.
Career in America.
The Ney myth comes to the front once
more, and this time it is deliberately sci
forth in a book written by Rev. James
A. Weston, of Hickory, N. c. Mr.. Yves
ton is an Episcopal clergyman, a schol
arly gentleman, and he is firmly con
WINGED that the Peter Stuart Ney who
taught school and died in Rowan County
n. c., in 1876, was the vertable Mich ae
Ney, the Marshal of France, who was
called by Napoleon the braveSt of the
brave.
In this strangely intereresting book VIZ
are told the names and given the test
mony of many prominent citizens o.
Carolinas who knew Peter Stuart Ney
and who were satisfied that he was the
great French soldier. From all accounts
the man was the very image of the Mar
shall. He was very reticent, but occasion
ally took too much wine and then made
admissions tending to show that he wa.
Michael Ney. He tried to commit suicide
when he heard of Napoleon's death. He
told Colonel Houston, of Iredell county
n. c., that when he marched to the
place of execution he found that the
soldiers detailed to do the work belonged
to his old command. He whispered tt
them to aim high. They obeyed him.
and when the volley was fired he fell
was pronounced dead and his body was
turned over TO his friends. He went
secretly to Bordeaux, where he took 6
vessel for Charleston, landing there il
January, 1916.
Now, what are the facts on the Other
side? The North Carolina NeY was a
school teacher. The real Ney was man
of hardly any education. The NORTH
Carolina Ney sometimes got drunk. The
real Ney was noted for his abstemious
habits.
Why should any secrecy have been
necessary? If Ney had escaped he would
have been free, and perfectly safe or
these shores. He was not obliged to re
main III exile. Amnesty was granted by
Louis XVIII, Charles Y and Loui:
Philippe, and if Ney had been living hi
would have returned to France under
the reigns of either of these sovereigns.
But this is not all. The story will not
hold water. Napoleon told his friends al
St. Helena all about Ney's execution
He, at least, would have been informed
of his old marshal's escape. Montholor
in his memoirs describes the execution
Bourienne gives minute detail Tn,
members of the Ney family have time
and again repudiated tue North Caroline
Ney.
Aud yet many of the best and mos
intelligent people of the Carolinas have
believed for the past 60 years, and still
believe, that Peter Stuart Ney, the
school teacher, was the famous hero oil
the First Empire. They believed it be-
cause he looked like Ney, lived life Of
mystery, and now and then told friend
in confidence that he was Michael Ney
1t is useless to argue with people when
they take up a fad. Some people believe
that Wilkes Booth is alive. Some be-
lieve that the Rev. E!eazer Williams was
the son OF Marie Antolnette, and some
believe that Brigham Young did not die,
but went off to live somewhere under an
assumed name.
After all, it it well that the Ney myth
has been made the theme of a book. 1t
will now attract more attention, and the
evidence against it will be presented in a
shape that will dispose of the story tor
ever.