The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-07-15
Was a Ready Wit.


For half his life he wore a silver plate
as a substitute for a portion of his abdo-
men, torn off by a wound that would
have killed most men, but which he
survived, to rise by personal merit to
highest command in the army of hlS
country and TO lead her forces in brilliant
campaigns against the PrusSians, III sup
pressing the Commune and into Africa.
/ His ready wit and terse incisiyeness
made him the subject of many stories
and helped him to his last victory in the
debate just previous to his resignation
as minister of war.
One of his reports after review of a
cavalry command read: Mems hair too
,ong; horses tails too short The Able
Bauer, meeting the marquis in the street,
playfully gave him military salute. he
Did soldier responded by making the
sign of the cross over the astonished
prelate.
Led Gay Crowds.
Born in Paris, a marquis of the old
petite noblesse 10y right of birth, he en-
listed in the First regiment of hussars
when he had just turned Is. That was
in 1913, the year of the revolution, and
! the young marquis soon won recognition
as noble Partisan. soldier and anti-revo-
! lutionist. a fourfold character he never
| lost throughout his long service. In the
pleasant days when Louis Napoleon was
rising from President to Emperor, de
Gallifet. who had a considerable fortune,
led the gayest set of his day III crack
Drained exploits which kept the city
talking and their families moaning with
apprehension. There was real soldier
in de Gallifet, however, and he won pro
motion to an under lieutenancy in 1898.
Immediately afterward stationed at
Melun. on the Seine, he rode at the head
of his men across pontoon bridge. ana
! in the middle made his horse jump into
the stream swimming ashore, only to
ride back and repeat the exploit.
His Love Affair.
! His attachment for woman not of
/ his social class was worrying his fam
/ ily who almost rejoiced when the young
| lieutenant was ordered to BalacIaVa,
/ though the war in the Crimea was then
well begun. The woman however. went
! to Balaclava ahead of Lieut.. de Gallifet,
whose family quickly obtained an order
! forhiddng his crossing the military lines
around the city. where the woman was
! staying The young lieutenant evaded
! the sentries and won from his pursuers
! in a race across the Intervening plain.
! Active duty in the trenches soon did
! what his family could not accomplish,
and their soldier son forgot all else i'll
! his llllllluGS uititS. lle saw b'tiNt SCI
! ice in the Italian campaign later, and
soon was off to Mexico. From Vera Cruz
! TO Puebla he saw brisk fighting, and was
| there almost torn to pieces by n hand
grenade. which made necessary the sill
yer plate he ever wore.
Made Colonel in 1867.
He was made a colonel in 1867 and
was with the army of the Rhine in the
! Franco PruSSiau war as Il brigadier gem
eral When the commanding officer of
his division fell he took the lead in one
of the impetuous charges which brought
cries of praise from the old Kaiser Will
helm. their foe. Gen de Gallifet was
taken prisoner. and after Sedan was re-
leased Just in time to direct the govern
ment forces in suppressing the Commune
in Paris.
He conducted brilliant campaign
across the desert in Africa against re-
voting tribes in 1873 and returned to
France to be made commander of the
Legion of Honor and general of divi-
sion. He was one of the first of the
recognized royaiists to rally to the sup
port Of the republic and was a personal
friend of Gambetta. Made commander
of an army corps i'll 1879, for many
years he was in charge of the grand
maneuvers and member of the higher
council of war. He retired in 1894 and
was called to the ministry of war in
June. 1899. to leave it after valuable
service in May, 1900.