Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-10
COLONEL CROzET RESTS
IN AN UNMARKED GRAVE
Constructive Genius, Who Served
& Virginia Long and Faithfully, .
s-"~-~ Sleeps in Cemetery.
FOLLOWED NAPOLEON TO END
Then Came to America, Becoming
Active in This State-Sword and
Cross OF Legion of Honor Is Pre-
scntcd to West Point.
BY q, wATsoN LANES Ju

scented to West Point.
BY G, WATSON JAMES, JR,
A philosopher tells us that history
repeats itself. and there are some
who arsue that our lives and des-
tinies are like comets whirling
through space in we'll defined orbit.
beyond our finite minds to grasp. and
though hundreds Of years may elapsc
We retrace our steps through the
medium Of history 10 the starting
point. This latter contention was
forcioly exenplitied when the. final
sinia's most inustrious foster:sons
was enacted Mt the West Point Mill
tary Academy recently. when James
toyntz Nelson. Of Richmond on be-
of tails city, presented the sword and
Cross of the Legion OF Honor OF her
grandfather. Colonel Claude Crozet.
to the museum of that institution.
Mr.. Nelson's description of his re-
ccption upon this notable occasion Is
most entrancinE In conversation
met at the station by Captain Nibbs,
acting ndjutant TO General Douglas
Macarthur, superintendent of the
academy. and who. 1t will be remcm-
bered. led the famous Rainbow Di-
vision In France and won by his valor
the CroiS de Gucrre. the War Cross
OF Italy. the order OF Leopold. OF
R Bel and the military medal OF
he naturally expected to meet a
Erizzled old warrior, but instead he
shaver, boyish laugh in his voice.
and no one 10 look at him would
have supposed that he had led that
distinguished American lighting ma
chine through that hell from Lane
willie TO Sedan, or had been twice
wounded.
Ceremony Is imperative.
The ceremony of placing the sword
which Colonel CroLet wore on the re-
treat from Moscow and the cross
Ronap.rte in the charge OF the oili-
cials of the academy was simple and
impressive As simple and imprSs,
wore them. AT the conclusion OF the
brief ceremony Mr.. Nelson was taken
in charge by Colonel Gustav +. Fic-
that occupied by Colonel Crozet in
the carly part Of the last century.
When his host found tina; he was
talking TO man who had been Il
student under Robert f. Lee there
was nothing in that historic insti-
tute in hospitality or feast for the
eye too good for him.
The presentation of these relics is
of man TO whom Virginia owes q
debt she can never repay.
amply siEnirics the basis OF ali the
internal improvements in Virginia in
the last century. and incidentally a
great deal OF American history, A.
though not native of this State
Croset was Virginian in ideals. de-
Alas, since 1865. Virginia has al
lowed this distinguished fos,er-son
10 sleep in an unmarked grave within
tho historic Enclosure Of Shockoe Hill
CeInetery. II was only by change
gr.va and those OF his son Almond
ana daughter Adele. who. like him,
have not even Il marker above them.
VIII Publish biography.
have spoken of the incident at
West Point as being next TO tho last
chapter. the last will DO the publi-
Gallon Of his biography by Mr.. Nell
son. who has spent years in collect
ins the data for this absorbing work,
Through the kindness OF Miss Mills
and OF hers. the bioErapher has
aocu,nents which trace with uner-
.Srink accuracy the life OF this once
{ soldier OF The Grande Armee."
J THIS biography win be. one OF the
n H The last at decade. The pieeins ' to-
Z geoier OF the life OF this man from
the record in the State Library will
I Claude crozet was born at vnle-
f5nsh rn q, s ihe R1%ne
3 ned By The original document signed
: Seloe, minister 10 the Secretary OF
!, War. dated April II. 1915, which &C.
: (ctaude) captain iie.the royal corps
: OF artillery. The. .n2 zriase contract
Z between crozei and Mile. Aga,he de
q Francois crozet and rierrete Var
8; ions.
& These two PAPERS; !, is interesting
e Tie II Knox Wilson, IL MA' papers, eao"" an nd
= around them fingers unique story
Taien puts TO elPsa the Ws wilde st
: this city " Ap paSehased A0 mahogany
= brass- bound escrltore which once be-
& lonsed TO Colonel Crozet In this
= PIECE or furniture were discovered TWO
= secret drawers, one OF which con-
= tanned number OF personal papers
q Of Colonel Crozet and which have
y been turned oyer 10 Alr. Nelson,
= 70 return. however. 10 the thread
= OF has he. We md in an order Of the
Minister OF War, dated at Paris. Oc-
Z. toter %. 1907. that Crozet, Us the re-
suit OF an examination a, the 'IiEcole
= Po!!technique.' was twenty-drst o:
:. the students approved for admission
= inte.the school of Prae<ice" at Metz
ant.
A9,cv two years at the school at
e Aetz ne was assigned to the emper-
= ing there IN tine - DC in the en-
= 60 sciHent at WagTam Here ne had
an Srpo;iqnily 10 Witness the move
conald At;er this memorable battle
]. he vas entrusted with the protect ION
:. OF The bridge at CharentorI-le-p ont.
\ one. OF the principal Gcfences at the
gates OF Paris. and then for the fol-
LOWING two years he saw service in
= Germany and Holland, being pro.
,-noecd 10 The rank Of captain and re-
ceiving the cross OF the Legion OF
Honor from the Little Corporal. lie
+, wac then assigned to the iInpcr!a
.@corp: OF artillery attached 10 Mar
r~shai Ney's division. which was then
1prePaIing for the memorable cam
.Spaisn in Russia During that mos;
-traSic retreat In ali the realm OF his.
tory, he Vas taken prisoner and sen,
! aEby one Of the Russian princes TO hi:
AcasQe. where he remained an hon.
aored guest rather than hostage until
the treaty OF Paris ana Napoleon's
I; I'm car recreation at Eiba.
Writes "GraInnnne Rusaeo
In this long exile from his natiy,
Sol. he wrote what Is known in tht
kno1- w i!son collection as Gram.
narIe Russo" II is IN manuscript and
ICON Gains ABOUT liz pages. This i.
Ioniy one OF the many nIanuscr!pts In
@fhe COLLECTION Of the b.ographer al
. Sof which rcvea! Crozets amaz!nc
SGifts as mathematician and !inpuIst
stto say nothing OF his ability AS
Historian. The restored Bourbof
\ kim. Louis XVIII, seeking 10 con.
q l.Ctlitate the BOnaDhrtiSts rr.red -