Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-08
FAMOUS NICKNAMEs
eBrarest of the Rrare.. !.


 Michel Ney was the best known and the most brilliant of Napoleon Bona parte's marshals.i He was covered with wounds received in a hundred battles. Napoleon himself nieknarned him .'Ths Bravest of the Brave.'e During the early period of the wars of Napoleon, Ney had so distinguished himself in the ser vice and he was known as 'The Inde- fatigable." In September, 1906, he was ordered to march to Wurzburg to join the Grand Army for the war against Prussia. The campaign gave him just those opportunities which he knew sseI well how to seize. and before the war was ended the emperor had changed his sobriquent from 'iTshe Indefatigable" to the "Bravest of the Brave
 Marshall News father was soldier, and he early entered the service he did not win his epaulets until he had served four years, but from that time on his advance was rapid It was in the year, 1900, that he brought the first great glory to himself under Massena and Moreau. and received his nickname 'HThe Indefatigable"
 After the treaty of Luneyille Napo- leon summoned him to Paris and won his affection by the warmth with which he received him. On his departure l Benaparte presented him with sword I Receive this weapon he said, "as a i souvenir of the friendship and esteem 1 I have towards you. It belonged to a. pasha who met his death at Aboukir. :. 1 The sword became Ney's most treasur- ed possession; he was never tired of i handling if, and he never let it go out of his sight; but he little thought what 1 i'll luck it would bring to him later, for 1t was this famous sword which, in l 1915, revealed to the police his hiding place, and thus directly led him to death.
 l Another instance in which Ney proved l that his title of "Brayest of the Brave" l was thoroughly justified, was following l the great battle Of Noskowa in Russia I and the terrible retreat from Moscow. l He commanded the rear guard of the
 army At one point he was attacked I by an overwhelming force of Russians, \ and summoned to surrender
 T "A marshal of Francs never surren- I ders," was his heroic answer, and by l strategy and hard fighting he reachsd Il the wreck of the main army with a Il handful of his original corps. Napoleon welcomed him with joy, for he had given up all hopes of him as captive or slain. The retreat continued and with indomi- Il table bravery and courage Ney still COW : cred the rear. With only thirty men he T defended the gate of Kowno, the last [ Russian town in the march of the ,i French, while his comrades escaped t q the other end. He was the last French
 man to leave the soil of Russia.
 II Like so many other French generals T Ney made his last stand at Waterloo l and went down with Napoleon and the rest. But his bravery was glorious te witness even if it was ineffective. Ma. | poleon staked his last card, when he saN , the battle was about lost, and order tai
 guard to make one last effort to crusf 1 the English infantry.
 I Sword in hand the gallant Ney ief z the magnificent veterans to the attack . But the first Of the English lines sWep l them down by the hundreds. Ney, th, l indonitable, in vain seeking death, wa xl swept away by the mass. His clothin; ai in rags, foaming at the mouth, hi
 broken sword in his hand, he rushel from corps to corps trying to rally th 1 runaWays with taunts of 'CeWards : Have you forgotten how to die?' Fiv Il horses were shot under Ney, his clothe
 were riddled with bullets, but he wa
 reserved for sinister fate.
 sl The marshal returned to Paris afte d Waterloo, where he was arrested, triet
 and convicted, and the sentence of deatl
 was read to him on December 2, 181s o The officer entrusted with the nelaH choly duty commenced to read his u 7 ties, Prince of Moskowa, Duke of Eich inge9, etc. But the marshal cut hir short: "Why cannot you simply say ,- Michel Ney, once a French soldier, an e soon to be heap of dust
 Ney was executed the following das 1 Thus, in his ferty-seyenth year, tn lRrince of Moslzowa, 9 peasants son, by al now immortal as aBravest of the Brave D expiated his error. Among the marshal n of Napoleon, Ney will always appeal
 those who love romance. No monH 1 ments were allowed to be erected i ] France to his honor, but as he die ? thousands of prayers were said for th t beloved marshal. His grave in th nj great cemetery of Perelechaise, d
 though devoid of a monument is coS
 ] cred with the strong and beautifi l French ivy, and is visited by thou! 'e ands of visitors each year.