MEMOIRS of MARSHAL NEY
BOOK THE FIRST
CHAPTER I

MICHAEL NEY was born at Sarrelouis, on the 10th of January 1769. At an early age he evinced a decided taste for a military life. He received his education at a school kept by the Monks of St. Augustin, where, although he applied himself sedulously to his studies, he displayed a remarkable turbulence of disposition.

He constituted himself the avenger of wrongs among his school-fellows, and, like the general of an army, trained and disciplined them. His father had been a soldier; and after the seven years' war, had retired to his native village, where he exercised the calling of a cooper.

He had unintentionally fired the inflammable imagination of his son, by accounts of battles in which he had participated, particularly that of Rosbach, where he had distinguished himself; a circumstance he always contrived to introduce in his tales of fields lost and won.

He used to observe, however, that courage was not alone sufficient to insure the success of a military man; that to obtain command, noble birth was also requisite, and that the son of a poor mechanic had nothing but humiliation to expect in a profession where every thing was obtained by favour and family interest. The recollection, he added, of the perils he had encountered, and the glory of his personal achievements, were the only rewards of him who could not boast of high lineage.

The trade of the elder Ney, though considered respectable on the banks of the Rhine, was not however very lucrative, and he was anxious that his son should embrace some other calling. M. Valette, a notary, whom the youthful pursuits of Michael had interested, offered to take the latter into his office. This appearing eligible, it was determined that young Ney should study the law. [The Minutes in Ney's handwriting are stil1 preserved in this office as valuable relics.]

Docile to the wishes of his parents, Ney consented without difficulty to this arrangement. Nevertheless, the duties in a notary's office did not exactly harmonize with a mind yearning for the bustle of a military life; he therefore soon became disgusted with them, and obtained an appointment of clerk to the Procureur de Roi. But this was still worse; for if he must be pinned to the desk, he by far preferred copying deeds and contracts, to conducting criminal proceedings.

Time however sped on, and Ney completed his fifteenth year. He had now a presentiment of his future greatness, and was burning to follow the bent of his inclination. His father, unable to appreciate these workings of a master spirit, or to share in the hopes which they raised, endeavoured to suppress them. Peter Ney, his eldest son, was already a soldier.

Michael's deference to his father's wishes was extreme, and the latter succeeded for a time, not in subduing this irresistilble feeling, but in giving a momentary impulse to his mind in a different direction. The mines of Apenwerler were then in full produce; and young Ney was sent thither as an overseer. The works, and the bustle attendant upon them, at first captivated him; he loved to watch the change in the ore, and to study the different processes it underwent in its transformation.

But this knowledge was soon acquired, and his imagination relapsed into its former dream of campaigns, and battles, and military fame. The entreaties of his father, and the tears of his mother, though they affected him much, could not alter his determination. His vocation was however again checked for a short period, by his thoughts being directed to another channel.

Though young, he was well informed, punctual, active, and zealous. An offer was made him to superintend the iron works at Saleck; which he accepted. Besides the new direction which the novelty of this occupation gave for a time to his ideas, it offered him a prospect of future competency, which he never had before; he therefore applied himself cheerfully to the fulfilment of its duties.

Two years were spent in this manner; but his military propensities strengthening every day, the duties of his office became insupportable to him. The very place in which he lived contributed to develop the passion which consumed his life-springs.

Almost every town on the Rhine is fortified, and has a garrison. If the superintendent of the Saleck works went to Treves, to Bergheim, or to Deux-Ponts, he was sure to see soldiers performing the platoon exercise, and those military movements in which he longed to participate as a mere private, although he already felt the instinct of command. His resolution to conform to the wishes of his parents was not powerful enough to remain proof against the impulse of his soul.

Ney resigned his humble situation, and set out for Metz, where the regiment of hussars, called the Regiment de Colonel-General, was then quartered. The grief with which this sudden and decided step was likely to afflict his parents, gave him considerable uneasiness, and he long hesitated before he paid them a parting visit; but filial affection triumphed over every other feeling, and quitting the high road, he directed his steps towards Sarrelouis.

The meeting was very painful, and he had to encounter reproaches, tears, entreaties, and even threats. The scene which took place was heartrending, and he could only put an end to it by abruptly resuming his journey on foot. Though without clothes or money, worn out with fatigue and anxiety, his shoes in holes, his feet lacerated and bleedingÄstill his courage did not desert him; and by his perseverance at this early stage of his career, he already displayed that energy of purpose which, in after life, would yield to no obstacle.

Many years elapsed ere he returned to Sarrelouis. Fortune had then rewarded his courage with high rank and honours. When he again visited his birthplace, the cannon roared, and the troops were under arms. The inhabitants of Sarrelouis ran in crowds to behold their illustrious townsman.

On perceiving the road over which, thirteen years previous, he had travelled on foot to become a soldier, Marshal Ney, with emotion, related to the officers who surrounded him the history of his first departure from his family.

On his arrival at Metz, on the 1st of February, 1787, Ney, then eighteen years of age, enlisted in the Regiment de Colonel-General, afterwards the 4th hussars. He entered this regiment under thc auspices of one of his countrymen, but who, being only a lientenant, could be of no service to him in the way of promotion.

This however was of no consequence at that period. Promotion belonged only to the aristocracy; interest was therefore of no use, and he must wait until better times should widen the field of glory through which he was destined to run. But he commenced his military career not without certain advantages. He had some knowledge of business, of practical natural philosophy, and of the resources of industry.

His good conduct, his application, and the rapidity with which he made himself master of his duty, attracted the attention of his officers; whilst his patient submission to discipline and his orderly conduct elicited their goodwill; and as he wrote a beautiful hand, he was soon employed in the quarter-master's office. This gave him some leisure time, which he devoted to qualifying himself for his new profession.

He distinguished himself among his comrades by his fine, soldierlike appearance, his great dexterity in the use of his weapons, and by the ease and boldness with which he rode the most dangerous horses, and broke in those hitherto considered unmanagenble. On this account, every regimental affair of honour was confided to him.

The fencing-master of the Chasseurs de Vintimille, a regiment also quartered at Metz, was, like most regimental fencing masters of those days, a dangerous duellist, and as such dreaded not only by young recruits but hy old and experienced swordsmen. This man had wounded the fencing-master of the Colonel-General, and insulted the whole regiment. The non-commissioned officers having held a meeting to take measures for the punishment of this bully,

Ney, just promoted to the rank of brigadier, was selected, as the bravest and cleverest swordsman, to inflict the chastisement deemed necessary. He accepted the mission with joy, but just as the duel was about to commence, he felt someone pull him violently by the tail. On turning his head he perceived the colonel of his regiment, who immediately put him under arrest.

Duelling was at that period punishable with death, and Ney was taken in the very act. The matter could not well be more serious; but the young brigadier was much liked by his officers, and besides, there was no personal quarrel, he having been delegated to fight for the honour of the regiment.

The non-commissioned officers waited on the colonel in a body to solicit his pardon, which was soon made an affaire de corps. Revolutionary ideas already prevailed in the army to such an extent that a too great severity of discipline was always eluded, lest it should exasperate the men. A long confinement therefore saved Ney from a court martial; but he had scarcely obtained his release ere he judged it necessary to satisfy what he deemed a point of honour.

The danger he had incurred could not turn him from his purpose; for he scorned to be protected from the peril of a meeting with his formidable adversary, by any other means than his own skill and courage. The interrupted duel now took place, proper precautions being taken to keep it secret. Ney was the conqueror; he disabled his adversary by a wound on the wrist, which subsequently led to the discharge of the bully fencing-master from the service. The latter was afterwards reduced to great poverty; and Ney, who had become rich, sought him out and settled a pension upon him.

Marshal Ney never forgot his origin. When at the very climax of his fortune, he loved to call to mind the point from which he had started. It grieved him, during his career, to see old errors revived, the principles of equality lost sight of, and the bearers of ancient names and titles loaded with favours, without any personal merit to justify such partiality.

He was much displeased at the eagerness shown to court such individuals; and he required numerous proof of courage and talent, ere he could overcome the unfavourable impression which he at first conceived of officers forced upon him by policy, and in opposition to his own glorious recollections. When in their presence, he always made a point of speaking of his early life.

If any officers talked before him of their noble birth, of the pecuniary allowances they received from their families, or of their expectations of hereditary wealth, he would say, "I was less fortunate than you, gentlemen; I received nothing from my family, and I thought myself rich at Metz when I had two loaves of bread upon my shelf."

Soon after he was raised to the rank of Marshal of the empire, being at a large party, every one crowded round him to offer congratulations on the event. Interrupting the flattering speeches of the company, he addressed an old officer who kept himself at some distance from the rest of the party, " Do you remember, captain,. he asked, "the time when you used to say to me, as I made my report to you, 'Very well, Ney; continue as you are now going on, and you will make your way, my lad?" "Perfectly well, Monsieur le Marechal," his old captain replied; "I then had the honour to command one better than myself. Such things are not to be forgotten."

The satisfaction which Ney felt in recalling the events of his youth arose as well from the noble pride of having owed his rise solely to his own exertions, as from the recollection of family attachments. He loved to talk about the tender affection of his mother and the paternal advice of his father. [Marshal Ney's father died a few years since, having lived almost a century. He loved his son with tenderness and respect. Though a man of great physical strength, taking long walks and violent exercise, it was feared that a knowledge of the events of 1816 might prove fatal to him. He was therefore kept in ignorance of them; but the mourning dress of his daughter with whom he lived, as well as of her children, convinced him that some great family misfortune had happened. He dared not ask what it was: but from that period he fell into a gloomy melancholy, and but seldom pronounced his son's name. His death occumd in 1826.]

And when he yielded to the impetuosity of his courage, he carefully concealed from his parents the dangers to which he exposed himself. When he led the van of Collaud's division, a destructive action had just taken place. On his return, worn out with fatigue, he related the events of the day to a friend, who blamed what he termed Ney's imprudence.

"True," the latter replied, "I have had a narrow escape again to-day; for I was four times quite alone in the midst of the Austrians."

"You have been more fortunate than your poor brother," his friend observed.

"Good God!" said Ney in alarm, " What has happened? Is my brother dead? Oh! my poor mother!"

Ney's friend then informed him that his brother Peter Ney, officer in the 55th demi brigade, had been killed in a sanguinary conflict which had just taken place in Italy. Unable to restrain his tears at this afflicting intelligence, "What would have become of my poor mother and sister," he exclaimed, "if I had fallen to-day! Write to them, but conceal from them the risks I run, lest they should feel the alarm of losing me also."

War and the stagnation of trade had created a general distress throughout France, and the operative classes were more particularly affected by it. At that period a general officer received only eight francs a month, and Ney was only a subaltern. His circumstances were therefore far from flourishing.

Nevertheless he submitted to the severest privations, and contrived out of his pittance to send pecuniary aid to his mother, then confined to her bed by a disorder which carried her off after four years of suffering.

Ney had just been made an officer. Poor, disinterested, but generous, the most intense feelings of honour and delicacy had taken such deep root in his soul, that he would have scorned to acquire wealth at the expense of the enemy, by taking adrantage of the chances of war. Some blamed him for not profiting by a chance which the following anecdote will explain, and thus punishing a base insult; others admired his inflexible rectitude of principle.

He was with the army of the North. Encounters with the British cavalry were frequent, and sometimes valuable captures were made. Ney had just been promoted to the rank of captain; ardent, daring, and eager to distinguish himself, he one day charged with such impetuosity, that with his small detachment he passed the British lines and camp.

A squadron of English cavalry appeared; he attacked and dispersed it, and eagerly pursued an English general officer whom it was escorting. The latter, surprised at this determined pursuit, made no attempt to defend himself, but preferred treating:

"Here," said he, "is a purse full of gold; take it and let me go."ÄThe French captain smiled at the proposal, and this encouraged the English general to press his offer.Ä"You are surrounded by our forces," he continued, " and you must be taken prisoner. Do better; remain with me, and your fortune shall be made; your promotion shall be rapid, and you will serve your own princes."

"Really, this is going too far," Ney replied with indignation, placing his sword upon the other's breast; "You offer me money, and propose that I should desert my colours. Now, you shall desert, and that too in the presence of your own army. You must charge with me through your own ranks, and if you attempt to escape, that moment shall be your last. Follow me, my lads," addressing his hussars; "forward!"

So saying he gave his horse the spur, overthrew every one who opposed him, and passed once more through the English ranks, thunderstruck at seeing one of their own officers charging side by side with the French captain. Ney brought his prisoner in triumph to the headquarters of the French army; the latter quite confounded at his silly adventure.

"Keep your money," said Ney to him; "I might perhaps be justified in taking it from you, but you will want it more than I shall. Another time, however, be more circumspect when you attempt to parley."

Ney, although submissive to those in command over him, was neither obsequious nor a flatterer. He did his duty with zeal and enthusiasm, because he loved his profession. Never did the idea of pleasing his superiors or purchasing his promotion by meanly cringing, enter his mind. From his very entrance into the service, he had no feeling but that of the most entire devotion to his country. He had made to it the offering of his dearest affections, and even life itself. He knew how to elude too great severity, as well as to resist what he considered unjust.

The character of Kleber is well known. It will be shown hereafter with what kindness and regard he treated Ney, from whom, however, neither the violence of Kleber's temper, nor his anger, nor even his friendship could obtain any improper concessions.

Kleber was sometimes the slave of passion. Having once taken a dislike to an officer to whom he had formerly been attached, he wanted to get rid of him. Having ordered his aide-de-camp, Ney, to make a minute of an order to this effect, "You are going to send him away," the latter observed, --because"

"Because," replied Kleber with violence, "I don't like him."

"Well then," said Ney, "you may get somebody else to write the minute, for I would cut my arm off rather than be the instrument of recording such an order."

Kleber, speechless with astonishment, looked for a considerable time at the presumptuous aide-de-camp without speaking a word; then mildly said, "Well, let him remain! You desire it, and so let it be."

Though this was an open resistance to the will of his imperious commanding officer, yet it was the honest feeling of one brave soldier candidly expressed to another. There was much greater danger in braving the will of the representatives of the people, who, by appalling examples, had cemented their authority by blood, and could strike terror into the bosoms of the bravest men.

The emigrants having crucified some volunteers of the republican army, the latter had used reprisals; and as it always happens, one cruelty led to another, until the victims were allowed to choose the mode of their own death. Strict orders had been given to execute with the utmost rigour, the decrees of the convention against the emigrants.

Nevertheless, some of the latter had laid down their arms and called for quarter. Ney, then a general officer, would not injure those whom his soldiers had spared. He treated them with kindness, mingled them with the foreign prisoners, and sent them to the depots of the lathe. The representatives were indignant at this; but as they had not full evidence of the fact, they were afraid to bring the matter forward in the shape of an accusation, and contented themselves with watching the offending General more narrowly.

The latter, informed of the suspicion attached to him, became more circumspect. His scouts, however, brought in, one evening, some priests whom they had found wandering through the country. These prisoners were half dead with fright, hunger, and fatigue. Ney determined to save them.

In the presence of those who captured them, he affected to speak with great violence, and to threaten them with the full penalty of the law; but after he had dismissed his men, under presence of examining the prisoners in private, he altered his manner, gave them food and money, and sent them the same night under a disguise to a town through which he knew the army would not pass. [One of these very priests was, a few years since, cure of the parish of St. Symphorien at Versailles.]

Next morning, Ney affected violent anger at their escape, which was publicly announced to him. Although he endeavoured to keep as secret as possible the share he had in this flight, it nevertheless became known to the representatives. but the measures of blood, so rife a short time before, were now beginning to be less frequent, and political hatred was rapidly subsiding.

The representatives were therefore afraid to act against the kind-hearted General. One of them, however, loudly exclaimed against so flagrant a violation of the law; the other, more generous, admired Ney's magnanimity in risking his own life to save those of his prisoners.

"Your friend Ney," he observed to Kleber, "knows how to spare the blood of his countrymen."

Chapter One-Der: Memoirs of Marshal Ney, Vol. II

This text comprises pages 1 through 15 (chapter 1) of Vol I. The book continues to a total of 408 pages and includes maps and dispatches. Vol I covers his early days through the end of 1799 campaign. Vol. II continues through the end of the 1805 Ulm campaign, and includes an extensive collection of his thoughts on deployments and maneuvers as well as a variety of translated historical documents.

The Memoirs of Marshal Ney is available in the US via mail order from On Military Matters (click on the advertisement on the MagWeb home page for contact information). List price is $95 (plus $4 shipping and handling) for both volumes (they are not available separately).

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