The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-11-01
.Napoleon'stO Old Soldier. Dead.
MAJOR AUGUST PULLMAN WHO FOLLOWED
HIM FRoM.ULM TO WATERLOO,

Major August Rullman, one ot. THE old |
soldiers of Napoleon I, whom he followed |
through all his 'Eui opean campaigns sub
sequent to 1905, beginning at Ithe. Ulm and |
endingi at Waterloo, died in7Newark on
Sunday, In his 9th year.i Major Rullman,
who was born at Erfurt in 1881, came to
this country in 1884. His son, Frederick
Rullman, keeps the theatre ticket office at
Ill Broadway. Major Ru'lman received
military education, and began active service
in the Chasseurs-a-Cheval in 1905. The
story of his military life is like a romance.
Few men have fought in so many battles as
he and survived. He was at Ansteritz,
Auerstadt, Jena, and Erflrt. He went
safe through the awful slaughter at Eylan
He fought at Friedland, Somosierra, Rats
bon, Esslng, Aspern, and Wagram lie
followed the great emperor, whom he al
most idoized in the terrible invasion of
Russia, and was decorated with the cross
Of the legion of honor for his bravery in
capturing Russian cannon and howitzer
in the fight a. Witepski. He was in all the
hard-fought battles that opened the way to
| Moscow, and he suffered the agonies OF
cold, hunger, fatigue, and desperation that
beset the French army in its famous retreat.
He escaped through the horrors of the pas.
sage of the Berecina, and again followed hi,
emperor in the terrible campaigns of 1915
and 1914.
On the return of Napoleon from Elba
Major Rulman was one of the first to en-
roll himself in the army that the Empero
collected with such marvellous rapidity fo
his last campaign. He shared in the glor
of Napoleon's last victories at Charle1o
and Quatre-Brss, and fought on the field G
Waterloo. That ended his military career
; When Napoleon abdicated, Major Rullma
retired to civil life in Germany. Nothing
he said, could persuade him to serve unde
Louis XVIII.
Major Rullman's description of how h
. . escaped through the River Beresina, on th
y retreat from Moscow, seemed almost increC
- able. He succeeded, in the rout and conf
- sion, in obtaining horse, and then, hurrie
resistlessly on by the pressure of the eag,
y thousands behind, he and his horse we
~ pushed over the ice-wall into the freezr
water. The river was choked with drownir
- men and horses, and jagged pieces of foa
. ing ice 1t was battle for life not on
, with the water, but with hundreds of stru
20 Cling men who were madly clutching eve
=, object that might save them. Major Rul
- mans strong horse bore him safely throug
~ this terrible stream, but the opposite bar
~ was piled from four to six feet high wi
:. ~ broken ice, rendered more slippery by Il
passage of drifting thousands, Over ii
- barrier his horse could not climb. At eve
y attempt he fell back into the ce-cold wat'
- Then Major Rullman bethought him of
r. small trunk that was strapped to his sadd
and which contained quantity of rich W
Is mans apparel. tie obtained footing
20 his horse, and wrapped some of these g'
w. ment around the horses feet. This enabl
10 the animal to Chamber over the icy barrie
" carrying his rider safely to firm land.
- this terrible passage Major Rullman used
..' say, "There is no pen, pencil language,
~ any mode of explanation that can desert
l'' it." At wilma, where he arrived in pit
IL BILE plight, Major Rullman was kline
Nv treated by two Polish Jews, who furnish
''s him with food and clothing, and who aft
''s ward, when news was received that Russis
'"o were approaching, took him in a sleigh a
ia drove all night, never leaving him ur
a'' they had placed him in safety acros.
Niemen. Major Rullman always spoke
'irl these generous strangers with the most
Ike fectionate regard