, 1888-06-28
ONE OF NAPOLEON's GUARDS

gvxKTFUL HIsTORY OF AN OLD SOL
DER NOW LIVING IN a QUIET OHIO
Town.
In what is known as "Prussia," a
settlement Of Germans in the north
eastern portion of Waverly township,
Ohio, lives curious old character
named Christoph Doering. He is a
German and veteran of the army of
Napoleon Bonaparte. II the detailed
history of his life were written it
would furnish substance for an inter-
esting romance.
Old "Chris" joined the grand army
on its march to the Russian frontier
and was one of the 100000 troops
the flower Of the French army--which
crossed the Nieman on d May morn
ing, with music and banners and all
the pomp and glitter and sheen OF
glorious war. Less than one year
subsequent he was one of those poor,
miserable, halt-starved, ill-clad
wretches who had survived the revolt
ing horrors OF that historic retreat.
He followed the varying fortunes OF
the Little Corporal" until the second
day of the battle of Leipsic, when the
Saxons-30, 600 strong-deserted to
the allies. He was born Jan. IL, 1897,
st Bollstedt, Thuripgia, in Germany.
This place, with seventeen other vii
lagos, belonged at that time to the
city OF Muhlhausen, which was not
subject to any potentate, but became
in 1908 a part Of the kingdom OF West
phalia. After the downfall OF Napo-
leon, Huhlhausen fell to the Elector
of Hesse and in 1866 to Prussia.
Doering WAS early made an orphan
and compelled to shift for himself, but
he succeeded in getting some
schooling. At the age OF fifteen, in
the year 1912, he was conscripted INTO
the French army TO serve. as he term
ed IL, for cannon food" Though
only fifteen years of age, he was tall
and strong and presented remarkable
physical precocity. He served in
regiment OF chasseurs, as the French
cuirassers at the time were called,
under Col. Won Mosdor and Major
General Schutzky. He marched with
Bonaparte in 1912 to Russia with
Marshal Regnier, the commander OF
the army to which his regiment be-
longed. In this campaign he
fought in the battles of Boridino,
Radowa and Smolensk; was at
Moscow when that city was
burned by the Russians to induce the
evacuation OF the French. Here he
witnessed the execution OF 200 Rus
SLAMS who had been condemned by
Napoleon for setting fire to the houses
of Moscow. He also saw how Bona
parte came very near perishing in the
burning Kremlin, which castle was his
headquarters, and was an eyewitness
to the horrible and sickening scenes at
the crossing of the river Beresina by
the retreating French army. He saved
his life by changing his jaded horse
for fine-spirited stallion of Russian
nobleman, on whose estate he was
quartered previous to the crossing of
the Bereslna. To this horse, which
was Injured to the seventies of Rus
sian winter, he owed his safe return to
Germany. Many times the few re-
maihing soldiers were compelled to
fight with the Cossacks which swarmed
night and day around the precipitating
French army, and he saw thousands of
his comrades frozen to death or butch
cred by the Cossacks.
The old mans regiment entered the
field, 1000 strong, but only forty OF
them ever returned to Germany. For
days they had nothing to eat except
the flesh of horses that died from fa-
tigue and exposure, using gunpowder
for salt. After his regiment had been
reinforced he fought in the battles of
Kutzbdck, Dennewitz, Grossbeeren
and Leipsic. In the latter conflict he
witnessed the death of Prince Ponia-
towski, distinguished general under
Bonaparte. who perished in the little
river OF Elster. Before the battle of
Leipsic was over his regiment, then
commanded by Gen. Rissel, went over
to the Prussians. Here he was trans.
ferred to the Prussian Garde de Corps,
the elite corps of the Prussian cavalry.
In 1914 he crossed the Rhine with the
Prussian army near Cologne, just af-
ter Gen. Blucher had crossed that
river near Caub. He marched through
France aid entered Paris with his reg
iment on March 81, 1914, where they
remained until the abduction OF Bona
parte in April. His regiment then
marched back to Luxemburg, where it
remained until Bonaparte's return
from Elba, in 1915, when it again
took the field under Blucher.
The venerable soldier fought in the
battle of Ligny, in which Blucher was
defeated by Bonaparte. In the retreat
which followed his horse fell under
him, and TO save himself from the vic
torious French he sought refuge un-
der an abandoned cannon. Here he
was discovered by a French officer,
who attempted TO despatch him with
his sword, but Doering adroitly warded
off the blow and with one cut hewed