Douay. I. Charles Abel, a French soldier, born in Besancon in 1809, killed at Weissenburg, Aug. 4, 1870. He was a graduate of the military academy of St. Cyr, served in Algeria and the Crimea, and distinguished himself in the attack on the Malakhoff. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1855, and in 1859 to that of general of division for his brilliant services in the battle of Solferino. In the Franco-German war he commanded the second division of the first army corps, and was intrenched on the height of Weissenburg with two brigades and three batteries, where his forces were overwhelmed and scattered by the Germans under the crown prince Frederick William. He exposed himself to the fire of the enemy, and was struck by several bullets, his corpse being found on the battle field. II. Felix Charles, a French soldier, brother of the preceding, born in Besancon in 1818. He was at the siege of Rome as captain in 1849, and was lieutenant colonel in the Crimean war. After the battle of Magenta he became brigadier general, and he served as general of division under Forey in Mexico. In the Franco-German war he was commander-in-chief of the seventh army corps at Belfort, re-enforced MacMahon at Chalons, and became a prisoner of war at Sedan. On his return to France he commanded the fourth army corps in the struggle with the commune, and on May 6 he occupied Boulogne, and engaged in protracted conflicts with Dombrowski's forces.

He was the first to enter Paris by the gate of St. Cloud, May 21, saved the Louvre from being totally destroyed by the communists, and took possession (May 27) of Belleville. Subsequently he was placed in command of the military district of the Rhone, with his headquarters at Lyons.