To Joe and everyone else: My g-g-grandfather's headstone says he, Matthias Molitor, was a veteran of the German liberation from 1808 to 1815, "Veteran aus von Deutschen Befrieungs K.......(I can't read the rest of a long word) von 1808 bis 1815 ruler Napoleon." Family lore (and a turn-of-the-century newspaper article) says he served under General Bernadotte, later Carl Johan - King of Sweden and Norway. Further, he was with the French Army when it invaded Russia in 1812, witnessed the burning of Moscow and survived the fatal retreat of the French out of Russia. After the disastrous Russian campaign he participated in combat engagements at Leipzig, Hanman, and finally in the bloody battle at Waterloo......However, we have no proof. He arrived in Houston County, Minnesota, in 1858. He died there in 1883 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Caledonia, MN. He was born 1790 in BORN, LUX. So, as you can see, I would love to find any record of his military service. Karen Langer Laguna Niguel, CA From: <A HREF="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A> Hello, Since we all have family that was probably involved in one way or another with this, did the French government keep records of the men's names who march to Moscow in 1812? Our part of the Rheinland/Rhineland was under French control at this time and undoubtedly, many of Napoleon's soldiers would have been drafted from this area as well as France. I am asking in behalf of my second cousin whose ancestor died after Napoleon's retreat and she is looking to obtain some kind of proof of this. Would appreciate to hear any thoughts on this matter. Mit freundlich Grüßen, Joe Miller