Joseph Abbeel

Joseph Abbeel (1786 in Vrasene – 1866 in Anzegem) was a Belgian soldier who was conscripted to the French Army of Napoleon Bonaparte.

He is one of the few who survived the devastating horror of the raid on Moscow and the chaotic retreat that followed it.

He saw Moscow burn, followed the retreating French Army, but was captured by Cossacks in the vicinity of Hamburg.

This, together with Jakob Walter's diary, form the only known records of that campaign kept by common soldiers.

Abbeel's story contains some minor historical mistakes, mostly due to his lack of geographical knowledge, but the authenticity of the manuscript is undisputed.

Excerpt from the manuscript "Memoires on Napoleon's campaigns, experienced as a soldier of the second regiment". Written by Joseph Abbeel, 1805-1815. [ 1 ]