As a young man he was described as having light brown hair, a long nose, blue eyes, medium mouth, cleft chin, oval face and a height of 1.67 metres (5 ft 6 in).

[4] On 23 May 1815 he was appointed Lieutenant of Engineers in the 6th Corps of the Army of the North, and in this capacity fought at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815.

He distinguished himself at Blida and in the expeditions of Cherchell, Miliana, Mascara, Cheliff, and the Flissas.

[5] Batna was the site of a military camp built by Governor General Aumale in 1844.

On 19 August 1849 Viala laid the foundation stone for a city that was to be built in this location.

[6] Charon observed that Algeria had "two distinct societies", and it was necessary to accept that the "diversity of races and nations [constituted] different needs.

[8] In 1849 he wrote, One of the first mysteries to breach is that which still surrounds the organization of the religious sects that we have seen constantly play the principal part in revolts since our conquests, and which by the solidarity that links their scattered members in all the Muslim countries are the most serious obstacle we must overcome to establish ourselves properly in this country.

[9] On 24 December 1849 Charon told the Council of Government that the reports that Governor General Aumale had commissioned in 1847 had been "conceived in the most wise and liberal spirit," and confirmed that the "military chiefs who conquered Africa .

She was the daughter of Antoine Virgile Schneider (1779–1847), Chevalier de l'Empire, and Catherine, Countess Zalinska (ca 1795–1832).