Charles Auguste Frossard, a French soldier, born in 1807. He was educated at the polytechnic school in Paris and the military school in Metz, entered the army in 1827, participated in the Belgian campaign of 1831-'2, was made a captain, went to Algeria in 1833, and returned to Paris in 1846 with the rank of major. Three years later he commanded the corps of engineers in Rome. In 1853 he was director of the fortifications of Oran in Algeria. During the Crimean war he acted as chief of engineers of the army of the East. He returned again to Algeria, where he remained till 1859, when he was ordered to Italy with the rank of general. At the close of the war he was made grand officer of the legion of honor, and appointed governor of the imperial prince. At the beginning of the Franco-German war he obtained command of the 2d corps of the army of the Rhine, and opened the war by an attack upon Saarbruck, Aug. 2, 1870. Four days later he was defeated at the Spichern heights, between that town and Forbach, and withdrew to Metz, fought at Courcelles, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte, was made a prisoner at the surrender of the fortress, and was detained in Frankfort till the close of the war.

He published, in justification of himself, Rapport sur les operations du 2me corps de l'armee du Rhin dans la campagne de 1870 (2 vols., Paris, 1872).