"Oudinot`s division 1805" Topic

Can anyone say what the internal organization and composition of Oudinot`s division was in 1805 – exactly how many companies comprised each battalion.
Source i`ve seen just says: "Battalion d'élite from the 13th Ligne", or "Battalion d'élite from the 2nd Légère"…
TIA,
Mike.

ok
Austerlitz
1st brig Gen LaPlanches – Mortiere
1st regt 13th ligne, 2nd btn 58th ligne
2nd regt 1st btn 9th ligne, 2nd btn 81st ligne (coys also from the 58th made up this btn)
2nd brig Gen Dupas
3rd regt btn 2nd legere, btn 3rd legere
4th regt btn 28th Legere, btn 31st Legere
only regts engaged
3rd brig gen Dupin (Gen Ruffin)
5th regt btn 12th legere, btn 15th legere

hope that helps

A total of 17 "elite" battalions were raised and organized into seven regiments in December 1806. These regiments were organized into Oudinot's famous "Grenadier division." On 5 December 1805 this division was organized as:

Grenadier Division: General de division Oudinot
Brigade: Generaux de brigade Dupas & Ruffin
1st Grenadier Regiment
58th Line Regiment (16/439)
13th Line Regiment (15/508)
2nd Grenadier Regiment
9th Line Regiment (19/470)
81st Line Regiment (15/515)
3rd Grenadier Regiment
2nd Legere Regiment (18/499)
3rd Legere Regiment (18/549)
4th Grenadier Regiment
28th Legere Regiment (20/547)
31st Legere Regiment (22/588)
5th Grenadier Regiment
12th Legere Regiment (20/560)
15th Legere Regiment (20/516)
Artillery:
Det. 6th Horse Artillery (1/27)
Det. 1st Foot Artillery (4/101)
2-12pdrs
6-8pdrs
4-4pdrs
Det. 5th (bis) Train Battalion (2/179)

The division underwent several changes. In January 1806 it had:

Grenadier Division: General de division Oudinot
Brigade: Generaux de brigade Dupas & Ruffin
1st Grenadier Regiment
58th Line Regiment (18/547)
13th Line Regiment (detached)
2nd Grenadier Regiment (detached)
9th Line Regiment
81st Line Regiment
3rd Grenadier Regiment
2nd Legere Regiment (21/690)
3rd Legere Regiment (20/640)
4th Grenadier Regiment
28th Legere Regiment (21/685)
31st Legere Regiment (21/628)
5th Grenadier Regiment
12th Legere Regiment (22/723)
15th Legere Regiment (23/619)
Artillery:
Det. 6th Horse Artillery (1/47)
Det. 1st Foot Artillery (5/130)
2-12pdrs
6-8pdrs
4-4pdrs
Det. 5th (bis) Train Battalion (4/214)
Det. 4th Artillery Artisans (0/5)

The division continued in this form until late September or early October when it was detached from the V Corps. By 10 January 1807 the Grenadier Division had undergone a major reorganization. On 10 January it stood as follows:

1st Brigade: General de brigade Ruffin
1st Regiment
1st Battalion: Chef de bataillon Trahier (19/508)
1st Co. Carabiniers 27th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 27th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 94th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 94th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 95th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 95th Line
2nd Battalion: Chef de bataillon Broyer (20/551)
1st Co. Grenadiers 8th Line
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 8th Line
3rd Co. Grenadiers 45th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 45th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 54th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 54th Line
2nd Regiment
3rd Battalion: Chef de bataillon Fondousse (15/317)
1st Co. Carabiniers 9th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 9th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 32nd Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 32nd Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 96th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 96th Line
4th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Chabert (19/520)
1st Co. Grenadiers 30th Line
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 30th Line
3rd Co. Grenadiers 33rd Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 33rd Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 51st Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 51st Line
2nd Brigade: General de brigade Conroux
3rd Regiment
5th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Arnauld (19/502)
1st Co. Carabiniers 10th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 10th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 24th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 24th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 26th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 26th Line
6th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Franchot (19/519)
1st Co. Grenadiers 18th Line
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 18th Line
3rd Co. Grenadiers 4th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 4th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 57th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 57th Line
4th Regiment
7th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Coquereau (21/460)
1st Co. Carabiniers 17th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 17th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 21st Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 21st Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 34th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 34th Line
8th Battalion: Chef de bataillon ? (Monnet) (12/330)
1st Co. Grenadiers 40th Line
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 40th Line
3rd Co. Grenadiers 64th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 64th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 88th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 88th Line
3rd Brigade: General de brigade Villatte
5th Regiment
9th Battalion: Chef de bataillon ? (Dauger) (20/494)
1st Co. Carabiniers 6th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 6th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 39th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 39th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 69th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 69th Line
10th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Comminet (19/542)
1st Co. Grenadiers 27th Line
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 27th Line
3rd Co. Grenadiers 59th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 59th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 76th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 76th Line
6th Regiment
11th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Gueret (21/473)
1st Co. Carabiniers 16th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 16th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 44th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 44th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 105th Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 105th Line
12th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Boidot (18/499)
1st Co. Carabiniers 7th Legere
2nd Co. Voltigeurs 7th Legere
3rd Co. Grenadiers 24th Line
4th Co. Voltigeurs 24th Line
5th Co. Grenadiers 63rd Line
6th Co. Voltigeurs 63rd Line
4th Brigade:
7th Regiment
13th Battalion: (8/253)
1st Co. Carabiniers 25th Legere
2nd Co. Carabiniers 28th Legere
3rd Co. Voltigeurs 28th Legere
Artillery
Det 1st Foot Artillery
3rd Horse Artillery
Artillery Artisans
Det/5th Train Battalion
Det/8th Train Battalion
Engineers
1/5th Sapper Battalion (2/78)

The "provisional" regiments were formed by organizing various independent and loose battalions and companies posted in the rear areas. In these instances, each depot might send as few as one or possibly more companies to the front. A total of sixteen of these provisional regiments were raised between 1805 and March 1807. After the campaigns in Germany and Poland were finished, these elite and provisional regiments were disbanded. The process began anew after the invasion of Portugal and Spain. On 5 November 1807 a total of twelve provisional regiments were raised. These two formations are not to be confused with the "regiments de marche" which were also ad hoc formations organized to transport new recruits to the front lines from the depots insuring their safe arrival, safe from partisan attack and the opportunity to desert. None of these regiments, provisional, elite, or de marche had complete staffs and, as a result, were administrative nightmares for the army and the men that served in them. On 1 June 1807 the division contained:

1st Brigade: General de brigade Ruffin
1st Regiment
1st Battalion: Chef de bataillon Launier
Staff (5/9)
1st Co. (3/65) Carabiniers 6th Legere
2nd Co. (3/72) Carabiniers 7th Legere
3rd Co. (3/73) Carabiniers 9th Legere
4th Co. (3/60) Carabiniers 16th Legere
5th Co. (3/66) Carabiniers 25th Legere
6th Co. (3/73) Carabiniers 27th Legere
2nd Battalion: Chef de bataillon Broyer
1st Co. (3/89) Voltigeurs 6th Legere
2nd Co. (3/69) Voltigeurs 7th Legere
3rd Co. (3/72) Voltigeurs 9th Legere
4th Co. (3/73) Voltigeurs 16th Legere
5th Co. (3/52) Voltigeurs 25th Legere
6th Co. (3/76) Voltigeurs 27th Legere
2nd Regiment
3rd Battalion: Chef de bataillon Fondousse
Staff (5/1)
1st Co. (3/65) Grenadiers 8th Line
2nd Co. (3/65) Grenadiers 30th Line
3rd Co. (3/88) Grenadiers 33rd Line
4th Co. (2/75) Grenadiers 51st Line
5th Co. (3/56) Grenadiers 95th Line
6th Co. (3/49) Grenadiers 96th Line
4th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Chabert
1st Co. (3/84) Voltigeurs 8th Line
2nd Co. (3/58) Voltigeurs 30th Line
3rd Co. (3/77) Voltigeurs 33rd Line
4th Co. (2/61) Voltigeurs 51st Line
5th Co. (3/75) Voltigeurs 95th Line
6th Co. (3/55) Voltigeurs 96th Line
2nd Brigade: General de brigade Conroux
3rd Regiment
5th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Arnauld
Staff (6/0)
1st Co. (2/75) Carabiniers 10th Legere
2nd Co. (2/66) Carabiniers 17th Legere
3rd Co. (3/55) Carabiniers 21st Legere
4th Co. (3/74) Carabiniers 24th Legere
5th Co. (2/45) Carabiniers 26th Legere
6th Co. (3/63) Carabiniers 28th Legere
6th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Franchot
1st Co. (3/61) Voltigeurs 10th Legere
2nd Co. (2/61) Voltigeurs 17th Legere
3rd Co. (3/49) Voltigeurs 21st Legere
4th Co. (3/67) Voltigeurs 24th Legere
5th Co. (3/73) Voltigeurs 26th Legere
6th Co. (2/59) Voltigeurs 28th Legere
4th Regiment
7th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Coquereau
Staff (5/0)
1st Co. (3/81) Grenadiers 4th Line
2nd Co. (3/66) Grenadiers 18th Line
3rd Co. (3/75) Grenadiers 34th Line
4th Co. (3/68) Grenadiers 40th Line
5th Co. (2/51) Grenadiers 64th Line
6th Co. (2/54) Grenadiers 88th Line
8th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Monnet
1st Co. (1/58) Voltigeurs 4th Line
2nd Co. (3/69) Voltigeurs 18th Line
3rd Co. (3/73) Voltigeurs 34th Line
4th Co. (3/76) Voltigeurs 40th Line
5th Co. (3/56) Voltigeurs 64th Line
6th Co. (3/72) Voltigeurs 88th Line
3rd Brigade: General de brigade Barry
5th Regiment
9th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Dauger
Staff (6/0)
1st Co. (2/74) Grenadiers 27th Line
2nd Co. (3/70) Grenadiers 39th Line
3rd Co. (3/64) Grenadiers 45th Line
4th Co. (3/66) Grenadiers 59th Line
5th Co. (3/51) Grenadiers 69th Line
6th Co. (3/78) Grenadiers 70th Line
10th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Comminet
1st Co. (3/73) Voltigeurs 27th Line
2nd Co. (2/59) Voltigeurs 39th Line
3rd Co. (3/78) Voltigeurs 45th Line
4th Co. (3/64) Voltigeurs 59th Line
5th Co. (3/66) Voltigeurs 69th Line
6th Co. (3/90) Voltigeurs 70th Line
6th Regiment
11th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Vaugrignaude
Staff (5/8)
1st Co. (3/61) Grenadiers 24th Line
2nd Co. (3/83) Grenadiers 44th Line
3rd Co. (3/61) Grenadiers 54th Line
4th Co. (3/84) Grenadiers 63rd Line
5th Co. (3/61) Grenadiers 94th Line
6th Co. (3/68) Grenadiers 105th Line
12th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Boidot
1st Co. (3/60) Voltigeurs 24th Line
2nd Co. (3/71) Voltigeurs 44th Line
3rd Co. (3/67) Voltigeurs 54th Line
4th Co. (2/76) Voltigeurs 63rd Line
5th Co. (3/77) Voltigeurs 94th Line
6th Co. (3/65) Voltigeurs 105th Line
4th Brigade: General de brigade Albert
7th Regiment
13th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Cornebize
Staff (5/1)
1st Co. (3/73) Carabiniers 25th Legere
2nd Co. (3/78) Carabiniers 22nd Line
3rd Co. (3/63) Grenadiers 32nd Line
4th Co. (3/60) Grenadiers 57th Line
5th Co. (3/65) Grenadiers 65th Line
6th Co. (-)
14th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Boulon
1st Co. (2/104) Voltigeurs 22nd Line
2nd Co. (2/46) Voltigeurs 32nd Line
3rd Co. (3/61) Voltigeurs 57th Line
4th Co. (3/99) Voltigeurs 65th Line
5th Co. (-)
6th Co. (-)
8th Regiment
15th Battalion: Chef de bataillon Jouan
1st Co. (3/80) Grenadiers 3rd Line
2nd Co. (1/71) Grenadiers 61st Line
3rd Co. (1/70) Grenadiers 85th Line
4th Co. (1/70) Grenadiers 111th Line
5th Co. (-)
6th Co. (-)
16th Battalion:
1st Co. (3/96) Voltigeurs 3rd Line
2nd Co. (2/85) Voltigeurs 61st Line
3rd Co. (3/73) Voltigeurs 85th Line
4th Co. (2/82) Voltigeurs 111th Line
5th Co. (-)
6th Co. (-)
Artillery
Det 2/1st Foot Artillery (1/41)
4/,5/3rd Horse Artillery (5/145)
1st & 4th Artillery Artisan Companies (0/9)
Det. 2/5th (bis) Train Battalion (1/60)
Det. 1/,2/8th (bis) Train Battalion (3/187)
Engineers
1/5th Sapper Battalion (0/35)

Oudinot's division was reorganized on 8 January, 1808. Though it still consisted of 17 battalions, they were now formed into eight regiments. On 12 January 1808 a further six provisional regiments were raised.

On 5 December 1808 Napoleon began breaking up Oudinot's grenadiers by returning those companies whose parent regiments were assigned to Bernadotte's and Davout's corps. It was reduced to a total of 62 companies organized into ten elite battalions. It was organized as follows (the elite companies coming from the battalions indicated.)

Converged Grenadier Division: General de division Oudinot (21,388 men)
1st Division: General de division Tharreau (7,145 men)
Brigade: General de brigade Conroux
1st Legere – 4/6th, 4/24th, & 4/25th Legere
3rd Legere – 4/9th, 4/16th, & 4/27th Legere
Brigade: General de brigade Albert
1st Line – 4/8th, 4/24th & 4/45th Line
2nd Line – 4/94th, 4/95th & 4/96th Line
Brigade: General de brigade Jarry
3rd Line – 4/54th & 4/63rd Line
2nd Division: General de division Claparede (8860)
Brigade: General de brigade Coehorn
2nd Legere – 4/17th, 4/21st & 4/28th Legere
4th Legere – 4/26th, Tirailleurs du Po & Corsican Tirailleurs
Brigade: General de brigade Lesuire
5th Line – 4/27th & 4/39th Line
6th Line – 4/59th, 4/69th & 4/76th Line
Brigade: General de brigade Ficatier
7th Line – 4/40th & 4/88th Line
8th Line – 4/64th, 4/100th & 4/103rd Line

The Decree of 1 March 1809 disbanded the 33e Legere. The "elite" battalions belonging to Oudinot's division, each having four companies, were reorganized on by the Decree of 31 March 1809 into twelve demi-brigades, each of 3 battalions. On 7 February 1809 the corps was organized as follows:

1st Division: General de division Claparede
1st Brigade:
1st Demi-brigade Legere
6th Legere (244/90/212/0/546)*
24th Legere (161/125/264/0/550)
25th Legere (230/100/200/0/530)
2nd Demi-brigade Legere
9th Legere (243/167/155/0/565)
16th Legere (0/0/458/0/458)
27th Legere (233/152/164/0/549)
2nd Brigade:
1st Demi-brigade
8th Line Regiment (306/117/104/0/527)
24th Line Regiment (48/200/358/0/508)
45th Line Regiment (253/92/163/0/508)
2nd Demi-brigade
94th Line Regiment (281/64/154/0/499)
95th Line Regiment (279/128/104/0/511)
96th Line Regiment (172/209/60/0/441)
3rd Brigade:
3rd Demi-brigade
54th Line Regiment (217/114/122/0/453)
63rd Line Regiment (233/55/219/50/557)
28th Line Regiment (0/0/0/0/0) (assigned, but not present)
4th Demi-brigade
4th Line Regiment (179/95/265/0/539)
18th Line Regiment (236/41/207/0/564)
46th Line Regiment (0/0/0/0/0) (assigned, but not present)

2nd Division: General de division Tharreau
1st Brigade:
2nd Demi-brigade Legere
17th Legere (308/11/231/0/550)
21st Legere (295/0/232/0/527)
28th Legere (260/29/275/0/448)
3rd Demi-brigade Legere
26th Legere (138/145/175/0/448)
Tirailleur Corses (813/0/120/0/933)
Tirailleurs du Po (991/0/150/0/1,141)
2nd Brigade:
5th Demi-brigade
27th Line Regiment (244/39/143/200/526)
39th Line Regiment (222/64/165/100/551)
50th Line Regiment (0/0/0/0/0)(assigned, but not present)
6th Demi-brigade
59th Line Regiment (197/86/201/50/534)
69th Line Regiment (204/81/170/80/535)
76th Line Regiment (136/147/148/80/511)
3rd Brigade:
7th Demi-brigade
40th Line Regiment (270/18/266/0/546)
75th Line Regiment (0/0/0/0/0)(assigned, but not present)
88th Line Regiment (251/32/224/0/507)
8th Demi-brigade
64th Line Regiment (215/66/258/0/539)
100th Line Regiment (0/0/252/250/502)
103rd Line Regiment (0/0/262/250/512)

* Figures are as follows:
l.) Voltigeurs & grenadiers on 7 February,
2.) Detachments drawn from the Conscrits of the Guards
3.) Fusiliers drawn from the first 12 "compagnies de march."
4.) Detachments from the "13e bataillon de march."
5.) Total strength of the battalion.

Too quick with the 'Submit' button – I should have attributed the information to George Nafziger posted originally on the Napoleon Series.

- Allan

thanks chaps, but how exactly were they organised before Dec 5, 1805?
Were they composed of light and grenadier companies ("elites") – that is to say organised in to battalions of six companies each ?

The short answer – Yes, battalions of 6 companies each.

The long answer:

Oudinot's grenadier division of 1805 originated as an elite division formed 25 Jan 1804 (acc. to Belhomme) as part of the Advance Guard of the Army of the Ocean Coasts. The division was composed of provisional battalions formed by regiments that were on coastal and border defense duty within France. Each regiment formed a 6-company battalion with the grenadier and first fusilier company of each of its 3 battalions. Each regiment contributed 1 chef de bataillon, 1 adjutant-major, 1 adjutant and 1 surgeon for the battalion. These provisional battalions were paired up to form régimentes d'élite and according to the original orders were to be commanded by one of the colonels of the two regiments contributing the battalions. In fact, three were commanded by colonels, two by majors. So each of the elite battalions was 6 companies and each battalion of the parent regiments was left at 7 companies. Only one of these regiments later was a part of the Grande Armée (15e leg) and this is why at Austerlitz it fought with two 6-company battalions at Sokolnitz with the two voltigeur companies detached to Heudelet at Telnitz.

To fill in some command details:

Brigade Laplanche-Morthières
1st Grenadier Regiment (13th and 58th line) – Col. Froment of the 13th
2nd Grenadier Regiment (9th and 81st Line) – Major Brayer of the 9th

Brigade Dupas
3rd Grenadier Regiment (2nd and 3rd Light) – Col. Schramm of the 2nd
4th Grenadier Regiment (28th and 31st Light) – Major Cabannes de Puymisson of the 28th

Brigade Ruffin
5th Grenadier Regiment (12th and 15th Light) – Col. Desailly of the 15th

Nafziger is incorrect that the division continued in this form until 1807. The battalions formed from the 13e and 81e returned to their parent regiments (in Dalmatia and Italy) in January 1806, the remaining elite grenadier battalions were dissolved in July 1806 and rejoined their regiments.

The 1806-7 Grenadier division commanded by Oudinot was an entirely different entity, no continuity between the two. On 21 Nov 1806 Napoleon ordered the formation of a new grenadier division to be commanded by Oudinot. This was to be composed of the elite companies (1 grenadier, 1 voltigeur) of the depot battalions of the regiments of the army, three depot battalions from three different regiments forming one Grenadier battalion of 6 companies. This was disbanded after Tilsit. The 1809 version was similar, drawing companies from the depot battalions, but the army had gone to 6-company battalions so the 1809 version was less elite.

Oops, that should be 21 Oct 1806, not 21 Nov. The orders were issued from Berlin.

Thanks Carnot, so the first brigade was formed from grenadiers and voltigeurs of the line battalions and the second and third brigades was formed from the carabiniers and voltigeurs of the legere regiments.
I`m guessing they could skirmish pretty well enough …so they were not just "Grenadiers"!…
But when it came to skirmishing, what formations would the battalions have adopted if their skirmishers were to be deployed… columns of companies, or lines an option, or by columns of attack by half-companies on the centre?
I seem to recall there was a discussion on this somewhere that suggested the latter.