| jbfrage | 12 May 2013 6:07 p.m. PST |
Hey all, I just have a quick question about Napoleon's Young Guard in the 1813-1814 campaigns. Upon looking at different orders of battle from the period, I understand that the Young Guard were organized in their own divisions and such. On the battlefield itself, did the Young Guard fight as one cohesive unit, or did they get used as reinforcements as needed? Or,were they doled out to other commanders to provide a backbone for the more poorly trained new recruits? Thanks! |
| Sparker | 12 May 2013 7:27 p.m. PST |
Pretty much fought as one cohesive unit, but definately part of the strategic reserve. For example at Lutzen, Napoleon waited until III Corps was on its last legs, judged the moment ripe for counter attack, and sent in several Brigades of Yound Guard. Look at some orbats to see how they were organised, but essentially the first part of the strategic reserve to be committed. |
| vtsaogames | 12 May 2013 7:34 p.m. PST |
Likewise in 1815. The Young Guards were sent in when VI Corps gave way. Then two battalions of Old Guards were sent in when the Young Guards faded in their turn. |
| Brechtel198 | 13 May 2013 4:17 a.m. PST |
On the battlefield wouldn't the Imperial Guard be a tactical reserve? B |
| Brechtel198 | 13 May 2013 6:02 a.m. PST |
For Lutzen it should be remembered that it was Drouot's artillery attack that destroyed the allied center and the Guard attacked over and through the wreckage in the center. General Flahaut left a very descriptive narration of what the allied center looked like. He accompanied the Fusilier regiments of the Middle Guard in the attack. B |
| Brechtel198 | 13 May 2013 6:08 a.m. PST |
In 1815 on the French right flank, the Young Guard under Duhesme was directed to recapture Plancenoit. Lobau's VI Corps had not given way, as they were engaged until the end of the battle on the right flank, but they had lost Plancenoit. The VI Corps had engaged the Prussians since they had appeared in the Bois de Paris having considerable success in slowing Bulow down. The Prussians first took Plancenoit, then behind Lobau's right flank, by an envelopment. The Young Guard under Duhesme was then sent in and retook Plancenoit. A Prussian counterattack threw out the Young Guard and it was then that Napoleon sent in two battalions of Young Guard infantry under Pelet to take it back. The two battalions attacked fourteen Prussian battalions 'with the bayonet' and ejected them from the village and chased them until Prussian artillery fire stopped them. The two battalions then pulled back into Plancenoit and prepared it for defense, assisted by the Young Guard which had rallied though Duhesme was mortally wounded. He was seen still sitting his horse being held in place by a Young Guardsman. At the bitter end the two Old Guard battalions bayoneted their way out of the burning village after savage house-to-house fighting and continued south where they rejoined the Guard's main body. The Young Guard died in the village. 'This time there were too many'-a grenadier to Colonel Dorsenne. B |
| Runicus Fasticus | 13 May 2013 6:32 p.m. PST |
At Dresden in 1813 , Napoleon used the Young Guard Divisions for his hammer blows on the 2nd day of battle that cracked the allied army wide open. I can think of 2 of those Young Guard divisions being used on the French left flank to smack some Russians and Prussians around and drive them from the field. Runicus |
| Runicus Fasticus | 13 May 2013 6:34 p.m. PST |
jbfrage Do you need or want the OB's for the Young Guard Divisions at the start of the August Campaigns of 1813 ? Runicus |
| Parfitts Tele | 14 May 2013 5:52 a.m. PST |
'This time there were too many'-a grenadier to Colonel Dorsenne. Who was Col Dorsenne? |
| Brechtel198 | 14 May 2013 8:25 a.m. PST |
Colonel LePaige Dorsenne was the nephew of General Dorsenne who had died after a trepanning operation on an old head wound in 1812. He commanded the 8th Tirailleurs in 1813 and the 5th Tirailleurs in 1815. B |
| Parfitts Tele | 14 May 2013 5:07 p.m. PST |
Brechtel198, many thanks for that, I was aware of General Dorsenne but could not find any info on the Col, your OOB's are clearly superior to mine.
I appreciate the fast response. |
| Brechtel198 | 15 May 2013 4:24 a.m. PST |
You're welcome. He is mentioned twice in the Anatomy of Glory, as is the quote from one of his tirailleurs (not grenadier, as previously posted). B |
| jbfrage | 16 May 2013 5:35 a.m. PST |
Hey all, Thanks for all the great info. I appreciate it. Runicus, thanks for the offer. I don't need any particular order of battle. The game I'm putting together is a hypothetical re-fight. |
looks at a multi-period building.