"the Paris National Guard 1814" Topic

I have a few questions on these units. I've found uniform prints but I'm confused at to whether all ranks wore epaulettes or just the elite companies.

Were they all "Chocolate Soldiers" or was their a cadre of veterans?

Apart from the final battle to defend Paris in 1814, did they fight in any other aspect of the Campaign of 1814?

According to pages 309 et seq of "Histoire de la Garde Nationale" by E de Labellodiere, Paris 1848, the decree of 8 January 1814 had each of the 12 arrondissments form a legion of 4 battalions. A battalion comprised 5 companies (1 grenadier & 4 fusiliers). The grenadiers in each legion were to be combined into an elite battalion.

A Legion was commanded by a Colonel & an adjutant-major.

A battalion was commanded by a Chef de bataillon & an adjutant.

A company consisted of 1 capitaine, 1 lieutenant, 2 sous-lieutenants, 1 sergent-major, 4 sergents, 1 caporal fourrier, 8 caporaux, 2 drummers & 105 men.

Each company was to form one or more sections of Tirailleurs who were to wear green epaulettes & green pompoms.

Further to above – the officers & ncos wore the traditional uniform for national guards, grenadiers wore the uniform of their arm.

Napoleon was designated as the commander,
the second in command was Marshal Moncey
Aides-Major Generaux: Gen de Division Comte Hullin; Comte Bertand (grand marechal); Comte Montesquiou (grand chambellan); Comte de Montmerency;
Adjutants Commandants: Baron Laborde (adjutant commander for Paris); Comte Albert de Brancas; Comte Germain; Mr Touton;
Chefs de Legion: Comte de Gontaut; Comte Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angely; Baropn Hottinger; Comte Jaubert; Mr Dauberjon de Murinais, Mr Defraguier, Mr Le Pileur de Bravannes, Mr Richard-Lenoir, Mr Devins de Graville, Duc de Cadore, Comte de Choiseul de Praslin, Mr Salleron.

In addition some companies of horse guards were also to be formed, and a national guard artillery corps from 300 students for Ecole Polytechnique & 480 invalide artillerymen.

There is no mention of the Paris National Guard fighting elsewhere.

Thanks for that.
Any idea of their quality?

Between 25 January & 6 February, the fusiliers took the qualification (name?) chasseurs – actual phrase "Le fusiliers prirent le qualification de chasseurs.".

For the attack on Paris, the national garde legions were deployed as follows:
1st & 4th from the barrier at Passy to Clichy.
2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th & 7th from Clichy to Charonne.
8th & 9th from Charonne to la Rapee.
On the left bank of the Seine,
11th river Bievre to the barrier at Fourneaux
10th deployed to the right of the 11th, whilst the 12th was deployed to the left of the 11th.

At all the principal barriers picquets of 50 men were established – either grenadiers or chasseurs. 12 larger guards of 100 men were formed to reinforce the picquets and guard the lesser barriers.

The Paris garde nationale were reinforced by the gardes from Belleville, de Bercy, & St Denis, plus the pupils from d'Alfort.

The 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th 10th legions, detachments from the 5th & 6th, plus the tirailleurs (detached to defend Montmartre)are mentioned as having fought well.

As to actual quality, the good book does not say….. but page 113 "Napoleon 1814 the Defence of France" by Andrew Uffindell says recruitment was restricted to respectable men who were keen to preserve law and order, even if they were unenthusiastic about the Empire or soldiering. Page 339 et seq "Napoleon and the campaign of 1814" by Henri Houssaye says that originally Napoleon intended to recruit the nationale garde from all classes without distinction. As a result of Napoleon's consultations,the impact of the old national garde had in the revolution, recruitment was restricted to those who were least fitted for the trade of a soldier and at the sametime most hostile to the government – men of property and shopkeepers who had been ruined by the war. also as a result the numbers secured were about one-third of what they might have been.

So: good as any conscript.

Thanks PoE. It is a joy to consult TMP.

Well there was the invalides. Veteran soldiers that got hurt so bad that they couldn't be used in the field-army. Not sure how many of them there were, but I remember reading that Austrian(?) officers had to convince them to give up in honor.

good information Prince of Essling,thank you