"Polish combined Grenadiers?" Topic

I have read that the infantry formations for the Duchy of Warsaw were organized on the French model. I assume this would mean that 1 company would be Grenadiers and one of Voltigeurs. Does anyone know if they also ever used their Grenadiers or skirmishers in a coalesced battalion as the French did?

Thanks,

David

No, they did not, nor did the French either. It was more a Russian thing.

Austrians as well. Big time.

IIRC there were converged grenadiers formations used in the Peninsula. Albuera comes to mind but I may be wrong.

I am pretty sure if a fortress needed to be assaulted converged units were pretty common.

There is no evidence that the Poles organized converged grenadier or voltigeur infantry formations. There are examples of the French during the period, 1800-1807, combining grenadier companies into composite formations. Since they already had light infantry regiments there was less reason to create converged units of the line light companies but I think that did happen occasionally in Spain.

You all have been very helpful. Thanks for the feedback.

David

Went to check and yes, at Albuera (1811) there was a converged grenadier battalion composed of grenadier companies from the 45e, 63e, 95e and the 4th Vistula.

So the French did it then, and the unit had Poles within.

That's great info! Thanks.

Sorry, not related to the Poles, but the French used combined battalions of voltigeurs and grenadiers in numerous theaters. The following describes that concept in use in Italy during 1809.

At the same time, Eugène, Charpentier and staff set about reorganizing the Army of Italy. A reserve artillery component was formed under General Sorbier by retracting a portion of each infantry division's cannon and combining these with the guns of the Italian Royal Guard. Furthermore, Eugène stripped his voltigeur companies from the line battalions, who along with two squadrons of cavalry and a few guns, formed a "light brigade" which was to be employed as his advance guard under the leadership of General of Brigade Debruc……. Eugène determined that his newly-formed light brigade would play a major part in the coming battle and he increased it to divisional size, replacing Colonel Renaud with one of Broussier's most able brigadiers, the energetic General Dessaix. The light division now comprised six voltigeur battalions, the 9th Chasseurs à Cheval, and four artillery pieces.

My library is currently in storage but I seem to recall that combining companies was a practice various French commanders did and others condemned.

What are your thoughts on this gentlemen?

Then combined grenadiers at Albuhera (including 2 coys of 4th Poles) were drawn from regiments in garrison duty elsewhere – not stripped from units at the battle. Ditto. I think, Junot's 2 grenadier battalions at Vimiero.

However, Ferrey's Division at Fuentes D^'Onoro WAS a grenadier corps stripped from the regiments at the battle, wasn't it?

These are the only Peninsula examples of combined grenadier companies I can think of.

1809 Austria: Oudinot's whole corps? or was that 1805?

I think that's the big difference – whether the battalions were formed from the field battalions [Eugene/Italy], or those in depot [Oudinot/1805-07], or garrison [Soult/1811].
Compans division from Davout's I Corp in 1812, also formed voltigeur battalions, these fought in Murat's advance guard, and particularly at Schevardino, and probably Borodino. So these too were formed from field battalions. If you read Crowdy's, L'Incomparable, there are other examples there of combined battalions being formed for special advance and assault duties.
Bottom line it happened.

Yes the poles did form adhoc composite elite units. Poniatowski combined the Voltigeur of v corps into an advanced guard at borodino

CaptainSi
That makes perfect sense in light of the fact that there were no Polish 'light' regiments. That was the situation in Compans division too

CaptainSi,

That is exactly what I was just wondering and was about to try and look into the existence of Polish light units, so thank you for anticipating my question.