""Napoleon's Last Soldier"" Topic

If this article didn't circulate at the time (last year), it's worth doing so now:

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The last survivor of the Battle of Waterloo?

can you add the link again please

Maybe this link? link

Yeah, that's it!

link

Sorry, I don't know what happened. The TMP Bug originally placed my New Topic post in the Sci-Fi boards! I copied the text here where I intended to post it, and that must have busted the link URL.

That is a marvellous article: thank you for posting.

Very moving, thank you indeed for posting:)

Dr J

Agreed – great post; thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing. Nice article.

Great story. Often baffles me how few of the "great names" were photographed in the decades after Waterloo.

Jerome Bonaparte or The Duke in old age (one single "photograph"…a Dagguerotype) are notable exceptions. The series we often see here of French veterans in recreations of their uniforms. Not much from Allied side.

This is a great tale. Don't blame the Scots Greys for his wound though! 105th lost their eagle to the Royals, well to the West of the Union Brigade charge. Later in that action any trooper had better things on his mind…survival!

"Often baffles me how few of the "great names" were photographed in the decades after Waterloo."

deadhead,

We are on the same boat. It often baffles me too.

Not a household name, but this guy was photographed in 1861.

Philippe Antoine d'Ornano

Born in 1784, Ornano was a cousin of Napoleon by his mother Isabella.

He began his military career in 1799 as a Sous-Lieutenant in the 9th French Dragoons. In 1801, he became aide-de-camp to General Leclerc during the expedition to Santo Domingo.

Once back in France, Ornano served in the Army of the Coasts and became an aide-de-camp to Berthier.

In March of 1805, he was appointed commander of the 3rd battalion of the Corsican Tirailleurs, serving in Legrand's division. Ornano distinguished himself at Austerlitz, Jena and Lubeck. He was promoted to Colonel in 1807 (commander of the 25th Dragoons).

In 1808, Ornano was made Count of the Empire. He would spend the next few years in Spain and Portugal. In 1811, he fought at Fuentes de Onoro and was promoted to General de Brigade on the battlefield.

During the Russian campaign, he commanded the 16th Light Cavalry Brigade. For his actions at Borodino, he was promoted to General de Division the day afterwards, and then a week later received command of the cavalry division of Prince Eugene's IV Corps. During the retreat, he was severely wounded and left for dead on the battlefield of Krasnoi.

After somehow making it out of Russia, Ornano became Major-Colonel of the Dragoons of the French Imperial Guard in early 1813. After the death of Marshal Bessières, Ornano took temporary command of the Guard cavalry. He fought at Dresden, Kulm, Leipzig and Hanau.

After Napoleon's return from Elba, Ornano resumed his command of the Guard Dragoons, but was unable to take an active part in the Waterloo campaign because he got into a duel with General Bonet. Ornano was wounded in the stomach and Bonet in the thigh.

Portrait of Ornano made during the Napoleonic Era: link

After Napoleon's second abdication, Ornano met Marie Walewska, Napoleon's former mistress, and married her in 1816, becoming a stepfather to Napoleon's illegitimate son by Marie Walewska.

He became governor of the Invalides in 1853 and Marshal of France in 1861.

Ornano died in 1863.

Marshal Ornano in 1861 (I have this photo in larger size somewhere around here)

Marshal Ornano

Click on the image to enlarge it: link

Émile Mellinet (1798-1894)

Click on the image to enlarge it: link

This photo was taken in 1857.

He was a warrior!

Mellinet saw action in 1814 and 1815! He was wounded during the Battle of Paris in 1814 and was wounded again during the Siege of Metz in 1815 (he was a Sous-Lieutenant of the 96th French line infantry regiment in 1815).

Mellinet served in Spain between 1823 and 1825, being wounded two more times. He served in North Africa and commanded the 1st Regiment of the French Foreign Legion. Mellinet was promoted to General de Brigade in 1850 and assumed command of the 1st Infantry Brigade of the French Imperial Guard in 1854. He was promoted to General de Division in 1855. At one point during the Crimean War, Mellinet commanded the 1st Infantry Division of the French Imperial Guard (the Grenadier Division). He led the division during the assault against the Malakoff Tower. The Malakoff was captured at a high cost, more than 7,000 French casualties, and Mellinet was wounded once again. Sebastopol fell the next day.

In 1859, during the Franco-Austrian War (aka Italian campaign of 1859), the 1st Infantry Division of the Imperial Guard was again under the command of Mellinet. The division was formed by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grenadiers and the Regiment of Zouaves of the Guard. They fought like lions at Magenta. Mellinet proudly wrote after the battle, "I hope that the Emperor will be pleased with his Grenadiers and Zouaves, for I defy anyone to find braver troops."

piper909 & Cuirasseier: Great stuff, thanks very much!!! John Miller

Excellent thread gents!

You are welcome, John Miller. ;-) Thanks, wrgmr1.

Grouchy wasn't present at Waterloo? Think again… His son was there… Alphonse de Grouchy commanded the 12th Chasseurs à Cheval at the Battle of Waterloo.

Born: 1789; Died: 1864

1806: Sous-Lieutenant of the 10th French Dragoons.

1807: Wounded at Eylau.

1808: Wounded in Spain at the end of the year.

1809: Transferred to the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval. Promoted to Captain. Austrian campaign, fought at the Battle of Wagram. Grouchy was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur.

1812: Transferred to the 19th Chasseurs a Cheval. Russian campaign. Promoted to Chef d'escadron. Wounded at Borodino. Wounded again at the Battle of Viazma.

1813: Campaign in Germany. Battle of Leipzig. Promoted to Colonel in december of that year (he was 24 years old). Officer of the Légion d'honneur.

1814: Commanded the 19th Chasseurs à Cheval.

Portrait of Grouchy, Colonel of the 19th Chasseurs à Cheval in 1814… Click on the image to enlarge it: link

1815: Commander of the 12th French Chasseurs à Cheval during the Waterloo Campaign. Wounded at Waterloo.

Read about his career with much more details (in French): link

He was promoted to General de Brigade in 1831 and General de Division in 1842.

Here's Alphonse de Grouchy's archive at the Chacellery of the Légion d'honneur (with 17 pages): link

In "The Anatomy of Glory" Lachouque cites Lieutenant Markiewicz of the Polish Light Horse who lived in 3 centuries. Born in 1794, he fought in the Russian Campaign, was decorated in 1813, charged at Waterloo, and was still living in 1902!

Good catch, stoneman1810. Thanks.

Nicolas Charles Victor Oudinot de Reggio (son of the famous Marshal Oudinot)

Born: 1791, Died: 1863

Page of Napoleon, Oudinot followed the Emperor in the campaigns of 1806 (against Prussia), 1806-1807 (against Russia) and 1808 in Spain. Oudinot was present at the battles of Jena and Eylau.

1809: First Page of Napoleon. Assisted Napoleon in the campaign against Austria (at Eckmulh, Aspern-Essling and Wagram). After Wagram, Oudinot was promoted to lieutenant in the 5th Hussars (serving in the elite company of the regiment). Two months after the promotion to lieutenant, he was appointed aide de camp to Marshal Massena in Spain.

1811: Oudinot was transferred to the Regiment of Chasseurs à Cheval of the French Imperial Guard. Promoted to Captain at the end of the year.

1812: Oudinot, serving in the Chasseurs à Cheval of the Imperial Guard, took part and made the entire Russian campaign.

1813: Oudinot was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur early in the year. He was wounded in the foot at the Battle of Leipzig. At the Battle of Hanau, Oudinot, with 25 Imperial Guard chasseurs à cheval , recaptured six guns that the enemy had captured and captured around 200 enemy infantrymen. After the battle, he was promoted to Officer of the Légion d'honneur.

1814: Oudinot distinguished himself during the campaign in France. At Montmirail, leading one squadron of the regiment, he captured a Prussian infantry battalion. He was wounded in the thigh at the Battle of Craonne. Oudinot was promoted to Chef d'escadron, then after to Lieutenant-Colonel in the army in april of 1814.

1815: Oudinot did not rally to Napoleon in 1815.

1822: Promoted to Colonel of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers a cheval (Horse Grenadiers) of the French Royal Guard.

1824: Promoted to General de Brigade.

1849: As General de Division, he commanded the French Expeditionary Corps of the Mediterranean that besieged Rome.

1851: Oudinot tried to oppose Louis Napoleon coup in december of that year. He was put in inactive service, but was brought back to active service in january of 1852.

In the centre, General Oudinot with the Prince Imperial (son of Napoleon III)… Right-click on the image and copy image address to view a larger image.

This photo was taken in 1860 or 1861.

These are great finds………folk who were actually there.

I am sure almost everyone knows who this is. Certainly does not fit in with topic title. It was shown in The National Portrait Gallery last year and has a very convincing provenance;

Or how about this for genetics? But it is not "The Great Thief of Europe" but his nephew, son of Jerome B

Yes, that's Wellington… The Iron Duke himself.

Regnault de Saint-Jean D'Angely (1794-1870)… Marshal in 1859.

Bellow… Right-click on the image and copy image address to view a larger image.

The photo above was taken in 1857.

This one was taken in 1860. Click on the image to enlarge it: link

1812: Sous-Lieutenant of the 8th Chasseurs à Cheval. Transferred to the 8th Hussars before the Russian campaign. Made the entire campaign in Russia.

1813: His regiment, the 8th Hussars, suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Leipzig. Promoted to Lieutenant after the battle.

1814: Promoted to Captain during the campaign in France. Made most of the campaign serving in Napoleon's imperial staff. Decorated with the cross of the Légion d'honneur.

1815: Officer d'ordonnance of Napoleon during the Hundred Days. At Waterloo he served with the rank of chef d'escadron.

Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st Lancers in 1830 and Colonel in 1832. Officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1831. Promoted to Marechal de camp in 1841 and General de Division in 1848. Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1849.

He supported the coup in 1851. Senator in 1852 (actually between 1852 and 1870).

1854: Appointed commander of the newly created French Imperial Guard. Brief stay in Crimea in 1855, commanding a Reserve Corps.

1856: Commander in chief of the French Imperial Guard.

1859: Italian campaign (Franco-Austrian War). He commanded the French Imperial Guard during the campaign and was promoted to Marshal after the Battle of Magenta (where the Imperial Guard fought admirably well; they fought like lions).

"The French suffered more than 4,500 casualties at Magenta. The Austrians lost 5,700 troops killed or wounded, in addition to which lines of dejected Austrian prisoners, 4,500 men in all, snaked westward. Edmund Texier wrote to the French newspaper Siècle, This day will have a great place in our military annals. Indeed, Napoleon III promoted both MacMahon and the commander of the Imperial Guard, Maj. Gen. Auguste Michel Marie Étienne Regnault comte de Saint-Jean-d'Angély, to the rank of marshal. He also made MacMahon the Duke of Magenta.
…The real heroes were the French rank and file, for Magenta was a soldiers' battle. As the commander of the Grenadier Division of the Guard, Maj. Gen. Émile Mellinet, proudly wrote, I hope that the Emperor will be pleased with his grenadiers and zouaves, for I defy anyone to find braver troops."

This article was written by Andrew Uffindell and originally appeared in the June 1996 issue of Military History magazine.

Bernard Pierre Magnan (1791-1865)

Click on the images to enlarge them.

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Magnan, the mason (photographed in 1862): link

1809: Soldier in the French 66th Line Infantry regiment.

1810: Promoted to Corporal and Sergeant. Peninsular War.

1811: Promoted to Sous-Lieutenant.

1813: Promoted to Lieutenant and, later, Captain. Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur.

1814: Transferred to the 13th Tirailleurs (Young Guard) of the French Imperial Guard. Campaign in France. Wounded at the Battle of Craonne. Decorated with the cross of the Légion d'honneur (Officer of the LH).

1815: Served in the 4th Tirailleurs (Young Guard). Fought at Waterloo.

His military career went on. Already a General, Magnan supported the coup in 1851 and became senator and Marshal the next year.