"How Dutch Engineers Saved Napoleon’s Grand ..." Topic

…Armée from Annihilation

"On 26 November, 1812, the Battle of Berezina began as Napoleon desperately tried to break through the enemy Russian lines and bring the tattered remnant of his forces back to France. In one of the most dramatic and heroic rearguard actions in history, his men managed to build a bridge across the icy river and hold off the Russians as they did so.

At a terrible cost in combatants and civilians, Napoleon was able to escape across the river and save his surviving men after a vicious three-day battle…"
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

Thanks, Armand, particularly since there are a couple of Links distributed throughout the article; the rest was really a survey of the broad outline of the Campaign. A casualty-rate of 90% is of course extraordinary.
Just as well ?Eble kept back that wagon of nails.

The Pontonnier units in the Grande Armee were not engineers, but were assigned to the artillery arm. They were uniformed as artillerymen with their own facings.

Eble, who commanded the pontonniers, and was an artillery officer, had ignored Napoleon's order to burn all 'excess' vehicles at Orsha. While the pontoons and their hacquets were burned and destroyed, Eble kept two field forges, eight wagons loaded with coal and tools, and had each of his pontonniers carry a tool along with spikes and clamps.

Engineers and sailors were also assigned to Eble to build the bridges across the Berezina, but the high casualty rate in the 1st Pontonnier Battalion were because the pontonniers were the ones who went into the river during the construction and repair of the bridges. Eble himself accompanied every shift that went into the water and was undoubtedly the cause of him dying of exhaustion at Konigsberg at the end of the retreat. He was in his fifties.

The remnants of the Grande Armee faced two Russian armies at the Berezina. That of Admiral Tshitshagov was in the west bank of the river and was tricked out of position by Oudinot's deception operation. That allowed the French to get a foothold on the west bank and to repeatedly defeat the Russian attacks.

Victor was the army's rear guard and he defeated Wittgenstein on the east bank of the river so that the crossing was not crowded in on. Kutusov's army failed to appear, undoubtedly because he did not want to fight Napoleon again. His comment to Yermelov stated that it was other people's turn to fight, not his.

It is absolutely true, in the French Army the Pontoneers belong to the Artillery until 1894, nothing to do with Engineers

Yes Eble did not loose his head contrary to Boney

Where and when did Napoleon state that Eble 'lost his head?'

A source/reference would also be helpful…

Further, if Napoleon actually said it, what were the circumstances of the comment?

What Napoleon did do, according to French army tradition, was to grant Eble the right to wear golden spurs for his valor at the Berezina. That privilege was claimed by French pontonier officers ever since.

I think von W's brief comment means, not that N ever accused E of "losing the heid", just that E was more sensible/practical than N with regard to retaining, or abandoning, all the materiel which Brechtel noted above. In other words, I'd paraphrase thus: "Yes, Eble did not lose his head, unlike Napoleon". Hope I've understood the sense?

Based on Napoleon's actions at the Berezina, I would not say that 'he lost his head' either.

The great bonfire at Orsha was done to assign all available horses to the artillery and get rid of unnecessary vehicles. That doesn't sound like 'anyone losing their heads.'

Just as well Eble held on to those wagons….

Yes it was-it saved the army.

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

I'm was not aware that the Pontonniers were Dutch…

Amicalement
Armand

The Dutch Captain, George Diederich Benthien, not only survived but was appointed captain of the pontoneer company of the new Dutch Engineer bataillon in 1814.
He was put in charge of organizing the pontoon train in 1815. Difficulties with the building of the boats prevented this train from taking the field in time for the campaign.

The French pontonier arm was initially organized in 1792 from Rhine River bargemen. They were formally 'mustered in' two years later. The 2d Battalion was formed on the Rhine in 1797-1799. The 3d was formed in Italy in 1800.

In 1801 the 2d and 3d battalions were consolidated together and the two battalions were of unequal strength, the 1st Battalion always being the larger of the two. The strength of the battalions fluctuated between six and fourteen companies.

There was later a Guard company of ouvriers et pontonniers.

Hope I've understood the sense?

Yes indeed, Boney failed in handling the retreat miserably, there a severe criticism how the mass supplies, which were there were wasted.

In case Elbe did not save the waggon, contrary to orders – end of Boney and also end of his lying program and propaganda created at St. Helena.

There were not just Dutch Pontonniers but others as well.

Napoleon hit the bottom as a commander during the retreat. However, he regained his composure before reaching Orsha, and Orsha was 'the salvation of the army' as it was a well-stocked depot/magazine and the administrative staff was efficient. There the Grande Armee pulled itself together to an amazing level which enabled it to win outnumbered at the Berezina.

Oh vW, you do care so, so much.

A long time ago now. So let us enjoy the period for its pomp and colours.

Brechtel stated above -

"[At Orsha] the Grande Armee pulled itself together to an amazing level which enabled it to win outnumbered at the Berezina."

It should be noted that between Orsha and Borisov the Grande Armee met up with Oudinot's II Corps, Victor's IX Corps and Dombrowski's 17th Division. These three formations contributed approx. 75% of the manpower in the Berezina battles. The remaining combatants consisted of the Vistula Legion, the Young and Middle Guard, and various remnants of the Grande Armee.

see 'The Battle of the Berezina: Napoleon's Great Escape'
by Alexander Mikaberidze

Stephen

Berezina. One of Bonaparte's greatest victories.

for the dutch bentien !