"[1805] Men of Honour" Topic

Recent historical research dropped in my lap a nice find- while expanding on the French OB for my IV Corps modelling, came across this.

Gen de Brigade Louis-Prix Varé
Commander of the 3rd Brigade [and former Colonel of the 43e], (43 et 55eme de ligne), nominally under the 1st Division (St.Hillaire) but 'detached' at the last minute, perhaps day before the battle, to support of Soults 2nd Division, Vandamme.

* Louis-Prix Varé (1766-1807):

General of the Revolution and the Empire. He entered service on August 5, 1782, as a soldier in the Condé dragons regiment, he became a brigadier on July 15, 1785, a marshal on the following October 16, and he was discharged on April 20, 1788.

He returned to service on July 14, 1789, as a second lieutenant in the National Guard of Versailles, and he became assistant major some time after.

On July 12, 1790, he was appointed lieutenant of grenadiers and on October 19, 1791, he became chief of the 4th battalion of volunteers from Seine-et-Oise. From 1792 to 1796, he served in the army of the Moselle, and in the army of the North. He took part in the battle of Hondschoote on September 8, 1793, and he was appointed brigade chief on August 20, 1794, in the 43rd demi-brigade of battle.

On June 14, 1796, he took command of the 54th line infantry demi-brigade, and from 1796 to 1801, he served successively in the armies of Batavia and the Rhine. On December 3, 1800, he participated in the battle of Hohenlinden, then he joined General Augereau in the Batavie army on September 23, 1801.

In 1802, he was part of the workforce planned to participate in the Louisiana expedition under the command of General Victor , but the expedition not taking place, he was assigned to Hanover.

He was promoted to brigadier general on August 29, 1803, at the Bayonne military camp, and on November 16, 1803, he joined the Brest camp. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor on December 11, 1803, and Commander of the Order on June 14, 1804.

In June 1805, he was attached to the 2nd division in the corps of Marshal Augereau, and on September 12, 1805, he commanded the 3rd brigade of General Saint-Hilaire's division in the 4th corps of the Grande Armée.

He distinguished himself at the Battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805, and was wounded by a shot in the left leg and a strong contusion on the right shoulder at the Battle of Eylau on February 8, 1807.

He died (of the wounds received) on the 14th Mars 1807 at Thorn after the Battle of Eylau. His name appears on the bronze tables of the Galeries des Batailles at the Palace of Versailles and on the walls of the hall known as the Archives of the column of the Grande Armée in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
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Frame : 9.2 cm x 10.3 cm
Miniature : 4 cm x 4.7 cm

I'd not seen any paintings of him, yet, following a trail from a Wiki history of those regiments, the bios of occiers and them sourcing images in France:

TMP link link TMP link

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/43e_r%C3%A9giment_d%27infanterie#R%C3%A9volution_et_Premier_http://theminiaturespage.com/

TMP link auction

A Russian enthusiast also found the pictures for sale and grabbed a copy too;
TMP link link

I was also happy to find two relevant and specific decade plus old threads on here:

1- Austerlitz – Vandamme and IR23
TMP link
2- Austerlitz – 2nd Dec: comments on Myth, Truth & Playability
TMP link

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regards
davew

Great find Dave. I have had his portrait for a while, but not that clear of a resolution! Anyone else you are looking for? This is my favorite of General Morand.

Thanks Michael- like you research 1809 I'm doing IV Corps -Soult 1805, so really a preamble to yours.

I'm about to begin Morand in two forms- mounted* and foot- as Thiébault records they did both @ Pratzen Height, along with my longest researched/ waiting unit- the 10eme Legere.

*A modified Minifigs 'Austrian' general or even ADC with epaulettes makes great French generals!

I've also latterly concluded that my units can equally be used for the 1806-07 campaigns, without any 'modification'** unlike a 'backwards' move where I replace Imperial commands and standards with Revolutionary ones.
regards
d

**However this may mean more 'winter dress' so extra battalions that reinforced the army may appear this way.

The 1805-1807 campaigns are a great read, with almost the French Generals at their best. I am so used to seeing the older portrait of Morand with the scar from his broken jaw that I was at first unsure this was the general. However, at Austerlitz, I would imagine he would be wearing a heavy coat? Sadly my modeling skills as less than up to par.

I doubt you need any extra research, but I have service records from officers of the 10eme Legere if needed.

Hi Mike, seems I didn't read this properly or enver came back…hmm, sorry.

>>used to seeing the older portrait of Morand with the scar from his broken jaw.

I've looked but see no reference to this injury, and a bigger engraving has appeared onlien now that I cansee it! Where did that happen? Not a shaving accident I take it.

>>However, at Austerlitz, I would imagine he would be wearing a heavy coat?

No reason to believe that necessary, at least after they started moving.

Reveille/ Breakfast was @4am (not long after N. last 'tour' of the battlefield so wonder how much sleep was had!?).

The 'divisions' moved off to cross the Goldbach defiles (in this case after 6am and were 'deployed en battaile' on the upward rising ground East of Kobelnitz- separated from Vandammes further North in front of Puntowitz by a marked stream depression (thus the 'slopes' were not wholly continuous).

This accounts for why St.Hilaire and Vandammes divisions were so separated upon arrival at Pratzen 'plateau'. The latter had slightly further to march as well.

So, while it was Winter, there was no rain or sno fall of significance for at least two days- yes it was cold and the ground frozen over, but there is little to suggest anything like the full on bad weather of the '07 campaign.

While I have some models of generals/ ADCs in greatcoats, I use them sparingly. I'm using the spirited figure of 'Ney' for his foot character! He is coming!

>>I doubt you need any extra research,..

Thanks and I will keep it in mind. My research (in France etc.) focussed solely on higher level command and structure and I wasn't frankly even aware of the possibility of individuals research records when I was there.

Frankly I'm still confused by lack of information on a number of the generals ADCs (A'sDC?) named but not detailled anywhere. Such as Soults ADCs- Chef de bon Lachau; Lieutenant Lameth; Lt Saint Chamans; Lt Pétiet etc.

My 'active' wargames army list looks like this :-)

‌IV CORPS-GRNDE ARMÉE_ 2021-02-09 .

by DaveW, on Flickr.

Thanks for the support ;-)
davew

Jules Alexandre Léger Boutroüe (1760-1805).

56e régiment d'infanterie de ligne.

Colonel- Chevalier (11 décembre 1804)- Officier de l'ordre 14 juin 1804.

Born 1760, enlisted 'Soldier' under the Ancien Regime 12 février 1778, in le régiment de Rohan-Soubise.

Multiple actions and 'armies' across the Revolution, transferred many times in various regiments, though predominantly in Italy, he reached chef de brigade in juin 1794.

From Italy he was recalled to France and the 'armée de l'Ouest' Years IX to XI. In octobre 1803 he was promoted Colonel to the 56e régiment d'infanterie de ligne.

The regiment comprised only two battalions at this time; it was reinforced with the incorporation of two battalions of 68e Demi-brigade (defunct)
Perhaps the latter was due to their 'revolt/mutiny' aboard ships on the way to Louisiana in 1791.

In 1803 the 'elite' company's of the regiment were designated for the 'the Reserve Grenadier Division' based at Arras under Junot, and Boutroüe was designated Colonel Commandant of the 2nd Regiment.

In his absence, the newly (re)created rank of Major was filled by Rottembourg who commanded the new regiment in his absence. Two of the battalions had yet to join the corps at Ile de Re and a detachment was also esconced in 'civic' garrison in Valais.

Temporarily at least at some time (undetermined) late 1803 and/ or in 1804 Boutroüe stood in as Brigadier of the 1ère Demi-brigade d'Elite. Men and company's from the regiment continued to arrive to complete the Empereurs desired strengths of 800 man battalions.

An interesting view of this formation and period is given, some direct from his correspondance.

>> The men arrived in the uniforms of their corps. The Grenadiers or Carabinieres were endowed with bearskins [I think this is alluding to an ISSUE of the new headgear] and the "hunters de Ligne" (Voltigeurs?) as with light troops, a shako. Hair is cut short «a la Titus».

The study of the correspondence of the Colonel Boutroue gives details of his acitvities. In April 1804, he adds "that he is on horseback 6 or 7 hours a day non-stop to manoeuver and that he has only three horses!

… On May 28th 1804, Boutroue had made a black bearskin hat for himself with a note that 'all the upper Officers of Division have it'. [Certainly a new fact to take into account for the dress in the Division].
It was made with a [gold] gilded brass plate on the front with one grenade, without inscription; gold cords etc. decorations and chin straps were covered 'in fish scales'".

The Reserve Grenadier Division was reviewed by the Emperor on 1er septembre. However later in the month, Boutroue was recalled to his regiment and the battalion de l'elite placed on notice. The 56th was leaving the division after training with it for nearly a year.

Of note, two Eagles were picked up whilst marching via Paris, and two others issued later, as the unit was transferred to Turin, Northern Italy in January 1805. All outlying detachments were also called in and the regiment headed South from wherever they were.

[Quite why Napoleon decided to split this regiment from the full division of '12 battalions' is a mystery still. So it was left with 10 battalions, 5 regiments and a lop-sided brigade structure.]

Being with the Army of Italy when the new campaign of Austria commenced, the 56e fought at the Battle of Caldiéro, where Boutroue suffered an horendous injury as his right leg was shot off by cannon. Subsequent amputation required, he developed gangrene and dies a few days later.

No documented engraving or contemporary painting known. Frederic Berjaud has given his impression of Boutroue in bearskin in his article.

Sources
Wiki- Boutroue
Le 56e Régiment by Frederic Berjaud and Didier Davin(†).

regards
d

From Davout- Memoires
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149. TO THE MINISTER OF WAR, MAJOR-General etc.

Ried, 8 février1806.

Mr Le Marshal,

I have the honour to send Your Excellency a copy of a letter from the Director of the City of
Heidelberg and a deposition of the removal on a store of 5,034 pairs of shoes belonging to the 3rd Army Corps and abducted by order of General Donzelot, Chief of the General Staff of the 7th Army Corps, commissioned by Marshal Augereau.

I will not make any reflection on this arbitrary order I will only ask Your Excellency to order the replacement of these shoes, either by the regiments to which they have been illegally distributed or in any other way.
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Was either Donzelot or Augereau dressed down by Napoleon for this incident and had to either provide more shoes to III Corps or to pay for new shoes for Davout's troops?

>>Was either Donzelot or Augereau dressed down

Nothing appears in Davout corrspondence, however down the track___

From Davout- Memoires
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154. AU MINISTRE DE LA GUERRE, MAJOR GÉNÉRAL etc.
Hall, 30 mars 1806.

Comprising an explanation and reports he notes in the penultimate paragraph:-

"…the day before yesterday I saw the same attention to Friants Division [at a review]- I have only satisfactory reports to make to Your Excellency on the situation of these troops; the armament and footwear are in good condition; clothing is good enough. I will even say better than I was expecting; the 5,000 pairs of shoes arriving from Strasbourg, replacing such a number that General Donzelot had seized in Heidelberg, will put our footwear in the best condition."

-d

SHaT – would love to see more of your OOB for IV Corps.

@Widowson

In what form do you mean specifically? I'll fill in more detail elsewhere than this thread perhaps.
But in brief-
It is a core for 1805- the IV Corps of Soult, both the 1st and 3rd Divisions entirely down to the last unit and parc.

Plus the 'actual' cavalry either attached or subordinate- {Margarons Cav Legere Brigade/ Division} and Beaumonts 3rd Dragoon Division.

In addition, I have 'support corps' that all wargamers know and love, or as I call them my 'vanity troop'- La Garde Imperiale (6 bns only plus cav); the Reserve Grenadier Division (aka Oudinots 10 bns very much a WIP); and the 1er Division de Grosse Cavalerie- Nansouty (also WIP only 1.5 brigades completed).

Actually I should probably just add a section over at:
A few elites

Dave,

During some research on the 15e Legere, I found an officer named Pierre-Louis COUTELOT served with the 8e Bataillion de Grenadiers de la Reserve, Tire du 15e Regiment d'infanterie Legere link

I remember you posted something on the 15e Legere in 1805 but couldn't find the post. Hopefully, you don't mind me adding this to your post.

Pierre-Louis COUTELOT

Many thanks Mike- I forget to check threads same day I post and misssed you again!
No problem- my 15e Legere problem hasn't gone away.

Interesting, there's no other documenation I've seen that cites 'x Battalion' of the Reserve Grenadiers! Brings up another interesting anomaly- that the 12e and 15e Legere elite battalions are always listed as the '5th' Regiment (after the 4th which contains the 28e & 31e Legere)- which in theory means they'd be the 9th and 10th 'batallions'- but apparenty not!

Certainly an interesting man of long service- deserves a decent translation I won't be able to do today.

Other thread on 15e Legere mysteries--
TMP link [1805] More on Rsv Gren Dvn- Planning/ Deployment Enigma (this on the whereabouts and identity of the 15e Voltigeurs- who did exist at Austerlitz!).

Many thanks,
regards davew

Louis Albert Guislain Bacler d'Albe
Officer cartographer and Painter

Recently referenced as painter at TMP link '[Info] Identify a French Rev. Painting?'
Brief Bio- Bacler d'Albe

‌Bacler d'Albe (1761-1824)_ cartographe -chef bureau topographique

Posted as this is the only painting of him I could find Copyright/ source unknown.
by DaveW, on Flickr.

Bacler d'Albe was first clerk to his father, director of posts in Amiens. But the fine arts attracted him. He then left for Switzerland and settled in Sallanches in Savoy from 1786 to 1793, drawing many views of Mont Blanc, of which Paccard and Valmat had just succeeded in climbing and making the topographic survey of Haut Faucigny.

Although married and father of a family, won by new ideas, on 1 May 1793 he enlisted in the 2e bataillon des chasseurs de l'Ariège.

Captain of artillery on 20 Oct. 1793, he distinguished himself at the siege of Lyon and Toulon. He served in Nice in 1794 and 1795 and in Italy in 1796 as a draftsman's geographer.

His well executed military maps, exact drawings of military machines (equipment or fortresses?) brought him to the notice of Bonaparte who commissioned him to create the plans of the coast from Nice to Savona and to give courses of tracing fortifications.

In October 1797 he began drawing a map of the peninsula, which he engraved on his own account and sold by subscription; the army [Ministry] having declined the expenditure for it. Thirty leaves were ready when the Austrians seized them and they only returned them after the peace of Lunéville.

The book appeared in 52 sheets in 1802: Map of the Theatre of War in Italy During Bonaparte's First Campaigns.

Such a talent could have flourished during the expedition in Egypt, but he was not aware of his offered letter of service.

On September 22, 1799, he was appointed chief of the Engineer-Geographers of the War Deparment. Promoted Chef d'escadron on 23 Sept. 1801, nevertheless, he continued his private activities and began publishing ‘Menales' or illustrated and historical annals of the landscape artists from1803.

In September 1804 he was appointed ‘chef du bureau topographique' that the First Consul had just created in his cabinet. He would no longer leave Napoleons side.

Bacler d'Albe's role with Napoleon was of the highest order. On campaign he slept in HIS tent with his equipment. He prepared the maps which he himself had coloured, marked with coloured pins the positions of the army corps, calculated the distances to the compass, figured the reliefs of ground for the plans of maneuvers of the Emperor; advised on the means of attack and the lines of fire.

He was surely (even more than Berthier) the master of his military thought and [Baron] Fain described that scene when Napoleon and Albe lying their whole lengths on the table of cards hit their heads.

In Paris, his work was no less considerable. He undertook to collect, improve or have executed maps of all Europe, including the important Emperor's Map begun in 1809 and completed in 1812. It was Bacler d'Albe who in 1802 adopted the process known as lines of greater slope instead of the half-perspective process in cartograpy.

Promoted Colonel 21 June 1807, then Adjutant-Commandant a month later. February 2 1810, he was made a Baron.

Again promoted général de brigade on 24 October 1813. All these years of campaigning and incessant work with the Emperor had worn out his health and he desired a change of duties for that of Director of the Depot of the War Department in Paris on March 2, 1814.

Confirmed in his responsibilities after a brief interval by Louis XVIII on 10 May 1814, he was placed in 'sous-ordre' [demoted?] on 13 March 1815. As Head of a Section in the Ministry over the Hundred Days, it is to him that we owe the protection of all the copper plates of the famous map by Cassini that the Allies wanted to seize. On 10 July 1815 he was placed on half pay.

Indebted by the costs of the Russian campaign and ruined by the plundering of the Prussians of his house in Sèvres, he went back to his brushes and pencils. Oil paintings, gouaches, lithographs, engravings, he worked extensively and until his death, publishingL
-Picturesque Souvenirs or lithographed views of Switzerland, Valais, etc., 102 sheets (1818);
-Picturesque walks in Paris and the surrounding area, 4 sheets (1822);
-Picturesque memories of the Spanish countryside, 102 sheets (1824);
-Picturesque views of the upper Faucigny, 48 sheets (1824).

His landscapes and battle paintings are numerous and he has his place with Gros, Pajou, Fragonard the son, Gautherot, Langlois and Lejeune.

He died in Sèvres on September 12, 1824.
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Resources:

A Bibliothèque nationale de France data sheet/ pdf:
link

Only painting of him I could find:
link

Article used:
link

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__dww2021__

And… women too!

- Women in French Army -

From La Sabretache-
–
PP592

Private Marie Bertrand.
ENGHIEN-INFANTERIE.1757. 93rd regiment in 1791.
A young girl between the ages of 18 and 19 has been recognized in the Enghien regiment where she has been engaged since March. She has served there since that time with all the zeal imaginable, behaved in battle with all possible bravery, having given marks of value on every occasion; she always volunteered when it came to work; she had every month the precaution of seeking that-
to her sergeant or corporal, to be hide in the safety of the camp in order to better hide her sex.

She was very angry about being recognized and asked the general to be able to finish her six years.

This heroine, under the name of La Douceur, served the regiment of d'Enghien, under Captain Grandvillard- her name was Marie Bertrand, daughter of the late François Bertrand, a locksmith by profession, and Marie Reverand, a native of Croisy, two and a half leagues from Falaise, in Normandy.

This spirited Norman has virtue and strength like that from Orleans. The whole army comes daily to our colonel's house to see this respectable girl who asks to keep her soldiers habit (uniform and role).

Pap. Clermont 33 / 117
–

And more women- honoured officially:
from QUELQUES ANECDOTES SUR LA LÉGION D'HONNEUR
link

La première femme décorée

Une première remise sujette à controverse sur sa réalité : Le 20 juin 1808, Marie-Jeanne Schellinck, née à Gand en 1757 et sous-lieutenant de la Grande armée, aurait reçu de Napoléon 1er l'étoile de la Légion d'Honneur. L'Empereur aurait dit alors à cette ancienne combattante : « Madame, je vous fais 700 francs de pension et chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. Recevez de ma main l'étoile des braves que vous avez si noblement conquise. » Il aurait également déclaré à ses officiers : « Messieurs, inclinez-vous respectueusement devant cette femme courageuse. C'est une des gloires de l'Empire. »

Une première remise officielle : Le 15 août 1851, le Président Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte décorait à l'âge de 79 ans Marie-Angélique Duchemin, un ancien sergent-major ayant combattu au cours des guerres de la Révolution puis pensionné à l'hôtel des Invalides avec le grade de sous-lieutenant.

Transl (good or bad):

The first woman decorated

On June 20, 1808, Marie-Jeanne Schellinck, born in Ghent in 1757 and a sub-lieutenant of the Grande Armée, received the star of the Legion of Honour from Napoleon 1er. The Emperor would then have said to this former combatant: "Madam, I make you 700 francs of pension and knight of the Legion of Honour. Receive with my hand the star of the brave you have so nobly conquered. He also told his officers: "Gentlemen, bow respectfully to this courageous woman. This is one of the glories of the Empire. "

A first official surrender[?]: On August 15, 1851, President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte decorated at the age of 79 Marie-Angélique Duchemin, a former sergeant major who fought during the wars of the Revolution and then retired to the Hôtel des Invalides with the rank of sub-lieutenant.
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cheers
davew≠

Ongoing research into individuals to model, not the least sorting out multiple persons with the same surnames, this brief clarification was welcome:-

General Mathieu Dumas
link

Born the same year as Berthier (1753), and went along as ADC to Rochambeau and gained much campaign experience in the course, also throughout the following revolutionary period. Interesting how the noble birth yet continued services barely conflicted with a couple of interuptions.

He found renewed value under the Directory and consulate, while his promotions via 'staff' roles led to him becoming one of several leading specialists as "Aides-Majors Generaux" (generales de division) in Berthiers grand headquarters. Effectively in charge of his own department, or section, as Maréchal des logis.
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cheers
≠davew≠

Though not part of my 1805 OB specifically, the many 'technocrats' that supported the army form an 'elite' beyond and above the most famous generals and marshals usually spoken about. General Eblé is but one such example.

General Eblé… This savior of the Grande Armée!

It has been said of Jean-Baptiste Eblé that he saved the remnants of the Grande Armée from complete annihilation; born on December 21, 1758, he was the son of a simple artillery sergeant. So he owed only his loyalty and his bravery to be raised to the highest dignities. The life of this courageous man deserves to be cited as an example.

(Excerpt from Napoleon 1st– Revue du Souvenir Napoleonien N°94).

In French:-
link

*Disclaimer- at some time in the past I was a subscribing member of the society._dw

More information available in wiki:-
link

and a bit more here:
link

regards davew