Last Hussar | 11 Jan 2007 5:18 p.m. PST |
Who said "Any Hussar who isn't dead by 30 is a blackguard" Can't source it anywhere. Ta |
OldGrenadier | 11 Jan 2007 5:30 p.m. PST |
Schwerin or Seydlitz, I think. |
Dan Beattie | 11 Jan 2007 5:30 p.m. PST |
It was said by Antoine Charles, Comte de la Salle, the best light cavalry general Napoleon had. He died, a divisional general, in an unnecessary charge at the end of the battle of Wagram in 1809. He was 34. |
Dan Beattie | 11 Jan 2007 5:31 p.m. PST |
|
Dan Beattie | 11 Jan 2007 5:44 p.m. PST |
Detaille painted a wonderful portrayal of Lasalle' last charge link And Front Rank Miniatures has a color photograph of their 3-figure grouping of Lasalle, an adc, and a cuirassier officer on their website. |
OldGrenadier | 11 Jan 2007 7:43 p.m. PST |
Well poot, I was wrong :( |
mweaver | 11 Jan 2007 8:39 p.m. PST |
There is a good novel on LaSalle. David Johnson, "The Proud Canaries" (that was the U.S. title – the British title was "Saber General", I believe). Published in '59. I re-read it every couple of years. |
Shagnasty | 11 Jan 2007 9:02 p.m. PST |
Second the recommendation on "The Proud Canaries." A good book about a fascinating beau sabre. |
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | 12 Jan 2007 2:44 a.m. PST |
The Wagram painting is fantasy as he was shot by a wounded Austrian infantryman on the ground. The Cuirassier behind him were elsewhere. There is another nice pic of Lasalle alone in Bowden's Armies on the Danube. |
Patrice Vittesse | 12 Jan 2007 5:42 a.m. PST |
there is a very good book called "napoleons cavalry and its leaders" which is very good for info. if he commanded the light cavalry division at wagram(which if i remember correctly he did) why are there cuirassiers behind him? |
SauveQuiPeut | 12 Jan 2007 6:41 a.m. PST |
IIRC his own troops were 'blown' so he grabbed the nearest cavalry for his pursuit. However, they were Cuirassiers, and he outpaced them. |
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | 12 Jan 2007 7:06 a.m. PST |
No – that is the "explanation" – the Cuirasier had bene fighting around the point of MacDonald's square or had been deployed off to the French right in case John showed up. Lasalle was leading a pursuit at the end of hte battle – this is a light cavalry function. |
rigoumont | 12 Jan 2007 11:50 p.m. PST |
Lasalle said: "tout hussard qui n'est pas mort à 30 ans est un Jean-Foutre" |
huevans | 14 Jan 2007 2:54 p.m. PST |
I think Jean-foutre is better translated at "apathetic idler", although the French term is far spicier and not something you would say to Vicar at Sunday tea. IIRC it derives from "Je m'en fous" or "I don't give a f---!". |
Robert le Diable | 16 Jan 2007 9:17 a.m. PST |
So basically he was saying, "Don't fugh-about, pal, get yersel killed?" I love the story of how Lasalle, 400 Hussars and a single horse-gun bluffed the fortress of ?Stettin to surrender in 1806 (after Jena/Auerstadt and the pursuit; he claimed they were the avant-garde of a French Corps, when in fact the nearest troops were some days' march away) |