June/July 2020
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June/July 2020 The 1809 International Occasional books like «Honneur et Research Society Bravoure - L’Histoire d’un batave A French infantry welcomes the Belgian sous Napoléon» (Honor and battalion at Napoleonic Association. bravery - the history of a Dutch serving Napoleon) based on the Wagram, 1809. archives of Jan Coenraad Duuring, a direct descendant of a Dutch Terry E. Crowdy Major of the 1st battalion of the This article tells the story of 1st chasseurs à pied de la Garde. Napoleon’s 1809 Austrian ABN also organizes exhibitions, campaign through the eyes of ABN (Association Belge visits, travels and conferences one soldier, Corporal Nicolas Napoléonienne) - BNA and helps students for their re- Page of the French 9th Light (Belgian Napoleonic search papers and citizens to find Infantry. Page served in the 4th the military memories of their Association) Battalion, a formation which the ancestors. oral history of the regiment made Last but not least, we maintain ABN is the largest non-profit clear was only assembled at the excellent cooperation relations last moment and was largely Belgian association devoted to the with historians, illustrators, re- period of history from 1770 to composed of ill trained and enactors, collectors and with hastily equipped troops. The con- 1870. She was created on May 5th, model makers. We have strong 1979 by 8 founders who wished clusion of the paper was that in links with other Napoleonic asso- 1809 Napoleon still had sufficient making historical research as well ciations in Belgium as well as as sharing the results with people manpower resources to raise an related international organisations, army at short notice, but that the interested in it. Our mission. which libraries and museums. ! was successfully done during the quality of the troops suffered last 40 years with always the same from the lack of training and also interest and a great passion, is to In this issue from a less experienced officer corps. It also explored the possi- study, understand and contribute Welcome of the ABN. 1 to making our contemporaries bility that due to the lack of know the ideas, people, events A French infantry battalion at experience among soldiers, the Wagram 1809. 1 and places of this human adven- officers ran more risks, were ture. Knowledge of the past allows Les États scandinaves durant more conspicuous in exposing us to better understand the problems les guerres napoléoniennes. 5 themselves to danger and there- of our time given the similarities Pápa und die Esterházy- fore suffered increased casualties. and analogies in the behaviour of Familie. 13 In this paper I wish to build on men. As a group of passionate these conclusions and study the From he Battle of Papa to the formation of the 4th Battalion in people and volunteers, we aim at Battle of Raab (Györ). 16 providing our members with perio- greater detail based on the survi- Joseph Benedict Freiherr von ving documentary evidence and dic information through several Schmidt. 20 channels: oral history. It also presents an opportunity to study the A quarterly publication titles “Passeurs de Remember 1809. 22 Mémoire» (Memories brokers) with currently imperial decree of 18 February 174 numbers including more than 900 articles Geschichte des k.k. Infanterie- 1808, perhaps the greatest single and 170 authors. A website: A dynamic presence regiments Nr. 62. 26 reform of France’s infantry regi- on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ asbl.abn. ments under Napoleon’s reign. Although such a study might first in Napoleon’s army, the 9e régi- reputable designs. It was at this be dismissed as too narrow a ment d’infanterie légère (often time Napoleon ordered a reorgani- field of research to draw wider abbreviated in the First Empire sation of his infantry regiments, a conclusions from, one imagines to 9e léger). This regiment reform which would see the the story of this battalion was not earned the title l’Incomparable creation of the battalion which unique. Traditionally we have after its sterling intervention at was destined to fight at Wagram in derived a great deal of our know- Marengo in 1800. The Duke of 1809, and which forms the sub- ledge of the Napoleonic period Rovigo described how this regi- ject of this study. We should from a smattering of popular oral ment was ‘wont to fix its name commence in earnest our study history sources such as Coignet, on every action and never flinched of the Ninth’s 4th Battalion with Marbot, de Bourienne, Bourgogne, in the face of the enemy’ (a state- a review of the Imperial Decree Blaze and similar. This is parti- ment I might contest after disco- of 18 February 1808. This docu- cularly true among English- vering from casualty returns at ment set out the biggest single speaking enthusiasts of the period SHD that the Ninth’s second reform in the organisation of the to whom many French language battalion ran from a Russian French infantry regiments since memoirs are inaccessible. These attack at Mohrungen in 1807 and the amalgamations of regular and memoirs remain popular. When lost an ‘eagle’ standard in the volunteer battalions in 1793. It is compared to the stacks of regu- process); but Rovigo’s statement therefore a key document in the lations, manuals, instructions and nonetheless indicates the regiment study of the 9th Light. In Napo- orders which have survived the was perceived as being of good leon’s army, the basic tactical period, these memoirs form a standing by its contemporaries. infantry formation was the bat- useful counterbalance, helping us Honed at the training camps on talion. Typically a brigade of in- to understand what actually the Channel coast in 1804-1805, fantry was formed of two batta- occurred. However as sources, this regiment fought with great lions and an infantry division of memoirs do have limitations. A valour in the Ulm and Austerlitz two brigades. Until 1808, each much more reliable gauge of real- campaigns, particularly at French battalion was composed ity can be found in the surviving Haslach (11 October 1805) when of eight companies of fusiliers records of Napoleon’s army at faulty dispositions left Dupont’s (or chasseurs in the light infantry) the Service Historique de la division exposed to the main force and a single company of grena- Défense (SHD) at the Château de of Mack’s army; then a month diers (carabineers in the light Vincennes on the outskirts of later at Dürnstein (11 November infantry). Each company was Paris. If one cares to probe deeply 1805) when the regiment fought commanded by a captain, depu- enough, a wealth of unpublished with great vigour and prevented tized by a lieutenant and a sub- primary source material on the a column of Russian troops cut- lieutenant.Then came the sergeant- period remains as yet untouched, ting Marshal Mortier’s only line major, four sergeants, a quarter- by way of regimental inspection of retreat. Missing Austerlitz and master corporal (fourrier), eight reports and general correspondence Jena for various reasons (in the corporals, two drummers and between the individual regiments first case while being granted a 104 fusiliers or 64 grenadiers; and the various bureaus of the period of rest after the hard fought thus a fusilier company had a theo- Ministry of War. Perhaps one day Dürnstein; in the latter due to Mar- retical strength of 123 men, and a some automated research tool shal Bernadotte’s arrogance in grenadier company 83 men. The will be able to read and trans- ignoring orders which were not 9th Light missed the great battles cribe the thousands of handwritten delivered directly from the Empe- of Austerlitz, Jena and the blood- entries in the regimental rolls - ror), the Ninth saw several lively bath at Eylau. Even so, its casual- the registres matricules. Perhaps actions in the pursuit of Blücher ties from 1805 to 1807 were signi- one day we might be able to to the Baltic coast. As previously ficant. An inspection made of the compile a complete casualty roll described, the regiment experien- Ninth on 1 January 1808 by Gener- of the French dead at great battles ced a moment of calamity at Mohr- al Schauenburg found the regi- such as Wagram and Waterloo, or ungen in January 1807, but then ment had lost 1,503 men since a map the desertion rate of made a magnificent recovery in previous review on 18 August Napoleon’s army. All this infor- time for Friedland which was 1805, with the losses broken down mation exists, but has yet to be fought on the seventh anniversary as follows: Dead 330, Deserted harvested, because, what can the of Marengo. At the beginning of 171, Discharged 687, Struck off records of a single regiment tell 1808 the regiment’s field batta- by judgements 20, Struck off by us, after all? Although I have a lions found themselves enjoying absence 184, Transferred to other general passion for military a moment of peace, drinking dry corps 83, Made officers 28. In history and a particular fondness their polite, but unenthusiastic fact the mortality rate was higher for the Napoleonic era, my most Prussian hosts; breaking the hearts than given in the review. The 184 detailed research has concentrated of young ladies and making the men struck off for long absence on the story of a single regiment fortune of womenfolk with less would have included men who THE 1809 INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SOCIETY NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 were missing and who might have battalion. By doubling the number would be required – particularly died from wounds or sickness of infantry battalions in his army if the regiment was taking on men without the corps being notified.