Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale

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Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale

Chasseur à cheval du piquet d'escorte - tenue de service (1805) .jpg

Chasseur à cheval with the transport escort
active 1804 to 1815
Country Flag of France.svg France
Armed forces Flag of France.svg Grande Armée
Armed forces Flag of France.svg Cavalerie de la Garde impériale
Branch of service Light cavalry
Type regiment
Strength 1018
Insinuation Vieille Guard
Location Paris
commander
Important
commanders

Eugène de Beauharnais
Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes

The Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale (Hunters on Horseback of the Imperial Guard) were two regiments of light cavalry of the Cavalerie de la Garde impériale in Napoleonic France .

The 1st regiment belonged to the Old Guard and was set up under the consulate under the name " Guides de la Garde des consuls " (Companions of the Consular Guard). It usually put the escadron on duty with the emperor as a security escort in the quarters of the campaigns. The Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde were the emperor's favorite troupe. On horseback, he was mostly portrayed as a colonel ( regiment owner ) in the green uniform of this troop, often wearing his famous gray coat over the uniform. After his exile on the island of St. Helena , he always wore this uniform and was placed in his coffin in it.

It was by far the most respected regiment in the Guard. Like the other units of the Guard, they were always to be found at the heart of the battles and earned special laurels in the Battle of Austerlitz and the Battle of Eylau , each led by the Maréchal Bessières .

A second regiment was only established by decree on May 15, 1815. It was to be formed from those riders of the line cavalry who had served at least four years in previous campaigns. However, most of the men came from the former escadrons of the Young Guard (Jeune Garde) of 1813 and 1814, which had been replaced by line cavalry since the First Restoration or those on half pay.

Lineup and name changes

  • 1796: Listed as: "Guides à cheval de l'armée d'Italie"
  • 1798: Used as: "Guides à cheval de l'armée d'Orient"
  • January 3, 1800 (13 nivôse at VIII): “Compagnie de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde des consuls”.
  • September 8, 1800: Reinforcements for: Escadron de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde des Consuls, to two companies.
  • August 6, 1801: A second Ecadron is set up, each with two companies
  • November 14, 1801: the two escadrons become the "Regiment de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde des Consuls".
  • October 1, 1802: The regiment is reinforced with four escadrons.
  • January 21, 1804: Conversion of the Consular Guard into the Imperial Guard. Assignment of an Escadron Mameluke to the regiment.
  • May 18, 1804: renamed “Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale”.
  • 1814: In the course of the first restoration , the unit is renamed "Corps royal des chasseurs à cheval de France".
  • 1815: During the reign of the Hundred Days , it was renamed "Régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale".
  • May 16, 1815: Establishment of the 2nd e régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale
  • 1815: In the course of the Second Restoration, the two regiments in Périgueux are disbanded in October and November .

history

The origins

In 1800 there was a company of chasseurs à cheval in the Garde des consuls , which had emerged from Napoléon's "Compagnie des guides à cheval". and was set up during the campaign in Italy. This descent explains the emperor's affection and admiration.

The company fought in the battle of Marengo where, when the battle seemed lost, the Guard des consuls covered the retreat of the French army until Desaix appeared with reinforcements.

As a guard unit

Officer of the Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale

In 1804 the “Garde des Consuls” was renamed “Garde impériale” after the change of the political system into a monarchy .

Despite its name, the Guard was an elite combat unit of the last reserve, made up of the best members of the line regiments. The guards hunters on horseback as well as the guards renadiers on foot had the honor of being the Guards of Napoleon in the literal sense of the word, both in war and in peace. The “Chasseurs à cheval” provided the escort during his journeys on horseback and in the carriage. In this sense, an escadron of the regiment was generally on duty to protect the emperor. A detachment was always in his immediate vicinity during the emperor's movements on the battlefield:

They were armed with the musket as their main armament. As soon as the emperor was dismounted, the chasseurs positioned themselves around the emperor (carré d'honneur) to protect him from rifle and cannon balls. When the chasseurs accompanied the emperor on foot, they only carried the musket and bayonet.

The “Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde” were showered with honors. The command of the escort peleton was a great honor and much sought-after, as the officer concerned was allowed to stay near the emperor at all times.

On the evening of December 1, 1805, during the Battle of Austerlitz , Napoléon undertook a reconnaissance trip against the enemy line. He was attacked by a group of Cossacks . The escorts' chasseurs à cheval shielded the emperor so that he could safely return to the French lines.

The combat unit

The Chasseurs à cheval also fought alongside the other cavalry units.

December 2, 1805: The attack near Austerlitz

The trophies from Austerlitz: on the left a trumpeter of the Chasseurs in a large uniform, the Kolpak with a hat bag. Also to be seen are Mameluks, whose escadron was assigned to the Chasseurs regiment.

The Russian army pressed on the outnumbered right wing of the French of Louis-Nicolas Davout to throw them down from the heights of Paws. The Corps Soult attacked and took the advancing Russian infantry columns under fire. Thereupon attacked the Russian cavalry guards and chased two regiments of French infantry to flight, while the others formed carrés.

Napoléon then gave the order to Maréchal Bessières to come to the aid of the beleaguered infantry with the guard cavalry. Bessières divided four escadrons of the Chasseurs à cheval (375 riders under the command of Colonel Morlan ), the Escadron Mameluken, (48 riders under the command of Général Rapp ) and four Escadrons Grenadiers à cheval (706 riders led by Général Ordener ).

Bessières initially sent two escadrons of the Chasseurs to the left and three escadrons of the Grenadiers to the right to attack, which was however repulsed by the Semionovsky regiment (Séménowski). Colonel Morlan was killed in the process.

In the meantime, the "Régiment d'artillerie à cheval de la Garde impériale" (Guard Field Artillery Regiment) had started shooting at the Russian infantry. This allowed the French infantry, which were already on the run, to regroup and attack again. The Russian guard cuirassiers and guard hussars were thus thrown back. The Russian Guard Cavalry and the Cossacks attacked again, the outcome of the affair became increasingly uncertain for the French. Napoléon then ordered his aide de camp Jean Rapp to attack. The general then attacked with the Mameluks, and gave air to the three escadron grenadiers who were involved in heavy fighting under Ordener, as well as the chasseurs under Dahlmann. They pushed sideways into the Russian lines, which were also taken under fire by the French infantry carées. The Russian cavalry of the guards was defeated and large numbers of prisoners were taken, including Colonel Prince Repnin , commander of the chevalier guards . A number of enemy standards were also captured. The Russian attack had been repulsed here.

February 8, 1807: The attack near Eylau

Général Dahlmann, Colonel en second of the Chasseurs à cheval

The 7th Corps of Charles Pierre François Augereau was attacked by the Russians, blowing snow from the front led to a lack of orientation, which made them a target of the Russian artillery and caused great losses. The corps was effectively eliminated. There was an enormous gap in the French lines, the entire right wing, led by Davout, was isolated. The Russian commander-in-chief, Levin August von Bennigsen , set up a formation of infantry and cavalry on Davout to push back or destroy him. Furthermore, he sent several divisions into the center, as well as a division of infantry, in a furious attack to the right against the cemetery of Eylau, which was defended by the remains of the 7th Corps.

Napoléon sent Joachim Murat into one of the most notable, but certainly most disorganized, cavalry attacks in military history. At the head of 6,000 reserve cavalry, he attacked the enemy divisions in the center. The dragoons rushed in piles on the first Russian line; the cuirassiers of the second wave hit the second Russian line. When the French line cavalry threatened to be encircled by the Russian infantry, Napoleon ordered the guard cavalry under Maréchal Bessières to rescue them. This rode an attack across the second Russian line and widened the breach already made by the cuirassiers. At the head of the guard hunters on horseback, the regimental commander, the Général de brigade Nicolas Dahlmann, was fatally wounded. Then the Colonel Guyot took command. The regiment of the Guard Grenadiers on horseback under the command of Colonel-Major Louis Lepic and the 5th e régiment de cuirassiers at his side pushed into the Russian infantry just as they wanted to roll up the French lines. The attack by the guard cavalry allowed Murat's line cavalry to break away and regroup. This murderous attack cost the French 3,500 dead, but the Russian attack on the center had been repulsed.

Against the attack of the Russian grenadiers to the cemetery of Eylau, Napoleon put the one he régiment de grenadiers-à-pied de la Garde impériale at (grenadiers on foot of the Imperial Guard). The flanks were covered by escadrons from the guard cavalry. Attacked in the rear by the hussars and the hunters on horseback of the line cavalry under Murat, the Russian formations were wiped out from three sides by this attack.

Composition and target inventory of the regiment

  • January 3, 1800: 1 company.
  • September 8, 1800: 1 Escadron des chasseurs (2 companies).
  • August 6, 1801: 2 escadrons (companies).
  • October 1, 1802: 4 escadrons (8 companies).
  • January 21, 1804: 4 escadrons (8 companies) plus one escadron Mameluks .
  • Workforce 1804:
    • 1 colonel, and 1 major.
    • The regimental staff also consisted of: 1 chief d'escadron , 1 adjudant major, (supreme sergeant) 4 porte-étendards, (standard bearer) 1 trompette major, (for example: baton trumpeter) 1 timbalier, (kettle drum) 1 brigadier trompette (approx : Regimental trumpeter) and 4 Maîtres ouvriers (craftsmen) - a total of 13 men.
    • The 8 companies to (in the 4 escadrons) each consisted of: 1 Capitaine (captain), 1 lieutenant en premier (lieutenant first class), 1 lieutenant en second (lieutenant second class), 1 sous-lieutenant (sub-lieutenant), 1 Maréchal-des logis-chef (approximately: Hauptfeldwebel), 4 Maréchaux des logis (approximately: Oberfeldwebel), 8 brigadiers , 1 Maréchal-ferrant (fittings smith), 2 trompettes (escadron trumpeter) and 96 riders, so 116 men per company, and a total 928 men as actual stock in the regiment. The target number was 943 men.
  • September 17, 1805: 4 escadrons (8 companies), 1 Escadron Mameluken and 1 Escadron Veliten of 4 companies
  • April 15, 1806: 4 escadrons (8 companies), 1 escadron Mameluken and 2 escadron (8 companies) Veliten.
  • December 1809: 4 escadrons (8 companies), 1 escadron Mameluken and 1 escadron (4 companies) Veliten.
  • 1812: 5 escadrons (10 companies), 1 escadron Mameluks.
  • 1813: 8 escadrons (16 companies), (5 escadrons in the Old Guard, 3 in the Young Guard), 1 Escadron Mameluks
  • 1814 (first restoration): 4 escadrons (8 companies).
  • 1815 (rule of the hundred days): 4 escadrons (8 companies), 1 escadron Mameluks.

Chefs de corps

Eugène de Beauharnais, Colonel des chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale

The regiment owner (Colonel du régiment) had largely ceremonial tasks; it was commanded by the deputy regimental commander, the "Colonel en second" or "Colonel major". The guards were always one rank above the same rank of the line troops. For this reason the formal regimental commander was at least one general and his deputy a colonel. From 1804 Napoleon himself was the regiment owner (Colonel)

Standard

The standard (guidon) of model 1804 was not square, but resembled those of the hunters on horseback of the line cavalry.

The 1812 standard issued in 1813 was square in the colors of the tricolor. on the front was the inscription:

  • "Garde impériale, l'Empereur Napoléon au regiment de chasseurs à cheval"

on the reverse the names of the battles in which it took part in honor, as well as the names of the capitals it conquered.

The regiment's standards were destroyed during the Second Restoration.

  • Guidon model 1804 front side

  • Guidon model 1804 back

  • Standard model 1812 (front)

Special honors

The chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale parade in front of Napoléon and his staff

After returning from the campaigns of 1807, the "Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale", along with some other regiments, was honored by the city of Paris with an oak leaf wreath for the flag eagle and presented by the Prefect of the Seine department . The laurel wreath was hung around the eagle's neck.

Battle calendar

The base of the regiment was the École militaire de Paris (military school in Paris).

The regiment was involved in the following major events:

Fallen or wounded commanders of the regiment during this period:

  • Colonel Francois-Louis de Morlan: killed on December 2nd, 1805 in the Battle of Austerlitz
  • General de brigade Nicolas Dahlmann  : killed on February 8, 1807 in the battle of Eylau

Officers killed or wounded between 1804 and 1815:

  • Liked: 70
  • Died of her wound: 8
  • Wounded: 130

Glorious arms of the regiment

Attack by the Chasseurs de la Garde on Rue d'Alcala in Madrid

General attack on the Imperial Russian Guard in the Battle of Austerlitz.

General attack in the Battle of Eylau against Russian infantry, which was about to split the French army in two.

Participation in the battles immortalized on the standard model 1812:

as well as the captured capitals:

Uniforms under the consulate and the empire

Officer of the Chasseurs à cheval de la garde impériale in large uniform , (Théodore Géricault, 1812).
Napoléon at Wagram in the simple field uniform of the Colonel der Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde

The uniform of the Chasseurs à cheval de la Garde was one of the most elaborate of the Grande Armée, along with those of the Grenadiers à pied de la Garde (Guard Grenadiers on foot), the Hussars, the Lanciers rouges (Red Uhlans) and a few others. The large uniform was very similar to a hussar uniform and in no way resembled the grenadiers on horseback of the line cavalry.

It consisted of:
  • Black bearskin Kolpak with a green feather neck with a red tip and a crimson hat pouch. The trumpeters wore a white Kolpak with a blue plumage and a red tip.
  • The dolman was green, blue for the trumpeters.
  • Scarlet pelisse edged with a black sheepskin border. (Red sheep lining and border for the NCOs, white sheep lining and border for the officers)
  • Wool waist sash
  • Suede pants
  • Boots in the style «à la Souvarov»

The armament consisted of:

Like the hussars, they wore a saber pocket , green with a gold border and the imperial insignia. There was a green saddlecloth for the common riders and NCOs, while the officers had a panther skin.

This uniform is a symbol of the regiment, often depicted like this. During campaigns, however, it was left behind and the much simpler field uniform was worn. The lined pelisse was only worn depending on the weather conditions, the dolman was replaced by a classic green uniform skirt "according to the hunter's style" (ie with pointed cuffs and discounts), the kolpak without feather support and without a cap bag, the breeches were made of dark green fabric instead of suede and the saber pocket was covered with a protective cover. The best-known wearer of this uniform was the emperor himself, who after his coronation initially alternately wore it on foot with those of the guards and then went to Waterloo to go into exile in St. Helena. When it looked worn out from long use, he was offered fabric for making a new skirt. Napoleon declined, however, as the green in no way resembled the original, and instead had the fabric of his uniform turned over. In this he was finally buried.

Personalities who served in the regiment

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ André Jouineau, Jean-Marie Mongin: "There were many reasons [...] why Napoléon loved them and preferred them over everyone else"
  2. ^ Albert Benhamou: L'Habit de Napoléon à Sainte-Hélène.
  3. ↑ The unit was so respected by Napoléon because it was not only responsible for his safety, but had also freed him from precarious situations several times. Because of this and also because of several bold attacks in different battles, they were often depicted on drawings and paintings of the time.
  4. ↑ Olivier Lapray: Le capitaine Parquin et le 2e régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde Impériale. In: revue soldiers of napoléoniens. March 2004.
  5. ^ Republican calendar
  6. ↑ Olivier Lapray: Les guides à cheval de l'armée d'Italie sous Bonaparte. In: Revue Soldats Napoléoniens. September 2008.
  7. ↑ During the battle of Jena the regiment was not present and the 7th e régiment de hussards had to take over this task.
  8. ↑ corresponded to the rank of captain in the infantry
  9. ↑ here the rank is meant
  10. ↑ charged with the management of the regiment

literature

  • Paul Descaves: Historique du 13e régiment de chasseurs à cheval et des chasseurs à cheval de la Garde. Bouineau & Cie, 1891.
  • Marcel Dupont: Guides de Bonaparte et chasseurs à cheval de la Garde. LCV, 2002.
  • François-Guy Hourtoulle, André Jouineau: La Moskowa, Borodino. (La Bataille des Redoutes). Histoire & Collections, 2003, ISBN 2-908182-95-5 .
  • François-Guy Hourtoulle, André Jouineau: Austerlitz 1805. (Le soleil de l'Aigle). Histoire & Collections, 2003, ISBN 2-913903-70-3 .
  • François-Guy Hourtoulle, André Jouineau: 1807 d'Eylau à Friedland. (1807 la campagne de Pologne). Histoire & Collections 2007, ISBN 978-2-35250-020-9 .
  • André Jouineau, Jean-Marie Mongin: Officiers et soldats de la Garde impériale. (Les troupes à cheval, 1804-1815). Histoire & Collections, 2007, ISBN 978-2-35250-032-2 .
  • Olivier Lapray: Le capitaine Parquin et le 2e régiment de chasseurs à cheval de la Garde Impériale. In: Revue Soldats Napoléoniens. March 2004.
  • Olivier Lapray: Les guides à cheval de l'armée d'Italie sous Bonaparte. In: Revue Soldats Napoléoniens. September 2008.
  • Olivier Lapray: Charles Henry Delacroix, capitaine des chasseurs à cheval de la Garde des Consuls. In: Revue Soldats Napoléoniens. 2011.
  • Olivier Lapray: Les chasseurs à cheval de la Garde impériale. In: Revue Soldats Napoléoniens. 2014.
  • Ronald Pawly, Patrice Courcelle: Napoleon's Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard. Osprey Publishing, 2008, ISBN 978-1-84603-257-8 .
  • Denys Prache: Les soldats de Napoléon. Hatier, 1983, ISBN 2-218-06647-5 .
  • Jean-Baptiste Antoine Marcellin de Marbot: Austerlitz. L. Carteret, 1905.
  • Richard Morel: La danse des Seigneurs. 2013, ISBN 978-2-35593-265-6 .