Sailors of the Imperial Guard
Sailors/Seaman of the Imperial Guard | |
---|---|
French Imperial Army | |
Type | Artillery Support |
Size | Initially 4 x Companies, later expanded to 8 |
Part of | Old Guard, Imperial Guard |
Engagements |
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The Sailors of the Imperial Guard (
History
When
The new unit's first task was to form part of the force at
After the
In September 1810, 8 more crews were added, raising the unit's strength to 1,136 officers, NCOs and ratings. It suffered badly in the Invasion of Russia, fighting in several battles and decimated by cold, hunger and disease - only 85 of its officers and men were still alive when the army crossed back into Germany. Reorganised and brought up to strength with new recruits, the unit fought at Leipzig as part of the Young Guard's infantry.
In 1814 the unit took part in the French campaign, notably the defence of Paris. A small detachment of 21 sailors from the unit accompanied Napoleon into exile on Elba.[2] During the Hundred Days, one crew of 150 was re-formed,[3] which fought at Ligny and Waterloo - at the latter, they covered the retreat of the 1st Grenadier Regiment and 1st Foot Chasseurs of the Old Guard. They were finally disbanded on 15 August 1815.
Uniform
The uniform consisted of a blue tunic and Hungarian-style trousers. The tunic had red cuffs, decorations in the dolman style and scale epaulettes. The shako was black with a scarlet plume and an eagle helmet plate, and the shoes, waistbelt and cross-belt were also black. The waistbelt was in the light cavalry style.
Commanders
- 1805 : François Henri Eugène Daugier
- 1809 : Pierre Baste
- 1810 : Antoine Vattier
- 1811 : Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume
- 1813 : Louis Pierre François Ricard Barthélémy de Saizeu
- 1815 : Capitaine de frégate François Louis Taillade[4]
References
- ISBN 2-84349-178-9), page 7
- ^ Henry Houssaye, 1815, Paris, Perrin et cie, 1921, p.148
- ^ "Histoire du monde.net".
- ^ "The Garde Imperiale and Its Commanders during the Period 1804 - 1815".