Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

It is said that General Alexandre Davy Dumas, the Commanding General of the Cavalry de Armee de Egypt, which comprised the Brigade of General Charles -Victor Leclerc who died in Haiti in 1802. His command was the famous 7th Hussars and the 3rd Dragoons: also there was General Francois Mircur who was killed two weeks after landing in Egypt, who commanded the 22nd Chasseurs and the 20th Dragoons. Also along with this famous Command was General de’ Brigade Joachim Murat who commanded the 14th and the 18th Dragoons and General Davout the same officer that when General Dumas then the Commander of the 13th Chasseurs Chevalier de ' Saint Georges, told of the treason of General Dumouriez in 93, without this information the republic would have been hard press. With the help of then Colonel Louis -N.Davout they saved the Republic and without their aid the Republic might not be here today let alone the Empire. On paper this was the finest formation up to that day. No other unit in then General Bonaparte's Armee de Egypt could boast of having such outstanding Generals. Only General Davout was reassign to another Command that of General Desaix who was killed in 1800. General Dumas never had a chance to lead these grandee Captains in battle which in its self ironic. General Dumas was kept at the headquarters of General Bonaparte's in Alexandria as an aid de c.
Once again the same thing that has been following the Armee in every campaign since 1796 was still with us to this day. The drastic shortage of horses put General Dumas Cavalry arm into a (foot arm.) Even the famous 7th Hussars left Alexandria Egypt with General Leclerc on foot.
On the night of July 9 or 10 of 1798 an incident took place in General Dumas’s tent that began the true decline in the relationship between General Dumas and Napoleon. This is what the Comte Evers told me Michel, that he got what he was about to tell me, first hand from General Auguste Belliard at a saloon in Paris. He said that General Belliard told him that General Dumas invited General's Murat and Lannes and also General Desaix and the rest of the general staff to an informal party. He had these watermelons that were given to him by one of the Egyptian officials of Alexandria. There were others also there, along with them! The conversation quickly turned to the miseries of the campaign; everyone expressed their frustrations freely and complained bitterly about every aspect of the Campaign. General Dumas was the most outspoken critic of the expedition and of its Commander in Chief General Bonaparte! However despite the implicit confidentiality of the conversation, everything that was said in General Dumas tent that night was reported to General Bonaparte!
The big mystery was who told the General about this conversation, no doubt that General Bonaparte wanted to know what his senior field commanders were talking about and if the conversation came around to him he wanted to know! General Belliard said, why any of the senior officers would tell on themselves that would only put them in bad light with not only General Bonaparte but with their ami and fellow Generals! Now he said lets look at the Generals, General Dumas had the most to lose if he was the one to relay this information back to the Emperor, not only was he considered an outsider because of his race but he was the most senior General there. Next we have, General Lannes who fears, neither man nor God what would he have to gain by informing on his fellow officers! Then we have the one most likely to benefit by divulging this information General Murat who would later gain the Kingdom of Naples as well as the hand of the Emperors sister. He seemed like the most likely to blame this on till we look at the other there mainly one! General Junot who not only has followed General Bonaparte around most of his military career but gain rank from it much like many in the Armee now. From a private soldat to a General in such a short period of time!


Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Continue; Edouard Colbert
After following Edouard Colbert next assignment I came to the conclusion that it could have been him that told General Bonaparte what he wanted to hear. The aid de camp was one of few that escape the folly of Egypt it is said general Menou expel two of his best Commander hoping that they would fall into the English hands but what good would that be if they did they would then be able to give the English important information about the condition of the French Armee and let them know that General Bonaparte was no longer there but heading back to France also. That to me made little if not no since. On May 14 1801 general’s Dumas and Reynier were on their way back to France along with their aid de camp Edouard Colbert.

Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Part II Edouard Colbert
Egypt 1798
While in Egypt General Junot's carnality, his unregenerate sprit and his desire to fulfill his passion took on a bizarre and a freakishness turn of events! Two officers had their mistress dress up as a Hussar, this in it self was not new for many Generals did that very thing! What made this so strange was the fact that General Bonaparte who was having problems with our lady of victory and was love sick missed the company of European woman. Although General Bonaparte could have the pick of the latter sought to say, of the Madams of Egypt, he preferred to have a European woman over a colored woman. And at that time they were almost impossible to find in Alexandria, the only European woman that would appeal to his loneliness was this blonde creature that General Junot smuggled aboard the transport vessel! In no way did she resemble a man in her tight fitting Hussar uniform, that wouldn’t have the most naive soldat on that Transport fooled. General Bonaparte had a way of getting what ever he wanted from his sergeant now a General, so General Junot shared the amore of his mistress with General Bonaparte. It is reasonable to assume that if a man could share his woman with another man and be comfortable with it. Then he would not keep anything from that same man when asked about the conversation between the Generals at the watermelon feast incident as an example!
With the occupation of Cairo, the French began to settle down while they kept what was left of the Egyptian Army at bay. With Lower Egypt, including Cairo, under Napoleon's control he could now settle a few old scores. Walking up on a group of Generals who were standing about talking, General Bonaparte dressed them down. One of the Generals standing in that group was General de Division Davy Dumas who we know as Alexandre Dumas. Michel, this is what Monsieur Evers told me, he said that General Bonaparte said vehemently to Dumas,â€

Part II Edouard Colbert
The incident had little effect on his career and on 15 April 1802 he became adjudant Major to the Mamelukes of the Consular Guard. Now had this any thing to do with the information that could have been pass on to the first Consul maybe, it seems clear to my eyes that the story told to General Bonaparte had to be corroborative. Also this was the year that on May 29, 1802 the first Consul he made a secret decree expelling all officers of color from the Army, but mostly combat officers leaving the labors and supply officers and ones with special talents in Arms! But the Empress Josephine, who grew up on the Isles, knew many people of color and had some regard for them; in fact the sons of the rebellious Santo Domingo leader General Toussaint were in her care.
The need to get Santo Domingo back would not had been my main effort in 1801, but it was pushed by some of those former landowners! As a former officer, under a colored commander, and after services in Egypt Edouard Colbert had great difficulty dealing with the Mamelukes and people from differing cultures. He was very much relieved when ask to join general Junot at Arras as his ADC Nov 1803.


Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Part III Edouard Colbert
1805 saw Edouard Colbert as a ADC to General Berthier headquarters staff shot at the battle of Austerlitz in the chest. Returning after recovering to the Armee as a Chef d’ escadron with the 15th Chasseurs a’Cheval in Italy in 1806.
15th Chasseurs a’Cheval
Raised in 1793 from the old Bretons et Bourguignons aka Besser n de la Coie- d’ Or.
Edouard Colbert was recalled to the grand Armee in Dec 1806 and promoted Colonel of the 7th Hussar the same formation he was with in Egypt. Now Commanded by General Lasalle .
History of the 7th Hussar;
Raised in 1792 as the Hussars de Lamothe, along with the old Royal Allemand and Saxe which the officers had emigrated with most of the regiment personal.


Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Edouard was present at Eylau on 8 February 1807, was with the rest of General Lasalle’s light Cavalry on the French left. In the battle of Heilsberg on June 10 the light Cavalry was mauled by the Russians his regiment suffered great in the Melee.
Edouard redeemed his reputation four days later at Friedland when with Grouchy’s Dragoons on the French left his Hussars did great damage to the Russians when they were force to retire from the battle. Edouard over eagerness nearly led to his death near Konigsberg on 17 of June when a detachment of Prussian Uhlans speared him three times in one of the last actions of the campaign.


Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

After a period of garrison duty in France Edouard regiment the 7th Hussars joined the army of Germany 1808. They were in General Pajol’s Brigade till Edouard was prompted to general de Brigade. His Brigade moved with General Oudinot’s II Corps. His new formation was made up by the 9th Hussars, 7th Hussars and the 20th Chasseurs a Cheval. The light Cav of the II Corps play a big part in the advance on the Danube Campaign. Beaten back the Austrians under Schibler at Pfaffenhofen in April 1809, and reopen communications with Davout’s IIICorps.

Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Edouard Colbert continues;
After the battle of Eckmuhl Edouard operated with Marshal Bessieres’s pursuit of the Austrians left wing to Vienna. His Brigade mauled the Austrians at Amstetten . Then the next day Edouard Brigade crossed the Ybbs after securing the bridge there. Within twenty miles of Vienna his eager light Cavalrymen were halted by 10,000 Austrian troops. Moving south of Vienna as II Corps took over the task of fighting before Vienna. In June Edouard Brigade joined General de Division Grouchy cavalry along with the army of Italy at the battle of Raab.

Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

In the early stages of the battle of Raab, Prince Eugene lost time and men trying to break Archduke John center around Kis- Megyer heights. As the French and Italian Infantry poured back into the valley pursued by the triumphant Austrians, General Grouchy’s cavalry divisions with the close support of General de division Montbrun’s light Cavalry division crossed the Pancza creek. The light division had a Brigade command by Edouard that was towards the front of the advancing Light Div.

Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Edouard Colbert continues;
The Battle of Raab was fought on 14 June 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars, between Franco-Italian forces and Austrian-Hungarian forces. The battle was fought near Gy#337;r (Raab) in Hungary and ended in a Franco-Italian victory. The victory prevented Archduke John of Austria from bringing any significant force to the Battle of Wagram, while Prince Eugène de Beauharnais’s force was able to link up with Emperor Napoleon at Vienna in time to fight at Wagram. Napoleon referred to the battle as "a granddaughter of Marengo and Friedland," as it fell on the anniversary of those two battles.[5]
]Campaign
]Early moves
During the 1809 campaign in Italy, Viceroy Eugène de Beauharnais led the Franco-Italian army while General of Cavalry Archduke John of Austriacommanded the Austrian army.
At the outbreak of war, John moved rapidly to defeat his opponent at the Battle of Sacile on 16 April. This victory drove Eugène back to the Adige River. The front remained static for a few weeks despite two unsuccessful attacks by Eugène. Meanwhile, an Austrian force bottled up the corps of General of Division (MG) Auguste Marmont in Dalmatia. After the Austrian defeat at the Battle of Eckmuhl, John received orders to retreat in order to cover the strategic left flank of the army in southern Germany.[6]
]Austrian retreat
John fought Eugène in a tough rearguard action at the Battle of Piave River on 8 May. Up to this moment, John and his soldiers had fought well. Now, John probably committed a serious blunder by splitting up his command. With the main army he fell back to the northeast. By the second week of May, John and Feldmarschal-Leutnant (FML) Albert Gyulai stood at Tarvisio with 8,340 troops. FML Johann Frimont's 13,060-man Mobile Force lay at nearby Villach. FML Ignaz Gyulai with 14,880 men of the IX Armeekorps defended the Ljubljana (Laybach) area to the southeast of Villach. Far to the west-northwest, Johann Chasteler and 17,460 soldiers of the VIII Armeekorps held the region around Innsbruck. FML Franjo Jela#269;i#263; and the 10,200-strong Northern Division was stationed at Salzburg to the northwest. Finally, General-Major (GM) Andreas Stoichewich's 8,100 men continued to pin Marmont in Dalmatia to the south of Ljubljana. By this time a large proportion of John's forces was made up of hastily raised landwehr infantry.[7]


Franjo Jela#269;i#263; was beaten at Sankt Michael and held the right flank at Raab.
On 13 May, Marshal François Lefebvre and a Bavarian army wrecked part of Chasteler's corps near Innsbruck.[8] On 17 May, John received orders to cut the communications of Emperor Napoleon's Grand Army by moving north. However, the archduke delayed too long in carrying out this assignment.[9] Though badly isolated, Jela#269;i#263; remained in Salzburg until 19 May. When he finally got moving it was too late. A French corps under MG Paul Grenier cut the Northern Division to pieces at the Battle of Sankt Michael on 25 May.[10] John pulled back to Graz, but when he heard of Jela#269;i#263;'s disaster, he decided to retreat east into Hungary.
During May, small Grenz infantry forces heroically defended the mountain passes. At Malborghetto Valbruna, 400 soldiers held a blockhouse against 15,000 Frenchmen between 15-17 May and only 50 men survived. French losses are unknown.[11] At the Predil Pass blockhouse, 250 Austrians and 8 cannon held off 8,500 French soldiers for three days. On 18 May, when the position was finally overrun, the Grenzers were killed to a man. The French admitted suffering 450 casualties.[12]
In mid-May, Marmont defeated Stoichewich and broke out of Dalmatia. He moved north in a fighting advance, arriving at Ljubljana on 3 June. Marmont then marched to Graz where he fought the Austrians on 25 June. His 11,000 soldiers joined Napoleon near Vienna and fought at the Battle of Wagram.[13]
John joined with the Hungarian Insurrection forces (militia) at Gy#337;r (Raab). He intended to cross to the north bank of the Danube and move northwest through Bratislava(Pressburg) to unite with the main army, which was commanded by his brother Generalissimo Archduke Charles. Napoleon ordered Eugène to pursue and destroy John's army. The Franco-Italian troops caught up with the Austrians in mid-June and forced John to give battle.
[edit]Battle
[edit]Franco-Italian Army


Eugène de Beauharnais
#61607; Army of Italy: Prince Eugène de Beauharnais (39,902, 42 guns)[14]
#61607; Corps: MG Paul Grenier (13,940 inf, 1,178 cav, 12 guns, 544 artillery & sappers)
#61607; 1st Division: MG Jean Seras (6,797 inf, 707 cav, 354 art)
#61607; 2nd Division: MG Pierre Durutte (7,143 inf, 471 cav, 190 art)
#61607; Corps: MG Louis Baraguey d'Hilliers (7,777 inf, 259 cav, 6 guns, 279 art)
#61607; 2nd Division: MG Philippe Severoli (7,777 inf, 259 cav)
#61607; Cavalry Reserve: MG Emmanuel Grouchy (5,371 cav, 12 guns)
#61607; Light Cavalry Division: MG Louis Pierre, Count Montbrun (1,516 cav, 6 guns)
#61607; Light Cavalry Division: BG Pierre de Colbert-Chabanais (1,771 cav)
#61607; Dragoon Division: BG François Guèrin d'Etoquigny (2,084 cav, 6 guns)
#61607; Reserve: Eugène
#61607; 1st Division: MG Michel Pacthod (4,937 inf, 6 guns, 229 art)
#61607; Light Cavalry Division: MG Louis Sahuc (1,280 cav)
#61607; Dragoon Division: MG Charles Pully (1,470 cav)
#61607; Italian Guard: MG Giuseppe Lechi (1,328 inf, 671 cav, 6 guns, 439 art)
]Austro-Hungarian Army


Archduke John
#61607; Army of Inner Austria: Gen Archduke John of Austria and FM Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary (35,525, 30 guns)[15]
#61607; Left Flank: FML Daniel Mécsery (5,947 cav, 3 guns)
#61607; Hussar Brigade: OB Johann Gosztonyi (602 reg & 1,740 ins cav)
#61607; Hussar Brigade: GM Johann Andrássy (739 reg & 1,442 ins cav)
#61607; Hussar Brigade: FML Andreas Hadik (1,424 ins cav)
#61607; Center: FML Hieronymus Colloredo-Mansfeld (7,778 inf, 6 guns)[16]
#61607; Brigade: GM Franz Marziani (747 reg & 967 Lw & 1,400 ins inf)
#61607; Brigade: GM Peter Lutz (3,186 reg & 1,478 Lw inf)
#61607; Right Flank: FML Franjo Jela#269;i#263; (7,517 inf, 6 guns)
#61607; Brigade: GM Ignaz Legisfeld (1,527 Lw inf)
#61607; Brigade: OB Ludwig Eckhardt (1,152 reg & 1,700 ins inf)
#61607; Brigade: GM Ignaz Sebottendorf (2,015 reg & 1,123 Lw inf)
#61607; Right Flank Cavalry: (1,546 cav)
#61607; Cavalry Brigade: OB Emerich Bésán (885 reg & 661 ins cav)
#61607; Reserve: FML Johann Frimont (7,863 inf, 12 guns)
#61607; Brigade: GM Anton Gajoli (2,579 reg & 517 Lw inf)
#61607; Brigade: GM Johann Kleinmeyer (2,505 reg & 1,671 gr inf)
#61607; Brigade: GM Konstantin Ettingshausen (591 reg inf)
#61607; North of the Raab River: FZM Paul Davidovich (3,980, 3 guns)
#61607; Brigade: GM Joseph Mesko (3,500 ins inf, 480 ins cav)
Key
#61607; FM = Feldmarschall or Field Marshal, army commander
#61607; Gen = General of Cavalry, corps or army commander
#61607; FZM = Feldzeugmeister, corps or army commander
#61607; FML = Feldmarschal-Leutnant, division or corps commander
#61607; GM = General-Major, brigade commander
#61607; OB = Oberst or Colonel
#61607; gr = grenadiers, elite troops
#61607; reg = regular army
#61607; Lw = Austrian landwehr (militia)
#61607; ins = Hungarian insurrections (militia)
[edit]Plans
Though John's 35,000-man army was only a little less numerous than Eugène's 40,000 soldiers, the quality of his soldiers was markedly inferior. Many thousands of the Habsburg troops were poorly trained Austrian landwehr and Hungarian insurrection militia. The archduke knew this and planned to fight a defensive battle in a strong position. Feldmarschall Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary outranked John and was present on the field, but John exercised effective command of the army.


Hieronymus Colloredo held the Austrian center.
John drew up his army behind the Pándzsa stream, facing generally west. The Pándzsa ran roughly from south to north across his front, emptying into the Raab River to the north. In the vicinity of the battlefield, the Raab ran from west to east, protecting John's north flank. The fortress of Gy#337;r was on the south side of the river a short distance to the northeast. John hoped the marshy banks of the Páncza to the south would discourage a French envelopment from that direction. The enclosed and stoutly-built Kis-Megyer farm stood on the east bank of the Páncza. Just east of Kis-Megyer farm rose Szabadhegy hill. On the hill's north side lay Szabadhegy hamlet.[17]
John deployed FML Mécsery's 5,947 cavalry to defend his left flank behind the Pándzsa. He turned Kis-Megyer into a major strongpoint by packing FML Colloredo's 7,778 infantry into the farm and its environs. Jela#269;i#263;'s 7,517 soldiers defended the right flank in front of Szabadhegy hamlet. FML Frimont's 7,863-man reserve stood on Szabadhegy hill. Oberst Bésán's 1,546 horsemen held the ground between Jela#269;i#263;'s right and the Raab River. FZM Davidovich held some field works on the north side of the river with about 4,000 Hungarian militia.
Eugène took MG Grouchy from his corps command and reassigned him to command the 5,371 troopers in the cavalry divisions of MG Montbrun, BG Guèrin, and BG Colbert. These were posted on the right (south) flank with the intention of turning John's left flank. Eugène ordered Grenier to assault the Austrian center with the 15,662 men of his two divisions. MG d'Hilliers was instructed to attack the Austrian right with his single division of 8,315 soldiers. Eugène held the troops from Grouchy's corps in reserve, MG Pacthod's 5,166 foot soldiers and MG Sahuc's 1,280 cavalry. He also kept back MG Pully's 1,470 dragoons and MG Lechi's 2,438 Italian Guards.[18]
[edit]Fighting


Emmanuel Grouchy's cavalry was key to the French victory.
In the first rush, MG Durutte's troops stormed across the Pándzsa and seized Kis-Megyer farm, but the Austrians quickly took it back. In bitter fighting, the farm changed hands five times. Finally, John committed GM Kleinmeyer's powerful brigade. Four grenadier battalions and the soldiers of the Alvinczi Infantry Regiment # 19 pushed back MG Seras' troops, then fell upon Durutte's division near the farm. Meanwhile, MG Severoli's division pushed back Jela#269;i#263; and took part of Szabadhegy hamlet. John sent GM Gajoli's brigade from the reserve to deal with this threat. The Austrian counterattack succeeded in panicking the soldiers of Grenier and d'Hilliers. They abandoned their gains and ran back to the west side of the Pándzsa and safety.[19]
Deducing that the three Austrian cannon defended the best crossing point over the Pándzsa, Grouchy ordered up his 12 guns. French cannonfire soon silenced the opposing artillery pieces, allowing Grouchy's horsemen to begin fording the stream. When the French cavalry charged, covered by a cannonade, the Insurrections Hussars soon took flight. Only the Ott Hussar Regiment # 7 and the Archduke Joseph Hussar Regiment # 2 put up serious resistance and both units suffered heavy losses. Grouchy wheeled his troopers to the left to roll up John's left flank.[20]
Faced with a crisis, John redeployed his units in an L-shaped line. His right flank still ran along the Pándzsa, but at Kis-Megyer farm, the line bent to face south along the Szabadhegy hill. John sent Bésán's horsemen from the right flank to cover the new left flank on the east side of Szabadhegy hill. For his second assault, Eugène sent in Pacthod's division and Lechi's Italian Guards from his reserve. The second infantry attack slowly made headway. Finally, the Italian Guard cleared Kis-Megyer farm. John, fearing envelopment from Grouchy's cavalry, ordered a retreat northeast into Gy#337;r fortress.
]Results
The Franco-Italians suffered 4,000 killed and wounded.[21] The Austrians lost 747 killed, 1,758 wounded, and 2,408 captured for a total of 4,913 casualties. There were also 1,322 soldiers reported missing, giving a total of 6,235 men subtracted from John's army.[22] John's army retreated northeast to Komárno, leaving a garrison in Gy#337;r. The fortress surrendered on 22 June with 2,500 soldiers after a weak resistance.[23]
One historian writes,
Archduke John now reaped the dubious fruits of his incredibly ill-advised policy of breaking up his army after the Battle of Piave River. This defeat foiled any hopes that Archduke John would be able to bring any significant forces to help in the epic struggle against Napoleon at Wagram on 5 and 6 July.[24]
Eugène soon joined Napoleon with 23,000 soldiers.[25] While these men fought at the Battle of Wagram, John was only able to bring 12,000 men to that field and he intervened too late to have any effect.[26]



Col Kliff Marbot
3/3 e Artillerie de Cheval
2nd Div I Corps LaGrande Armee

Edouard Colbert continues:
He also fought at Wagram on the 6 of July there he was wounded hit in the head by a musket ball. He later shared in the rewards after the campaign and became a Baron de ‘l ‘ Empire. The following year he returned the II Corps till AUGUST of 1810 when he was posted to Holland as cavalry commander of the Observation Corps. This Corps was hastily put together after the force abdication of Louis Bonaparte by his brother Napoleon who called Holland a British province.

. 2nd Regiment of Lighthorse-Lancers (Dutch) of the Imperial Guard
[2e Regiment de Chevau-Légers Lanciers de la Garde Impériale]
The Red Lancers !
Edouard Colbert con:
The Regiment of Red Lancers was formed in 1810 from three Dutch troops:
- Garde du Corps (former Guard Cuirassiers)
- Guard Hussar Regiment
- 3th Hussar Regiment
The German members of the Guard Hussars were given the choice of joining the Berg Lancers or the four Dutch regiments. According to Decree of 13 September 1810 "No officer may remain in the corps who is not Dutch by birth." However, in October the Emperor realized that the unit was 143 short of establishment. In order to fill the ranks, Napoleon signed a new decree and accepted many Germans.
Article 1: All officers, NCOs and soldiers of the former Dutch Guard who were born in the territory of the Hanseatic cities, in Oldenburg, Osnabruck (Duchy of Berg) and in Westphalia will be considered as Dutch."
Article 2: All Germans who have served without interruption since at least 1800 in the former Dutch Guard, either on foot or mounted, who have never deserted and who enlisted of their own will in the Dutch forces, will be considered as Dutch."

What Imperial Guard officer that fought at Waterloo would you like to be or like? Here are more!
Claude Etienne Guyot
Francois Lallemand
Henri Lallemand
Charles Lefebvre Desnoettes
Michel Letort

Colbert continues;
One of the most flamboyant colonels in the cavalry Colbert took command of the 2nd Lancers of the Imperial Guard, formed in 1811 from remnants of the Dutch Royal Guard Cavalry. Based at the Versailles he whipped his troops into shape. Colbert was the prime motivator in introducing the famous red uniform and the Polish czapka.

Friant - No doubt about it. Ever since he lead a charge on the Fletches in 'Battle de le Moscow' 20 years ago, and took it withstanding a charge from the Russian Guard Cavalry I think that's been my General!!!