Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

What General Officer of the Imperial Guard who were General Officers at Waterloo 1815 would you say was your Hero
Part 1

Who would you say is the one you would try to be like?
Pierre Barrois guardsman since 1813 commanded the 5th infantry Division
Pierre Berthezene guardsman since 1811 commanded the 11th infantry Division
Pierre Barrois guardsman since 1812 deputy Commander Young Guard
Pierre Cambronne guardsman since 1809 Commander 1st foot Guard
Louis Chastel guardsman since 1805 Commander 10th Cavalry Div
Pierre Chabanais- Colbert guardsman since 1811 Commander Guard Lancer
Jean Baptiste Corbineau guardsman since 1814 Imperial Aide de Camp
Maurice Desvaux guardsman since 1810 Commander Guard Artillery
Antoine Drouot guardsman since 1808 Commander 1st Armee Corps
Guillaume Duhesme guardsman since 1815 Commander Young Guard
Remy Exelmans guardsman since 1812 Commander II Cavalry Corps
Albert Fouler guardsman since 1810 Master de Cheval
Louis Friant guardsman since 1813 Commander Imperial Guard Foot Grenadiers




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

Hi Cliff,

What happened to Pierre Chabanais- Colbert, Commander Guard Lancer?

Did he die on the battlefield and was it to musket and bayonet between Hougoumont and La Haye-Sainte? If you don't know no problem, just curious. If you do know...excellent!

Regards

Col Mike Ellwood
Commanding Officer
3rd Dragoon Division
Reserve Cavalry

General Pierre David (Edouard) Colbert-Chabanais

Born: October 18, 1774

Place of Birth: Paris, Paris, France

Branch: Cavalry

Legion of Honor: Commander

Imperial Nobility: Baron

Died: December 28, 1853

Cause of Death: Natural causes

Place of Death: Paris, France

Arc de Triomphe: West

http://www.virtualarc.com/officers/colbert1/

<b><font color="gold">Ernie Sands
General, 2ère Brigade, 1ème Division, V Corps, La Grande Armee
President, Colonial Campaigns Club
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The emperor said that one batt of Polish soldat's was worth 8000 Allied solders!

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

The second brother of four, Pierre David better know as Edouard was born in Paris 18 of Oct 1774. His family were distinguished military family, were twenty seven family members had served France as General officers. His father Louis Henry Francois who died in 1790 held the rank of marechal de camp. Edouard youngest brother was the cavalry general Auguste Colbert 1777-1809 reputedly the most handsome and dashing man in the army. He died leading Ney’s cavalry at Cacabelos.
More to follow


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

Part II
Claude Guyot commander Guard Heavy Cavalry guardsman since 1802
Francois Hexo Chief de Engineers Imperial Guard guardsman since 1800
Jean Jeanin commander 20th infantry Div guardsman since 1802
Francois Lalleman commander Guard Chasseurs guardsman since 1806
Henri Lallerman deputy commander Guard Artillery guardsman since 1806
More to come

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

Thank you Gentlemen,

All very interesting indeed. I do not have the time or resources (other than the internet and limited books covering those personal details) to get the information. Helga! A round of the best NZ rouge for these fine French officers!

Salute!

Col Mike Ellwood
Commanding Officer
3rd Dragoon Division
Reserve Cavalry

Cliff,
this is interesting, where do you get the info?

Feldmarschall Jim 'Prinz' Pfluecke
Commander, Austrian Cavalry Reserve
3 Graf O'Reilly Chevauxleger Rgt
Hahn Grenadier Bn

Old Empire press books from the old empire club in ILL by Tony Linck

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

Edouard Colbert joined the eight battalion of the Seine called the (William Tell) in hopes that along with his brothers they could conceal their origins by wearing the blue uniforms. His first try to join the Cheval was rejected in 1794 on the grounds that such a request by a ci-devant noble to enter the cavalry would only help him to desert . he was able to join the 11th Hussars the following year.
11th Hussars
raised on 26 June 1793 from the cavalry Germanique and that of the corps de cavalerie Revolutionnaire.


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

Cliff

My preferred officer would certainly be Louis Friant who was part of Italy campaigns, the Egypt expedition, Austerlitz, etc. and a distinguised member of the trio generals (Gudin, Morand et Friant) who contributed so much to Davout's ability and fame.

Exelmans would be second for different reasons: in addition to being an heroic horseman, it would be for kicking the Prussians' arse one last good time! [:D] in 1815 at Rocquencourt after Napoleon had abdicated!

My great great grandfather also sheared the same occupation as the Great General father. General Louis Friant was the senior of the three infantry generals of the fame III Corps. His father was a humble wax –polisher mine was a candle stick maker in ole Baltimore down on the 600 South Charles Street.General Louis Friant b in the village of Morlancourt in September of 1758, a grenadier of the Gardes Francais in 1781.
Gardes Francais;
Raised Aug 1563 by De Charry


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

Edouard Colbert

After a brief period with the Army of the Pyrenees Edouard Colbert was promoted to sous Lieutenant. he Army of the Western Pyrenees (Armée des Pyrénées occidentales) was one of the French armies of the French Revolutionary Wars. It fought in the Basque Country and in Navarre. The army commanders with the longest tenure were Bon-Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, who became a Marshal of France during the First French Empire, and Jacques Léonard Muller.
The army came into existence by a decree of 30 April 1793, when the Army of the Pyrenees was divided into the Army of the eastern Pyrenees and the Army of the western Pyrenees. This occurred after the outbreak of fighting in the War of the Pyrenees.
Torn between family members who were fighting against the new Republic his cousins Colbert- Maulevriers, Edouard was denounced as a royalist. The commander of the Army of the Western Pyrenees would have been my hero Thomas –Alexandre Dumas but his appointment was stop by the Republics representatives –on –mission . His commander would not listen to Edouard story ( Hoche) and suspended Edouard and threatened to have him shot if he Edouard did not leave the Army.

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

Edouard Colbert continues;
Having to renounce his hard won rank and flee was bitter blow for Edouard. He spent some time in Paris, short on money and friends and without much hope for his future. When the first Consular went to Egypt it presented a golden opportunity for any adventuress garcon to earn his way. Joining the Corps of civilians Edouard was a supplies contractor. Luck had it that the Army was short on able body men and with a like of horses he was able to enlist with his horse in the 3rd Dragoons.
History of the 3rd Dragoons;
.Raised on 17 Jan 1649 ancestor; Drag R Bourdon #3


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

Now that he was once more in Army he used his talents to gain promotion, on 9 Dec 1799 he became the aide de camp to the Army only African decent commander, infect General Dumas has been the only none European to ever command a European army till this day. He served under General Dumas till the General was arrested by Army Chief of staff General Menou. The reason for the arrest was what I call the watermelon affair.
The Watermelon affair, happen when a number of commanding Generals were invited to General Dumas headquarters for refreshments and the General served Watermelon and the conversation got around to what did the Generals think of the First Counsel Napoleon ,General Dumas had some very hard words to say about Napoleon,. Napoleon never forgot that General Dumas all most started a Rebellion among the General Staff.


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