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Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
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Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Tue May 22, 2012 9:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Sitting at a table near the fire, Lt Colonel Kling and the firebrand Chef de Battalion Schmidgall drinking fine French wine celebrating the Lt. Colonel's recent victory. I have a old story of the Emperor's Sheild and Guardian when we were fighting the Mamelukes in Egypt that you may find entertaining.

The battle was raging and one particular Mameluke was terror in our ranks and the General Napoleon himself astonished by the seeming invulnerability of this man, as his soldiers must also have been, called Daumesnil, one of Napoleon's Guides at the time, to him, and handed guide one of his own pistols, and said, "Go kill that man for me!"

Daumesnil had one of the corners of the square opened up for him, and weaving his way at a gallop through the swirling mass of horsemen, enveloped in clouds of dust and smoke, with gunfire crashing around him he reached his target and shot him down. Making his way back to the square, where ranks parted to permit him to enter, Daumesnil rode up to his commander-in-chef and returned his pistol to him, saying "That one won't come back again!"

Let us toast General Daumesnil! says Chef Schmidgall and calls Helga for more wine.
Author:  Scott Clawson [ Tue May 22, 2012 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
I love a good fiction story!
Author:  Colin Knox [ Tue May 22, 2012 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Mssr Rat that's typical I bet you don't believe Marbot's memoirs either :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Tue May 22, 2012 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
General Knox please do not take offense from the Rat, few people know much about General Daumesnil heroic deeds or for the matter who he was. I have recently added his biography to my library and wish there was more written about this fine soldier.

I hope to add more stories about him, Napoleon's Shield and Guardian!
Author:  Colin Knox [ Tue May 22, 2012 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Don’t worry Al I was being ironic as Marbot's memoirs are notoriously romanticised.

They are cool though. I have the Anatomy of glory (which is similarly dubious) and General Daumesnil is mentioned in there I recall.

As an imaginary member of the Tondu's bodyguard myself his character is the one I like to Aspire to.
Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Tue May 22, 2012 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Quote:
As an imaginary member of the Tondu's bodyguard myself his character is the one I like to Aspire to.
_________________
General Knox


As do I!
Author:  Colin Knox [ Tue May 22, 2012 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Indeed! By the way Colonel I like your signature our Emperor likes his warriors well dressed!
Author:  MCJones1810 [ Wed May 23, 2012 12:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
A Hanoverian Brigadier raises his glass in a toast, "To the brave soldiers everywhere, whatever uniform they wear, or how fictionalized their exploits might be!" :P :P :P

Turning to his trusted Lieutenant, the Brigadier grins and says, "The only possible way that French General might have survived such an audacious ride is because there was not a single Hanoverian Jager on the field of battle that day. One shot, one kill, and the French legend would never have been born. We would have calmly claimed both his horse and the Emperor’s fine pistol that day." :shock: :shock: :shock:

I am probably one of the very few who noticed the advertisement so cleverly inserted into the thread by General Knox. After all, I too Aspire to emulate his most excellent battlefield practices one day. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Wed May 23, 2012 12:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
General Knox may insert what he likes in any thread started by this Lt Colonel for he is a respected soldier in the Emperor Napoleon's Grande Armee!

And someday I may learn to write fiction as well as the Brigadier!
Author:  Colin Knox [ Wed May 23, 2012 12:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Colonel I believe the Brigadier refers to my imaginary life set in the future - 2012, we had a role playing club at the Bologne camp to pass the time and in my future I owned a marketing company called Aspire. :mrgreen: :lol: 8)

But that is all conjecture, for now it is 1809 and all of Europe is at peace. Their are stirrings in Austria though I hear. :evil: :twisted:

I understand the Emperor has plans afoot.... in between the great industry he applies to bring liberty and fraternity to the oppressed masses of Europe. :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol:
Author:  Al Amos [ Wed May 23, 2012 2:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
"As an imaginary member " - Gen de Div Knox

Wait! Colin's not real!?!?!
Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Wed May 23, 2012 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
"Oh yes, their is another reason the soldiers around Pierre Daumesnil called him Napoleons Shield and Guardian", says the Lt Colonel Kling, "and if interested I will tell you about it?" Chef de Battalion Schmidgal answers, "Please do tell for I am tired of all these so called adventures of these Hanoverians and Prussians." At that General Knox walks over to the table and says, may I sit with you officers and hear this bit of history of a brave French soldier." Of course and we are honored to have you sit with us.", say Lt Colonel Kling.

The Lt Colonel then continues, "As a simple guide of General Bonaparte at the siege of St. Jean d'Acre, he risked his live to save his general's. Daumesnil was a few paces behind the commanding general and Berthier, holding their horses and his own, when a shell fell four paces from the group. Instantly perceiving the danger to which General Bonaparte was exposed, this young soldier did not hesitate; He left the horses and covered with his own body that of the individual who would late be his Emperor. Fortunately , the shell having buried itself deep in the sand, didn't explode, and Daumesnil when back to the horses. General Bonaparte is reported to say of Daumesnil: "What a soldier?"

"Another toast for the brave soldier Daumesnil", shouts the Chef Schmidgall, and they all toast the Shield and Guardian of the then General Napoleon.



Others look to see
Author:  Colin Knox [ Wed May 23, 2012 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
My dear mssr Amos indeed Colin Knox is a different person from General Knox the leader of Napoleon's body guard.

One lives in 2012 and the other in 1809. Please don't confuse their postings. They seem confused enough on their own already :lol:

Regards
Author:  clifton seeney [ Fri May 25, 2012 2:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
For those who want to read up on this Garcon :Napoleon's Shield and Guardian: The Unconquerable General Daumesnil

Ryan, Edward. Napoleon's Shield and Guardian: The Unconquerable General Daumesnil. With the collaboration of Henri de Clairval. London: Greenhill, 2003. 424 p. 24 pages of illustrations, 8 pages in color. ISBN# 1853675539. Hardcover. $34.95

This is the tale of the Napoleonic wars as told through the story of one soldier—but what a soldier! Pierre Daumesnil rose from a private soldier to being an officer in one of the most famous units of Napoleon's army, to being a general in France's army and a Baron of the Empire, receiving twenty wounds during his career. Daumesnil's career demonstrates the truth of the old adage that in the French army every soldier carried a Marshal's baton in his knapsack.

To the casual student of the Napoleonic era, the name of General Daumesnil is probably not well known, While the names Davout, Ney, and Murat, or maybe Marbot, Rapp or Junot are better known, by 1815, the name Daumesnil was deservedly famous. Daumesnil's service in the armies of the Revolution and Empire were as brilliant in their way as any of the others. Napoleon's good luck charm, severely wounded at Wagram, twice successfully holding the fortress of Vincennes against France's enemies, Daumesnil's story is that of the era.

Born in the Dordogne, the youngest son of a shopkeeper, Daumesnil fled, at the age of seventeen, to join the army after having killed a man in a duel. The Revolution having led to France being at war with almost the whole of Europe, Daumesnil joined the cavalry of this brother in the Armée des Pyrénées Orientales as a common trooper. Fortunately Daumesnil found himself in the same squadron as a young lieutenant Bessières. With the Treaty of Basle putting an end to the war with Spain, Daumesnil had another lucky break for his career. He was transferred to Italy, an arena much more conducive to glory.

Specifics of trooper Daumesnil's personal actions in the Armée des Pyrénées Orientales and in the Armée d'Italie are necessarily sparse. Ryan therefore briefly summarizes these campaigns, sketching out actions which Daumesnil may have participated in. Daumesnil's career was obviously successful enough to warrant his entering Napoleon's Guides in June 1797 and advancing to corporal. Four months later Daumesnil was made a sergeant. At one battle Daumesnil presented two Austrian flags he had personally captured to Gen. Bonaparte. At the bridge of Arcola, Daumesnil was one of those who had rescued Bonaparte.

With the successful conclusion of the campaign in Italy, Daumesnil followed Bonaparte to Egypt. During the siege of St. Jean de Acre Daumesnil again had occasion to save his commanding general's life, throwing himself between Bonaparte and a shell that had landed at his feet. Perhaps it was Daumesnil's bravery on this occasion that determined Bonaparte to include Daumesnil in the select party with whom Napoleon returned to France.

Back in France Daumesnil's Guide unit was incorporated into the Consular Guard. Having again demonstrated his bravery at Marengo Daumesnil was promoted to lieutenant at the close of the campaign and in 1804 Captain Daumesnil was rewarded with the Legion of Honor. In the next campaign, where Daumesnil rescued Napoleon's aide-de-camp Jean Rapp, Daumesnil was promoted to chef d'escadron. Daumesnil had become, according to Bessières, Napoleon's good luck charm.

Following the signing of the peace at Tilsit, Daumesnil's squadron of Chasseurs of the Guard was given the honor of carrying the news to Paris, making a trip of 930 miles in just 36 days, arriving just in time for the Emperor's birthday. In 1809 Daumesnil and his Chasseurs were ordered to the Peninsula. Once again Daumesnil found himself in the eye of history. He was in the party that freed Godoy from his imprisonment and was later in the street-fighting in Madrid on Dos Mayo, commanding the Mameluks who avenged the murders of the French invalids. Daumesnil had two horses killed under him and was shot in the thigh during the fighting.

After Aspern-Essling Daumesnil, now 32, was promoted to major in the Chasseurs of the Guard, commanding one regiment. Napoleon preferred his "lucky charm' to command his service squadron of chasseurs on days of battle. At Wagram Daumesnil's luck ran out and he received the last of his twenty wounds (in his sixteen years of service). Daumesnil lost his leg, putting to an end his cavalry career, but earning him the title of baron.

Having at last the free time to put his personal life in order, Daumesnil in 1812 married the young daughter of Baron Garat, Director General of the Banque de France. At the beginning of that same year Napoleon wrote to Bessières about promoting the invalided Daumesnil and finding him a position in command of the fortress of Vincennes, a position which was to insure Daumesnil's inclusion in the Valhalla of the Empire. Vincennes at this time was not only one of the fortresses ringing Paris, but also a state prison and a state arsenal.

In 1814, with the Allies marching into Paris, Daumesnil gallantly held out at Vincennes threatening to blow up the arsenal along with its besiegers, until at last turning the unsurrendered fortress over to the new government. Despite (or perhaps because of) having held out, Daumesnil was briefly retained in command at Vincennes. The Bourbons were soon regretting their decision and Daumesnil was "kicked upstairs" to remove him from the sensitive command.

The return of Napoleon meant the return of Daumesnil to the governorship of Vincennes. Once again the Allies took Paris and once again Daumesnil held out, not capitulating until he could turn the fort over to the French government. The Bourbons this time rewarded Daumesnil with retirement.

Out of favor and under suspicion, Daumesnil spent the next fifteen years on a meager pension. The revolution of 1830 put Daumesnil back in command of Vincennes, where once again Daumesnil defended the fortress against siege, this time from the angry Parisian mob after the blood of the former Bourbon ministers held in the state prison. Two years later Daumesnil died in the cholera epidemic, still at Vincennes.

Only a handful of biographies of the "lesser" generals of Napoleon's army are available in English, making this study a welcomed addition to any Napoleonic library. Edward Ryan, whose previous Napoleon book was Napoleon's Elite Cavalry (Greenhill, 1999), was a former naval officer. Ryan has used a wide array of contemporary memoirs, the French archives, public and private, as well as the assistance of Daumesnil's own family, primarily in the person of Henri de Clairval (author of an earlier biography of Daumesnil in French) to tell is tale. On the whole well-written, Ryan occasionally overuses foreshadowing and the authorial aside to the reader.
Author:  Aloysius Kling Sr [ Fri May 25, 2012 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Incident at the Battle of the Pyramids
Thanks for stealing the rest of the story I was telling in a little at a time!
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