Napoleon's Guard Artillery
"In most battles the Guard Artillery is the deciding factor since
having it always at hand, I can take it wherever it is needed."
- Napoleon Bonaparte
The Guard Artillery was commanded by several excellent officers.
Among them were General Sorbier, "The Old Thunderer", and General
Drouot "The Monk Soldier." Praying and fighting appeared to be his
idea of the whole duty of man.
"... erase the [enemy] masses."
- Napoleon to the Guard Artillery at Wagram
Napoleon's Guard Artillery.
Uniforms.
Horses.
Guard Artillery Train.
Ammunition caissons, limbers
and draft horses.
Campaigns and battles.
Napoleon affectionately called the heavy 12pdr cannons of Imperial Guard
his "beautiful daughters."
" ... its gunnery generally excellent, thanks to the
annual competitions at La Fere." - John Elting
The French artillery was the best in the world. And the best part of it was the Guard Artillery. " ... its gunnery generally excellent, thanks to the annual competitions at La Fere." (John Elting - "Swords Around a Throne")
"From the start the Guard Artillery had been intended to intervene en masse after the battle had developed, and hence it was not used in the type of desultory outpost work on which the line [artillery] was often dispersed. ... This was to be the pattern for the later battles of the Empire, with the Guard [Artillery] providing the nucleus for ever bigger masses of guns. Especially after the great concentration of 100 guns at Wagram Napoleon became convinced that a really decisive result could be obtained only with 36 guns or more.
Against this weight of fire, he said 'Nothing will resist, whereas the same number of cannons spread out along the line would not give the same results.' ... The artillery was no longer merely an auxiliary which assisted each division to achieve a limited result. Instead, the Guard Artillery mass could claim to be one of the great deciders of battles." (Griffith - "French Artillery" p 36)
"Paradoxically horse artillery, which was so useful in the very forefront of a battle, was also ideal for use in the reserve role. When a general had developed his battle and was ready to commit his reserve at a weak spot identified in the enemy line, it was the horse artillery which he could most rapidly call up to prepare the way. For this reason the Guard Artillery contained a high proportion of horse batteries, and they often made considerable movements during the very climax of Napoleon's battles." (Griffith - "French Artillery" p 10)
When on level ground the French gunners sometimes positioned their batteries in echelon formation; while one battery fired, the other advanced and unlimbered, and when the second battery opened fire, the first battery limbered and advanced.
These modern fire-and-move tactics often paved the way for a successful assault.
The gunners of Guard Artillery received better uniforms and higher pay.
In November 1799 was issued a decree. According to Article XIV:
PAY (per year):
troop earnings will be paid every ten days,
officers at the end of each month.
- Foot Grenadier and Chasseur 410, Drummer 500
- Horse Grenadier and Chasseur 450, Trumpeter 650
- Gunner 1st Class 500, Gunner 2nd Class 460
Money allocated for equipment, armament,
horse-harness, and clothing:
- Foot Grenadier and Chasseur 258, Officer 800
- Horse Grenadier 517, Officer 1000
- Horse Chasseur 689, Officer 1500
- Gunner 689, Officer 1500"
During the retreat from Russia in 1812 most of the gunners and almost all their horses were lost.
By August 1813 the Guard Horse Artillery has been completely restored to its former organization. The officers had an average of 17 years in service and the privates had an average of 14 years. The companies maneuvered in full gallop and were able to come to a stop and fire the first round "in less than a minute". Their horses were well cared for and ammunition was plentiful. The companies of Young Guard had double ammunition provisions and the companies of Old Guard having triple ammunition.
The Guard Foot Artillery was also in very good shape.
There was enough cannons and howitzers in 1814, the shortages were in horses and men. After Emperor's first abdication, the Royalists cut back the horse and foot batteries. Returning in 1815 the Emperor once more began a rebuilding. Although he did secure some additional fire power at Waterloo he had 246 guns, somwehat below his usual proportion of guns to infantrymen.
The gunners.
In 1807 at Tilsit, the Guard Artillery paraded before
Napoleon, Tzar Alexander, and King of Prussia.
Passing the King, a drum-major warned his
drummers "Don't beat so loud - he is only a king !"
The gunners were stalwart and resolute, with bodies toughened by years of war. It was customary for them to boldly handle their cannons and howitzers. "The foot gunner was a large and lanky fellow; he had the slightly arched back found in all men who devote themselves to operations of force.
His character was as severe as his uniform; he spoke little, and his meditative air, although he was only private, made one soon guess that he belonged to an erudite arm, to a corps special to Napoleon, more or less justified in his preferences, placed before all the others, without exception even those of his engineers." (- St.Hilaire)
The infantry and cavalry complained that the gunners gave themselves airs because the Emperor himself had been a gunner. (He graduated as an artillerist officer in 1785.) Napoleon knew many gunners by name. In 1813 before Napoleon's birthday "the Guard Artillery prepared fireworks which they set off on the Eble River just under Emperor's windows." (Lachouque - "Anathomy of Glory")
In 1802 Napoleon submitted a permanent schedule of recruitment for Guard:
- 2 tall and robust men of exemplary conduct from each artillery regiment,
- able to read and write and participated in at least 3 campaigns
In the end of 1806 each artillery regiment
was ordered to send to the Guard
- 15 best gunners
- physically strong
- not older than 35
- able to read and write
- at least 5'10" tall
- with 10 years' service
(In March 1815 it was lowered to 8 years' service.)
- with citation for bravery and good conduct
The height requirements were:
- in 1805 176 cm tall
After Napoleon's first abdication in 1814 he was allowed to take small number of gunners of Imperial Guard on Elba Island. Approx. 400 volunteered ! General Griois chose 100 men under Captains Cornuel and Raoul. The rest of the Guard Artillery was taken by General Griois to Vendomme where the batteries were scattered in order to find food and forage for over 1,800 men and 2,400 horses. The officers were split into political cliques, with des Loches, Bitsch and Leclerc content to serve the King, and Boulart, Marin, Capelle, Griois and many others unhappy with their fate.
When Count d'Osmond was sent to investigate the gunners' loyalty, they took little trouble to hide their sentiments. When a Te Deum of thanksgiving for the Bourbons' return was sung in church, some veterans heckled the priest who dared to compare 'the virtues of the King with the crimes of the Tyrant.' Griois tore up a testimonial stating that his gunners' conduct 'had vastly improved during their stay' and threw it in the face of the mayor. There were more incidents, like the angry horse gunners charging with sabers on the Prussian Garde du Corps at Compiegne !
Dogureau, who was presented to the King, was appointed major general commanding the artillery. However, his old threat to "blow out the brains of the first Bourbon who returns to France" had not been entirely forgotten, nor had Lallemand's reference to the Court as "canaille of princes and emigres", nor many other insults.
Commanders.
Napoleon had a group of very talented officers
of artillery who understood his ideas.
The Guard Artillery was commanded by:
1803 - Joseph-Christophe Couin
1807 - Jean-Ambroise Baston de Lariboisiere
1811 - Jean-Barthelemont Sorbier
1813 - Charles-Francois Dulauloy
1815 - Antoine Drouot
1815 - Jean-Jacques Desvaux de Sainte-Maurice
The Park of Guard Artillery:
1807 - Armand-Joseph-Henri Digeon
1809 - Joseph Pellegrin-Millon
1815 - Henri-Antoine Bon de Lignum
In 1811-1813 the Guard Artillery was commanded by Jean Sorbier, nicknamed "The Old Thunderer". An aristocrat he joined the artillery in 1782. Sorbier served in the La F�re Artillery Regiment, where he met Napoleon Bonaparte. From 1793 to 1795, Sorbier was suspended, due to his aristocratic ascendancy.
Sorbier distinguished himself at Neuwied in 1797 where General Hoche's 35.000 men strong army defeated Werneck's 21.000 Austrians placed behind field fortifications. Sorbier was promoted to brigadier general on the field of battle. In 1800 he became a general of division and general inspector of artillery. In 1805 Sorbier was at Austerlitz before taking the command of the artillery of the French forces in Italy. In 1808 Napoleon created him a count of the Empire. In 1812 Sorbier commanded the Guard Artillery at Borodino. In 1813 at Leipzig Sorbier commanded all artillery. This command he retained during the 1814 campaign in France. Sorbier died in 1827 and his name is inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
General Desvaux de St.Maurice commanded the Guard Artillery during the Waterloo Campaign in 1815. He distinguished himself during the campaign in Italy in 1798�99, most noteworthy at Novi and Mincio. Desvaux St.Maurice took part to the siege of Ulm in 1805, where he was wounded, before being captured by the Austrians at the battle of Judenburg. Set free after the Treaty of Pressburg at the end of 1805. Desvaux de St.Maurice distinguished himself in 1809, 1812 and 1813. In 1809 he was promoted to general de brigade and in 1812 to general de division. He was killed at Waterloo.
Antoine Drouot, the expert in artillery fire, was born at Nancy on January 11, 1774 to a family of bakers; he was one of 12 children of Claude Drouot. Antoine Drouot wrote: "My parents attempted above all to inspire me with religious feeling and to give me a love of work and virtue." Drouot was a man with Spartan tastes. In order to spare parents' budget, he covered the distance between Nancy to Chalons on foot and entered the exam room wearing his walking clothes. Because of his good grades, Drouot was named lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Foot Artillery.
Antoine Drouot had quick mind and was one the most remarkable artillerists the world has ever produced. In 1804, he requested service in Boulogne where Napoleon was creating the Grand Army. In 1805 he was in Cadiz (Spain). Between 1805 and 1807 Drouot managed the arms factory at Maubeuge and factory at Charleville. In 1808 he was promoted to major.
In December Drouot became the commander of Regiment of Foot Artillery of the Imperial Guard.
Drouot had become a living legend to the men who wore the blue, a figure who elicited an almost mystical devotion. Drouot always carried a Bible with him. Praying and fighting appeared to be his idea of the whole duty of man. In battle Drouot - dressed in an old uniform - stood in the midst of his guns and directed their fire. His quiet demeanor, his steadfastness, reminded one of the mighty strength of his artillery.
"During the appalling conditions of the retreat from Moscow in 1812 it was said that he was the only man in the army to shave in the open daily with a mirror propped up on a gun carriage. A bachelor, who limped as a result of a foot wound (his only injury) received at Wagram, he had been fighting almost continuously since 1793... he was described by Marshal Macdonald as, "the most upright, honest man I have ever known, well educated, brave, devout and simple in his manner." (Adkin - "The Waterloo Companion" pp 12 & 201)
Drouot acquired the nickname Sage de la Grande Armee. Napoleon liked him and appreciated his wisdom and loyalty. "If I had followed the wise counsel of Drouot, I would never have left Elba." - said the Emperor at Saint Helena. "His morals, his integrity, his lack of affectation, would have brought him honor in the greatest days of the Roman Republic ... I had good reason to rank him superior to a great many of my marshals." (- Napoleon on Saint Helena)
Organization of Guard Artillery.
By a decree of March 8, 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte supplemented the new organization of the Guard. According to Article I the Guard Artillery was to consist of "horse artillery squadron, with a staff, and company of foot artillery.� It was not long before Napoleon increased the numebr of companies. The company usually carried a double ration of ammunition. Each company consisted of 6pdr or 12pdr cannons.
The 12pdr cannon had 15 men crew commanded by a corporal.
The Section (2 guns) was commanded by a sergeant.
The Half-Company (4 guns) was commanded by a lieutenant.
The Company (8 guns) was commanded by a captain.
The Battalion (24 guns) was commanded by chef de bataillon.
The Regiment was commanded by a colonel.
Various authors give different number of corporals, or the number of corporals and sergeants equal.
For example according to Andre Jouineau and Jean Mongin of France, in 1808 the company consisted of:
"- 1 Captain, commanding the company
- 1 Captain, second-in-command
- 1 First-Lieutenant
- 1 Second-Lieutenant
- 1 Sergeant-Major
- 4 Sergeants
- 1 Quartermaster
- 4 Corporals
- 4 Artificers
- 20 Artillerymen, first class
- 48 Artillerymen, second-class
- 2 Drummers"
In 1804 the Artillery Train of the Consular Guard [Train d�Artillerie de la Garde Consulaire] was formed. In 1805 it was enlarged and formed battalion of Artillery Train of the Imperial Guard [Bataillon du Train d�Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale].
In 1808 was formed Regiment of Foot Artillery. It was commanded by Antoine Drouot, and then by Armand-Joseph-Henri Digeon. At Austerlitz in 1805 were two horse batteries, each of 4 8pdr and 2 4pdr cannons, and 2 howitzers. In 1806 the Regiment of Horse Artillery was formed, it had six batteries. In 1807 they received lighter 6pdr cannons.
In 1809 the Guard Artillery consisted of:
- Regiment of Guard Horse Artillery
- Regiment of Guard Foot Artillery
In 1809 the Emperor raised three companies of artillery conscrits for service in Spain. These companies acted as regimental artillery and were issued to the infantry regiments of Young Guard already in Spain. In the following year the three companies became artillery of Young Guard.
In 1810 the Imperial Guard was officially divided into Old Guard and Young Guard.
The Regiment of Guard Foot Artillery consisted of:
- Battalion of Old Guard
- Battalion of Young Guard
Each battalion had 3 companies.
The company of Old Guard had 4 heavy 12pdr cannons. The train drivers were ranked as Middle Guard (not Old Guard). The company of Young Guard consisted of 8 4pdr cannons.
The Regiment of Guard Horse Artillery comprised of:
- Squadron of Old Guard
- Squadron of Young Guard
Each squadron had two companies, each company of 6 guns, crew, horse-teams, and train. The Young Guard served in Spain while the companies of the Old Guard were stationed in Germany and Austria.
In January 1813, shortly aqfter the disastrous retreat from Russia, Napoleon ordered a number of new batteries formed for the Young Guard. The first four were manned by gunners from the cohorts of the National Guard. The 800 conscript assigned to the artillery train and gunners from the cohorts were designated 'second gunners' and received the pay of the Line. On 26 January the wagon train battalion was reorganized in Paris and filled up with conscripts. "They have put all the farmers in Paris into the train of artillery" - joked conscript Cajot.
Guard Artillery in 1813:
Colonel-commandant - General de Division Dulauloy
Chef de Etat-Major - Lallemand
Lieutenant (garde-general du parc) - Guillon
Lieutenant (adjudant d'habillement) - Duval
- - - - - Regiment of Horse Artillery (Old Guard)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander - General de Brigade Desvaux
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chefs de Escadron - Dubuard Marin, Delmude and Boisselier
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Adjudant-Major - List
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sous-Adjudant-Major - Huet, Pasquier, vacant
- - - - - 1st Regiment of Foot Artillery (Old Guard)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander - Griois
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chefs de Bataillon - Couin, Hautepoul and Capelle
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Adjudant-Major - Beranger
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sous-Adjudant-Major - Cornuel, Mainville and Raoul
- - - - - 2nd Regiment of Foot Artillery (Young Guard)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander - Henrion
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chef de Bataillon - Breux, Aubert, Oudin, Faivre, Renaud, Lafond and Levis
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Captain Adjudant-Major - Hortel
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sous-Aide-Major - Charpentier, Bichaux, 5 vacant
- - - - - 1st Regiment of Artillery Train
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander - Bon de Lignum / Leroy
- - - - - 2nd Regiment of Artillery Train
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commander - Major Bailloud
Guard Artillery at Leipzig, 1813:
- - - - - Reserve Artillery - General de Division Dulauloy
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Old Guard foot artillery - Colonel Griois
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Foot Battery (Old Guard) x 6 12pdr cannons and 2 6' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Foot Battery (Old Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Young Guard foot artillery - General de Brigade Henrion
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Old Guard horse artillery - Colonel Duchand
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Horse Battery (Old Guard) x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Horse Battery of Berg x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 x 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - under Colonel Boisonnet
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Company of (Guard) Engineers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Company of (Guard) Marins
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Company of (Guard) Pontoniers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Company of (Guard) Ouvriers
- - - - - attached to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Guard Cavalry Divisions
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - III Horse Battery (Old Guard) x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IV Horse Battery (Old Guard) x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - V Horse Battery (Old Guard) x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VI Horse Battery (Old Guard) x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - attached to the 1st and 2nd (Old Guard) Infantry Divisions
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Foot Battery (Old Guard) x 6 12pdr cannons and 2 6' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - II Foot Battery (Old Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - XIV Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - attached to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Young Guard) Infantry Divisions
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - II Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VIII Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IX Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - XI Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - XIII Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - III Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IV Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - XII Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - V Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VI Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VII Foot Battery (Young Guard) x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
Guard Artillery at Waterloo in 1815:
- - - - - - - - - - - Reserve Artillery
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Foot Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Marion x 6 12pdr cannons and 2 6' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - II Foot Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Radet x 6 12pdr cannons and 2 6' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - III Foot Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Tessier x 6 12pdr cannons and 2 6' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IV Foot Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Gaubert x 6 12pdr cannons and 2 6' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - attached to the Guard Light Cavalry Division
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Horse Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Favier x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - II Horse Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Nasse x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - attached to the Guard Heavy Cavalry Division
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - III Horse Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Branville x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - IV Horse Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Barbarin x 4 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - attached to the Guard Grenadier Division
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - V Foot Battery (Old Guard) under Captain Resigny x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
- - - - - - - - - - - attached to the Guard Chasseur Division
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VI Foot Battery of Old Guard under Captain Jacques x 6 6pdr cannons and 2 5.5' howitzers
There were also auxiliary artillery companies (batteries) attached to the troops.
They were manned by men of the II Battalion/1 Regiment/La Corps des Canonniers de la Marine.
Parade, campaign and battle dress.
The coat of the gunners of the Imperial Guard was dark blue with scarlet cuffs and dark blue cuff flaps piped scarlet. Since 1810 the dark blue collar was piped scarlet. The turnbacks were scarlet. The lapels were dark blue piped scarlet. The foot gunners of Old Guard wore white waistcoats for summer (according to Bucquoy). Other sources give them blue waistcoats (Berka Manuscript, Malibran, Rousselot and Rigondaud).
The breeches were dark blue and the long gaiters were either black or white. The gaiters were worn fastened up to the knee cap and strapped under the shoe. They were also issued long linen or cotton drawers, which would usually be worn without or over the breeches to keep warm. The breeches required washing, but it was not the case with the drawers. During campaign they wore the comfortable drawers, white or light grey in summer, and dark blue in winter. See pictures below.
In 1812 the Young Guard Foot Artillery were issued new short-tailed habit-veste (so-called Bardin uniform). In 1813 the long gaiters were replaced by shorter black and grey ones. The Old Guard kept their old traditioonal long gaiters and long-tailed coats (jackets).
The horse gunners wore striking, hussar-style uniforms.
It consisted of dark blue dolman and pelisse, tight Hungarian breeches, under-knee boots, and black fur caps. For parade was red plume. The horse gunners wore fur caps. The cords terminated in tassels which were allowed to hang from the ends of the fur cap. For campaign they wore trousers or over-breeches, the dolman was left in depot, and the cords and plumes were removed.
For more information read our article:
"Uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars."
Campaign and parade dress of Foot Artillery of Old Guard.
In battle the foot gunners wore something between the parade and campaign dress. It depended on commander's fancy, weather and many other things. For example some items were discarded or simply lost (plumes, cords). The breeches, gaiters and shoes were no longer usable, etc.
When the battle was fought on a very hot day the gunners took off their bearskins and coats (jackets) and fought in the white sleeveless waistcoats. (For example on 5-6 July 1809 at Wagram.)
When it was very cold the foot gunners of Imperial Guard wore the voluminous dark blue greatcoats. (Usually the greatcoat was closely rolled up and fastened by straps on top of the knapsack.)
The cords and plumes were removed. The shakos and bearskins were protected with oilcloth. The oilcloth had a neck flap that could be let down in stormy weather. Many gunners wore gloves. The breeches and gaiters were worn underneath the trousers. Some used civilian fur caps and fur coats for extra warmth. This happened in winter in 1812 in Russia and during the Campaign of France in 1814.
Campaign dress of Foot Artillery of Young Guard in 1815.
Picture by Keith Rocco, USA.
On the picture above the gunners of Young Guard wear the so-called Bardin Uniform introduced in 1812 in artillery, infantry and cavalry. The coat has closed lapels and short coattails. (The Old Guard kept their waistcoats and old coats with open lapels and long coattails). The gunners wear blue trousers over the breeches and short gaiters. The shako is protected with an oilcloth.
Campaign dress of Horse Artillery of Old Guard.
The horses of Guard Artillery were excellent, especially between 1802 and 1812. The Guard accepted only black and strong horses. Shortly before the Waterloo Campaign in 1815, there was a shortage of blacks and Napoleon ordered to take them from the Horse Grenadiers, the senior and most prestigious regiment of cavalry. Artillery was the Emperor's darling, not the cavalry.
However during their short stay in Spain the situation was different. Their caissons, carts and supply wagons were drawn by mules and donkeys. Henri Lachoque writes, "Meanwhile the Guard artillery from La Fere arrived in Burgos with some of its gun carriages hitched to cows." (Lachoque - "The Anatomy of Glory" p 133)
Napoleon was not too happy with the "Spanish arrangements." Back in France the Guard Artillery received splendid horses. Some were even too large. Captain Antoine Augustin Pion des Loches of the Guard Foot Artillery wrote in 1812, "Our teams were of the best, and the equipment left nothing to be desired, but everyone was agreed that the horses were too tall and too strongly built, and unsuited to supporting hardship and lack of abundant nourishment."
Unfortunately during the retreat from Russia most of the "too strong" horses were lost and replaced with the hardy Russian ponies. These also perished during the retreat and Drouot ordered his gunners to burn most of their caissons and threw their ammunition into a small lake near the Orsha road.
Napoleon rebuild the Guard Artillery in 1813. The horses came from France and Germany.
The companies of Young Guard had double ammunition provisions
and the companies of Old Guard having triple ammunition.
Besides cannons and howitzers there were also limbers and caissons. A limber was a two-wheeled cart designed to support the trail of a gun, allowing it to be towed. "The bulk of ammunition was carried in caissons, designed by Gribeauval to hold the new 'fixed' ammunition, i.e. projectile and propellant made up into one.
The caisson was an 11-foot long, narrow-bodied wagon with a sloping lid hinged to open, the interior being divided into compartments for the assembled rounds. Powder and matches were also carried in the caisson, as were shovels and a pick (fastened to the sides), a detachable tool-box at the front and a spare wheel ... A light caisson was also produced (presumably for horse artillery use) only 7'6" long and without either spare wheel or tool box." (Wise and Hook - "Artillery Equipment of the Napoleonic Wars" p 7)
The Artillery Train of the Consular Guard was formed in 1800. In 1803 the Guard Artillery Train consisted of four companies. The Consular Guard changed its name to the Imperial Guard on May 18, 1804. During campaign one company was teamed with one company of artillery. Together they formed a battery. The gunners handled the guns and the men of train handled the draft horses, limbers, supply and ammunition wagons.
Napoleon expected a lot of ammunition for the guns of Guard Artillery.
The 8pdr cannon was issued three caissons.
The 12pdr and the howitzer five caissons each.
Each caisson held approx. 350 rounds.
The caissons were operated by the strong men of the artillery train.
They were carefully selected. From the candidates was required:
- 10 years' excellent service
- bravery and good character
Left: wounded NCO of Artillery Train of the Imperial Guard, in 1813-1814. Source: Emir Bukhari from Griffith's - "French Artillery".
Right: driver of Artillery Train of the Imperial Guard in campaign uniform. Source: Mark Adkin's - "Waterloo Companion"
According to St.Hilaire the drivers had strong voices. He writes, "Accustomed to mixing his voice with the crashes of artillery, with the rustle of the caissons, to excite his horses, he had a continual hoarseness, which twenty years of peace had not cured. One still finds some of these old soldiers of the train, harness-makers or sergeant blacksmiths, in the Chapelle-Saint-Denis or Vaugirard; but under the leather apron he is always recognizable: this man preserved his hoarseness, his common forms and his a little brutal language."
According to the Decree of July 29th, 1804 the requirements were: 5 years' excellent service and at least 1.78m tall. (In 1809 the height requirement was 1.678 m) Every battalion of artillery train had to provide a list of 6 NCOs, or troopers, meeting the requirements.
In April 1806, the Artillery Train of Imperial Guard was formed into one battalion (staff and 6 companies), with 1000 horses in wartime. The staff of battalion consisted of:
- 1 Captain
- 1 Lieutenant-Adjutant-Major
- 1 Sous-Lieutenant Quarter Maitre
- 1 Adjutant Sous-Officer
- Non-Combatants: Veterinarian, Tailor, Boot Maker,
- Saddler Maker, Harness Maker, and Rope Maker.
Each company had:
- 1 Lieutenant
- 1 Sous-Lieutenant
- 1 Fourier
- 2 Trumpeters
- 68 Drivers
- Non-combatants: 2 Smiths, 2 Harness Makers
In October 1807, the Artillery Train had two battalions:
one in the field and one depot battalion.
Each battalion consisted of six companies.
In December the 'batalion bis' was formed for service in Spain and Portugal.
In August 1808 it became the 13th Train Battalion, while the depot became
the 13th 'Batallion Bis.'
In May 1811 the Artillery Train consisted of staff and six companies.
- 26 1st Drivers
- 134 2nd Drivers
In February 1812 (few months before the Invasion of Russia)
each company had an extra ten 2nd drivers assigned to them.
In early 1813 the Regiment of Artillery Train of the Imperial Guard
consisted of: staff, small staff, and three battalions of four companies each:
Regiment's staff:
- 1 Major
- 1 Chef d'Batallion
- 3 Captains commanding each battalion
- 1 Lieutenant Adjutand-Major
- 1 Sous-Lieutenant Quarter-maitre
- 1 Sous-Lieutenant d�Habillement
- 1 Major Surgeon, 2 Assistant Surgeons
Small staff:
- 3 Adj. Sous-Officiers
- 1 Trompeter Major
- Non-combatants: 1 Veterinarian and 3 Assistants
- 1 Bootmaker, 1 Tailor, 1 Saddle Maker, 1 Spur Maker
- 1 Lieutant
- 2 Smiths, 2 Harness Makers
- 285 draft horses
- 25 saddle horses
Depot company:
- 10 2nd drivers
In April 1813 the 2nd Regiment was formed.
It had two battalions of six companies each.
The 1st Regiment was teamed with the 1st Regiment of Foot Artillery of (Old) Guard.
The 2nd Regiment joined the 2nd Regiment of Foot Artillery of (Young) Guard.
In 1814, after Napoleon's first abdication, the battalion of artillery train was split into three, and half of its horses lent to the farmers of Angers, Orleans, and Beauge where the units were stationed.
In 1815 (Waterloo Campaign) there was one regiment of the train.
It consisted of staff, 8 Old Guard and 1 Young Guard companies.
The regiment numbered 1,784 horses: 48 for officers, 136 for the workmen, NCOs and trompeters, and 1600 draft horses. Volunteer drivers were enlisted as '3rd Class' soldiers, to avoid stripping the Line. (- Henri Lachoque)
- 1 Chef d�Escadron
- 1 Capitaine-Adjutand-Major
- 1 Lieutenant-Quarter-maitre
- 1 Lieutenant d�Habillement
- 2 Adjutand Sous-Officers
- 1 Trumpeter-Major
- Non-combatants: 2 Surgeons, 1 Veterinarian + 3 Assistants
- 1 Boot Maker, 1 Tailor, 1 Breaches Maker, 1 Harness Maker
- 1 Armourer, 1 Spur Maker
- ? Sergeants
Campaigns and battles
The gunners of Horse Artillery of the Imperial Guard distinguished themselves at Austerlitz in 1805. When the Austrian O'Reilly Chevaulegeres (900 men in eight squadrons) had arrived at close range the 21st Dragoon Regiment (three squadrons) then wheeled away to reveal the guns. Despite outnumbering the French by more than two to one, the Austrians - after receiving canister fire at close range - fled faster than they came.
In 1809 at Wagram the Emperor ordered General Lauriston to bring the Guard Artillery and deploy south of Aderklaa. To the right of the 72 guns of the Guard were placed 40 guns from the Army of Italy. The massive battery was deployed "well within musket range of the white-coated infantry" ( James Arnold - "Napoleon Conquers Austria")
Napoleon pointed the Austrian lines and said to the commanding artillery officer "... erase the masses". Each gun of Guard Artillery fired approx. 200 rounds. This tremendous fire made a breach in Austrian powerful line between the villages of Breitenlee and Sussenbrunn. The whitecoats were driven back, many hid in the village. General Bellegarde deployed three batteries to fill the void, and they too were forced into retreat. Only the Austrian grenadiers stubbornly held their ground for a while.
At Lutzen in 1813 approx. 60 guns of Guard Artillery appeared from behind a masking ridge; stopped the victorious Prussians and Russians in their tracks; and prepared the way for the infantry attack.
At Bautzen in 1813 the central French attack was supported by 76 guns. However the terrain was both, too hilly and too soft, for the fire to be very effective, and the Russians were able to preserve their artillery in fieldworks.
At Dresden in 1813 one battery of Old Guard Horse Artillery deployed near the redoubt and almost annihilated the leading Russian jager regiment. The Guard Artillery was committed on the second day in the main attack on the enemy line. The cannons came on in grand style by successive batteries, and cleared the enemy from a wide zone to their front. Then, however, they were inexplicably ordered to retire, and in his memoirs General Griois records his fury at the waste of a good chance to break out.
The Grand Battery deployed south of Leipzig, on the Gallows Height, was under Antoine Count Drouot. It consisted of 100 guns (68 from Victor's, Lauriston's and Latour-Maubourg's corps, and 32 from the Old Guard Foot Artillery). The Russians and Prussians had 52 guns facing Drouot's Grand Battery.
Drouot's guns quickly dismounted 24 (!) Allies' pieces while the remaining enemy guns hastily fell back and onto the road to Gulden-Gossa. Those Russian and Prussian gunners who had no riding place on the cannons or limbers were running down the verges in flight. Once the artillery was gone Prinz Eugen's Russian II Infantry Corps (3rd and 4th Division) became the only target for Drouot's gunners.
"The situation of the Russians on Klux's right, in the open fields ... was much worse. Lacking any cover at all, they suffered very heavy losses from artillery fire. Shahovskoi ... reported to Prinz Eugen that his men were being destroyed. The prince rode slowly along the line. At each battalion, his question 'How many men have you lost ?' would be answered with a silent gesture to the lines of dead lying where they had fallen. ... [Prinz Eugen] did nothing to alleviate the situation ... " (Digby-Smith, - p 86)
Then a French cannonball went through the prince's horse and thrown the rider to the ground. The 3rd Division have suffered horrible casualties and was finally withdrawn towards Gulden-Gossa. The 4th Division also got under fire and fell back on Crobern. The withdrawal was covered by 6 Russian battalions. Drouot's battery also forced Mesenzov's Russian 5th Division to retire.
Drouot's Grand Battery of 100 guns made a gap in enemy's line; three Russian infantry divisions, two Prussian brigades and Russian cavalry corps were forced into a hasty withdrawal. The situation was ripe for a massive attack, breaking the enemy's line and winning the battle. The cannons kept firing until Murat's 10,000 cavalrymen began to advance. Then they fell silent as the advancing masses obscured the line of fire.
Once the cavalry passed Napoleon ordered Drouot to take part of Grand Battery and push it forward. Thus Drouot with 60 cannons aided the attack against allied center. The crews manhandled the pieces back to hook them on to their limbers. The ammunition wagons set off with their wheels digging great gouges into the meadow. The guns rolled forward, with their chains and buckets swinging. The horrified enemy was rapidly falling back. Tzar of Russia, King of Prussia and Austrian General Schwarzenberg called for all available reserves (heavy artillery, cuirassiers, grenadiers and foot and horse guards) to stop the French advance.
In 1813 at Hanau the French army (60,000-90,000 men under Napoleon) in retreat from Leipzig fought its way through a road block of 30,000-45,000 Bavarians, Austrians and Cossacks under General Wrede. On the 30th, Napoleon appeared in front of Hanau with a force of 15,000-20,000 men, with another 15,000 following close behind. Wrede barred the way to France and Napoleon intended to remove the roadblock.
Initially the French infantry was unable to make progress in the wood. The Guard Cavalry led by Nansouty moved forward against the enemy cavalry on the left flank. Nansouty's first line wheeled left to attack the infantry in the center. Friant and Cambronne cleared the woods with 2 battalions of the Old Guard in skirmish order, then Drouot defiled through them with 15 guns and deployed in such a position as to take enemy's artillery in flank. The flanking fire was the most effective.
"Behind this screen the reminder of the Guard Artillery deployed, making a total of 50 pieces. When these guns had begun to throw the enemy into confusion the Guard Cavalry completed the rout. The Bavarian cavalry then counterattacked, but Drouot held his own cavalry in front of the guns until the very last minute. When the enemy had arrived at close range the French cavalry then wheeled away to reveal the massed battery, which proceeded to make very short work of the Bavarians." (Griffith - "French Artillery" p 46)
Once clear of the wood they blew apart the static Bavarian troops holding that part of the battlefield. They also dimounted 28 of the enemy's guns. "As Wrede was sending infantry and cavalry reinforcements to the threatened sector, Sebastiani charged and broke the enemy horse, but was in turn driven back to Drouot's grand battery by recently arrived Bavarian cavalry. The Bavarian success however was short-lived. Nansouty's Guard Cavalry spearheaded by the Old Guard Horse Grenadiers counterattacked. The "Gods", the Polish lancers, and the Honor Guard cut their way through the outmatched Bavarian lighthorsemen.
Meanwhile, the Old Guard Dragoons charged and broke three battalion squares of enemy infantry as the Old Guard Chasseurs broke and captured two entire Bavarian battalions. The impetus of the Guard's Cavalry's charge disintegrated Wrede's entire command of the left bank of the Kinzig." (Bowden - "Napoleon's Grande Armee of 1813" p 197)
In 1814 at Craonne and Montereau the Guard Artillery was able to make a decisive intervention at the crises of the battles, in both cases on extremely narrow frontages.
In 1814 at Arcis-sur-Aube the Guard Artillery came too late and deployed too slowly as the guns had to use double teams to move through thick mud.
At Borodino in 1812 the Guard Artillery Reserve was under General de Division Barth�lemot de Sorbier, The Thunderer. The foot artillery was commanded by Drouot, while the horse artillery by Desvaux de Maurice. The Guard Artillery was unable to make a gap in enemy line because Kutuzov had his infantry supported by numerous artillery pieces and protected by field fortifications.
During the first stage of the battle of Waterloo in 1815, Wellington kept his British, German and Netherland infantry screened from artillery fire behind a ridge. The artillery played important role in the second stage of the battle. After the farm of La Haye Sainte (in Wellington's center) fell into French hands, some guns wer brought forward. In general, however, there was no aggressive employment of French artillery at Waterloo. According to Kevin Killey the French reverted to the "tactic of large skirmiser swarms sweeping up to the enemy line, and starting to shoot it to pieces. Enough French cavalry remained intact to support this movement, forcing the Allied infantry to stay in squares - perfect targets for the French artillery , which was manhandled into 100-250 meter range to support the infantry and demolished the squares with point-blank fire. If this had been employed earlier in the day, Napoleon could very well have won the day. (As it was, the Prussians were coming in on the right flank and the numbers were overwhelming.)" (Kiley - "Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815" p 139)
In the end of the battle, one battery of the Old Guard fired its last shots into the mass of Prussian and British soldiers, then stoically stood by their cannons as if ready to fire again. It was a bluff, but they halted the enemy cold and gained their comrades time to take new position.
(At Waterloo the Guard Artillery was under General Desvaux de Saint-Maurice. The foot artillery was commanded by Lallemand, while the horse artillery by Duchand de Sancy. Because Marshal Mortier was not present, General Drouot was acting Guards commander. As a result Drouot, an expert in artillery fire, was dispatched ineffectively throughout the engagement.)
During the Napoleonic Wars the Guard Artillery suffered heavy losses only twice. In 1812 during the winter retreat from Russia the French lost all horses and most of the gunners of Imperial Guard. The second time it happened in 1814 at La Rothiere where Russian cavalry under General Panchulitzev captured 24 pieces of the superb Old Guard Horse Artillery.
Auge - "La Garde Imperiale"
Elting - "Swords around the Throne: Napoleon's Grande Arm�e", New York 1988
Digby Smith - "1813: Leipzig - Napoleon and the Battle of the Nations"
Houssaye - "La Vieille Garde Imperiale" (Ilustrations de Job)
Lachouque (Anne S. K. Brown) - "The Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and his Guard"
Lachouque - "Napol�on et la Garde Imperiale"
Connelly - "Historical Dictionary of Napoleonic France, 1799-1815"
Esdaile - "The Wars of Napoleon"
Mansel - "The Eagle in Splendour: Napoleon I and His Court" 1987
Six - "Dictionaire biographique des generaux et amiraux..."
website: napoleonseries.org
website: napoleon-series.org
The French Artillery Museum