Napoleonic Almanac

On the 3rd of January 1826 Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet died.

At he battle of New Orleans in America Sir Edward Pakenham commanded the British forces against the Americians under Andrew Jackson. The Americian casulties were estimated at a little over 20, the British over 2000, including its commander. 

The British Prime Minister William Pitt 'The Younger' , introduced an income tax of 10% on all incomes of more than  £200.00 p.a. The tax is to finance war with France and was not seen as long term. [This was on the ninth of January 1799 !!].

Somewhere in the Home Counties on the 12th of Januaray 1731 Sir William Hamilton was born. The son of Lord Archibald Hamilton Govonor of Jamica and Lady Jane Hamilton, daughter of the Earl of Abercorn William first joined the Footguards before starting a career as a famous diplomat, Classical Scholar, Volcanologist and Antiquary.
He married Catherine Barlow on 25 of January 1758. The couple had no children.

On the 16th of January 1809 the Battle of Corunna was fought between forces commanded by Sir John Moore and Marshal Soult. The battle came at the end of the famous 'Retreat to Corunna' and it was while rallying his rearguard that Moore was severly wounded,[dying the following day].

His army of 27,000 men were rescued by the Royal Navy and taken back to England.

On the twenty first of January 1793 after his arrest for treason and a trial, at which he refused to plead, Louis XVI of France was guillotined.

At number 9 Conduit Street London, [Holland House was being decorated at the time], Charles James Fox was born on the twenty-fifth of January 1749.  His father was Lord Holland his mother Lady Caroline. Charles was the third son, Stephen, the eldest, Henry, who died when still a child, Charles James, who became the most famous of Whig polititions and Henry Edward.

On the 29th of January 1814 Napoleon with numerical Superior, but a mostly young conscript army attacked the Prussians under Blucher. Despite narrowly escaping capture by Cossack troops Napoleons forces were victorious.

Charles Maurice De Talleyrand-Perigord was born on Febuary the second 1754. The man who would become a powerful politician throughout all of Frances regime changes  started his life at No 4 Rue Garanciere Paris.
Napoleon was to say of him  that, 'Tallyerand is a philosopher, but one who knows when to bring his philosophy to an end oppertunely.'

On the 13th of Feburary 1768 Marshall Edouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier was born.
A loyal Bonapartist, it was only sciatica that kept him from active command at Waterloo.

At their Boconnoc home in Cornwall at quarter past five in the morning of the 19th of Feburary 1775 Lord Thomas Camleford and his wife Annes first son, [also Thomas] was born.
In his lifetime he would sail to Tahhiti, be shipwrecked on the Guardian, shoot L't Peterson R.N. in an argument over seniority, support the prize fighter Bill Richmond. attack Captain Vancouver R.N. in a public street, plot to assinate Napoleon. and finally get himself killed in a duel, [seemingly involving Harriette Wilson and set up by the French Secret Service].

On the 22nd of Feburary 1797 a French invasion force of 600 regular troops and 800 convicts landed at Carregwasted near Fishguard in Wales. The uniforms they wore had been English, captured at Quiberon in 1795 but were now died black. They were led by a mixture of French and Irish officers and commanded by an elderly American. Casulties were put at 4 Frenchmen 2 Welchmen.
The Invasion was not successful and could almost have been measured in hours.

On the 26th of Feburary 1815 Napoleon escaped from his 'Kingdom' of Elba.

On the 1st of March 1841 Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin died in Paris.

On the 3rd of March 1763 Marshal Guillaume Marie Ann Brune was born. His father was a lawyer and young Brune should have followed that trade, but he wanted to be a writer. In 1802 he went to Constantinople for 2 years as Frances ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. 1804 saw him created Marshal.
In Avignon he died at the hands of a mob during 'The White Terror'.

On the 5th of March 1811 the Battle of Barossa was fought between the forces of Sir Thomas Graham and those of Marshal Soult. This Allied victory resulted in Sgt Masterman [87th Reg't] being the first soldier to capture a French Eagle standard.

See the death of King Charles XIV of Sweden.

In consequence of a wound received in a duel with Captain Thomas Best, Lord Camleford died.
They had been friends, and their last exchange went thus. T.B."Camleford, I hope you are not seriously hurt ?" L'd C."I suspect I am, but I forgive you." T.B."I again declare I am innocent of the charge you made against me." L'd C."I believe you are right, but you had better provide for your safety."
The flint-lock pistols used were Tatham and Egg, saw handled and with octagonal barrels belonging to His Lordship.

In Tilburg on the 17th of March 1849 King William II of the Netherlands died. As a young man he was known as the Prince of Orange and served with Wellington in the Penninsular and at Waterloo.

Napoleon II, Francois Charles Joseph Bonaparte, King of Rome was born to Emperor and Empress Napoleon and Maria Louise on the 20th of March 1811.

On the 25th of March 1767 in La Bastide France the 12th child of an inn-keeper was born. Young Joachim enlisted in the cavalry at the age of 20, became a sargent and was dismissed by the age of 22. Returning home he set up a grocery shop. As an officer of the revolution he brought up the cannon for Napoleons whiff of grape-shot. He married Napoleons sister Caroline on 20th of January 1800. Became a Marshal in May 1804 and King of Naples from 1808 until 1815. He was excuted by firing squad.

On the 29th of March 1809 the battle of Medellin was fought on the Portuguese frontier, French troops under Victor were attacked by Spanish troops under Cuesta. Although outnumbering the French by about one third the Spanish army had less guns and cavalry. A charge by French hussars routed the Spanish cavalry, Dragoons took care of the Spanish Infantry and Cuestas army colapsed and fled in panic.

On the 4th of April 1817 Marshal Jean Andre Messena died.

It was on the 10th of April 1769 that Marshal Jean Lannes was born in Lectaure. He started life as an apprentice dyer, became a Marshal in 1804 and died of his wounds at Aspern Essling.
Some of his more famous quotes were.
Saragossa....."This damned Bonaparte will get us all killed."
Leading an assult at Ratisbon...."Before I was a Marshal I was a Grenadier - I still am one !"
Wounded at Aspern Essling....."It's nothing much, give me your hand to help me up."

In Northern Italy whilst at the head of 37,000 French and Italian troops Eugene de Beauharnais attacked an Austrian army of over 40,000.
After some confused fighting which cost each side around 2,000 men Eugene admitted defeat and fell back.

The Austrian III Corps under Hohenzollern attacked Davouts Corps. However  Archduke Charles failed to reinforce III Corps despite many requests. It was a French victory with around 4,000 men becoming casualties on both sides.

On the 20th of April 1842 Marshal Bon Adrien Moncey died.

On the 22nd of April 1806 Admiral Villeneuve was found dead in his room at the Hotel de la Patrie Rennes. The man that Napoleon blamed for the loss of both French and Spanish Fleets had been in a 'poor and disturbed state of mind'. The six stab wounds in his chest clearly indicated suicide.

6,000 men of the Austrian rearguard fought against Napoleons Grand Army at the Battle of [for] Ratisbon.
There was to be no siege. The French assulted the city and at first were beaten back. Napoleon was hit in the ancle by a spent musket ball. Two more assults were attempted which also failed.  A final assult in early evening, led by Lannes himself succeded.
1000 men of the Austrian rearguard died in the defence of Ratisbon.

On the 25th of April 1767 in Bar le Duc Nicolas Charles Oudinot was born, the son a wealthy brewer. At 17 he ran away to join the army. Became a Marshal in 1809. Recieved 22 wounds. Retired as Govenor of Les Invilides.

At a review before Ulm the horse he was riding became uncontrolable, [in front of his men and the Emporer]. It would no longer walk forward and it tried to buck him off. Oudinot dismounted, drew his sword and killed the beast on the spot. Later when Napoleon questioned him on his actions. The Marshal replied simply,'That is my way when I am not obeyed'.

On the 28th of May 1735 in Saxony Francois Christophe de Kellermann was born. At a young age he joined the French army, becomming a General in 1791 and a Marshall on the 19th of May 1804.

On the 29th of April 1854 Henry Paget died.

Arthur Wesley was born on May Day 1769, at No5 Merrion Street, Dublin. His father was Garret Wesley, Lord Mornington, his mother Anne Hill, the eldest daughter of Lord Dungannon.

Fought between Napoleons Grande Armee and the Austrian Army of General Hiller.
Massena launched a frontal attack on the bridge across the River Traun and then on to the Castle. It cost the Austrians around 2000 casualties and 4000 prisoners. Although a French victory Massena had lost 2800 and was severly criticized by the Emperor for such a rash and risky attack.

After a late start due to heavy fog several Neapolitan divisions, including the Guards made a fine attack against the Austrian line. Fearing cavalry they formed square and continued their advance. Unfortunatly no cavalry appeared, but instead the squares had to face a devastating fire from musket and cannon.
With troops falling back and several ruours of massive troop movements Murat ordered the retreat.

The Duke of Wellington and Marshal Messenas battle of Fuentes d'Onoro ended with a French withdrawel on the 5th of May 1811.
The most memorable action was that of Ramsays Troop RHA escaping back to the Allied line 'through' Junots corps.

On the 6th of May 1758 Jules and Marguerite Messenas son Jean Andre was born in Nice. At 13 he went to sea as a cabin boy. In 1804 he was created Marshal. He Commanded the Army of Portugal and once told Wellington that ''The sight of those lines [Torres Vedras] turned every hair on my body white.'' The Battle of Fuentes d'Onoro was to be Massenas last. In victory an Englishman exclaimed,'It made us proud to think we had just beaten such splendid fellows.' Defeat, however the Marshal found himself disgraced and replaced by the 'junior' Marshal Marmont.

On the 10th of May in the town of Annoux, Louis Nicolas Davout was born to a minor noble family. Before the Revelution he studied at the Paris Military School. A methodical officer and keen on disipline he led the famous 3rd Corps of the Grand Army. Known as the Iron Marshal he once posted the death penalty for looting. He was the only one of Napoleons Marshals never to have been defeated in the field.

The Battle of Oporto was fought on the 12th of May 1809 between Marshal Soult and General Wellesley. British troops managed a surprize crossing of The Douro and in a four hour battle caused over 2000 Frenchmen and 58 guns to become either casualties or prisoners, [more than 1000 were already sick and wounded]. Soult was forced to retreat, while Wellesley at the cost of 123 men had crossed a river in daylight, captured a city and defeated a Marshal.

Fought between the French under Marshal Soult and the Allies under Marshal Beresford the Battle of Albuera took place on the 16th of May 1811.
The battle was hard fought with 8000 French and 6000 Allied casualties. A charge by Beresfords Fusilier brigade, [7th, 23rd Regt's] was celebrated with, 'Nothing could stop that astonishing infantry !'

It was an Allied victory, but only just.

On Monday the 18th of May at 8'o'clock in the morning John Bellingham was executed at Newgate for the murder of Mr Spencer Percival the Prime Minister.
Watched by a crowd of about 2000 and dressed in a round hat, brown greatcoat, blue and buff striped waistcoat, clay coloured pantaloons, white stockings and Hessian boots Bellingham seemed calm and composed. As the clock began striking 8 some of the crowd began to cry, 'God bless you.' On the 7th strike, the trap opened and Bellingham dropped through. The crowd fell sillent.

The French army was forced back with some 21,000 casualties, including Marshall Lannes. Although the Young Guard acquitted itself well it was an Austrian victory.

On the 21st of June 1764 in Westminster a son was born to a Guards Officer. Christened Sidney he joined the Royal Navy in 1777 and fought at Cape St Vincent, Chesapeake Bay and Belle Saintes. In the 1780s Smith spent two years living in Caen studying French. In 1790 he joined the Swedish Navy to fight against the Russians and was awarded the Order Of The Sword for the battle of Svenskund. This award confered upon him the title of Knight.

On the 31st of May 1754 the future Marshal Catherine Dominique de Perignon was born to a minor nole family in Grenade-sur-Garonne, France. In 1799 he was captured by the Russians, 1804 saw him created Marshal, 1814, and he was supporting the Bourbon restoration of Louis XVIII and in 1815 he voted for the execution of Ney.

On June the 1st 1815 Marshal Louis-Alexandre Prince Neuchatel et de Wagram died. Napoleons Chief of Staff for almost 20 years, Berthier refused to serve again during the 100 days. He died 'falling' from a window in Bamberg whilst watching Allied troops march towards the invasion of France.

On the 2nd of June 1835 General Kellermann died. He was the son of Marshall Kellerman.

On the 12th of June 1816 Marshal Pierre Augerau died.

The battle of Rab was fought about 70 miles form Vienna between the Austrian Army of Arch-Duke John and a French Army commanded by Prince Eugene. Casualties of 3,000 French and 5,000 Austrians were not high as in many battles, yet Bounaparte refered to this engagement as ,'A grand-daughter of Marengo and Friedland.'

Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg, Oels and Bernstadt was killed on the 16th of June 1815 at the Battle of Quatre Bras. The Duke had sustained several wounds that day but had only left the action once. He died leading a charge at the head of his troops. A musket ball passed through his bridle-hand into his breast causing death in a few moments.

Whilst in the act of leading his men Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton was killed. D'Erlons attack at Waterloo was thrown back by Pictons men, but in his very moment of victory Sir Thomas was shot throught the temple and was dead before he hit the ground.

On the 20th of June 1815 aged 32 Colonel Sir Henry Walton Ellis of the 23rd Regt, [Royal Welsh Fusiliers] died.

The Colonel had been shot in the chest on the 18th and left the field severly wounded. On the 19th the hovel that he was recovering in caught fire. Although Assistant Surgeon Munro rescued him from the flames the Colonel sadly died. He was buried on 'the mound of the only windmill in Braine l'Alleud.'

On the 23rd of June 1839 at the abandoned monastery of Joun, 8 miles from Sidon in Lebanon Lady Hester Lucy Stanhope died.

Born in New York and tracing his ancestry back to French Huguenots Colonel Sir William Howe De Lancey was a career soldier. His middle name was given him as a mark of his parents respect to the British General Howe of American War of Independence fame. In 1814 De Lancey became Knight Commander of the Bath

On the 14th of July 1808 the battle of Medina Del Rio Seco was fought. The Spanish Army of 24,000 Castilians and Galicians under Generals Cuestas and Blake, in entrenchments and up hill of their enemy faced 12,000 Frenchmen under Generals Merle and Mouton. The victory went to France.

On the 20th of July 1774 in Chatillon-sur-Seine Marshal Auguste Frederic Louis Marmont was born. Once A.D.C to Napoleon he commanded the Army at Salamanca, but was badly wounded very early in the action. In 1814 he concluded a secret treaty with the Allies and surrendered his troops.
Napoleon gave him the title 'Duke of Ragusa' but after his conduct 'Raguser' became slang for 'To betray.'

On the 21st of July 1808 the battle of Bailen was fought between the French forces of General Dupont and a much larger Spanish Army under Reding and Castanos.
Dupont surrendered.

On the 28th of July 1794 in Paris. Maximillion Francois Isdore Robespierre was executed by guillotine. A lawyer from Arras, he rose to become the most important member of the 'Committee of Public Saftey'. Although seen as a ruthless revolutionary his manner of dress and person was that of the Ancien regime.
After a coup d'etat which resulted in his being shot in the jaw, Robespierre and many of his close supporters were sent to that same guillotine that they themselves had kept so busy.

On the 28th of July 1815 an attempt was made on the life of King Louis Phillip. A bomb was thrown in a Paris street which, slightly wounded the King and his horse. Marshal Mortier, 8 officers and men, 2 civilians, 1 woman and a child were unfortunatly killed in the explosion.

On the 31st of July 1754 the future Marshal Bon Adrien Moncey was born. His father was a lawyer.
Although he refused to take part in the Russian campain of 1812 he fought at the gates of Paris in 1814. At the fall of Bonaparte he supported Louis XVIII, was neutral during the 100 days and refused to be involved in the trial of Ney.

On the 2nd of August 1815 during 'The White Terror', Marshal Guillaume Marie Ann Brune was murdered by a Royalist Mob and his body was thrown into the River Rhone.

On the 6th of August 1768 in Prayssac, Jean Baptiste Bessiers was born. His father was a doctor and expected his son to follow his proffesion.
Created Marshal in 1804 Bessiers is rembered mainly as commander of the Guard Cavalry.
He died on the Battlefield.

On he 21st of August 1808 the battle of Vimiero was fought in Portugal between the forces of Arthur Wellesley, [later Duke of Wellington] and those of General Juno. French columns faced a British line until after almost three hours, 2000 French casualties and 700 British the victory went to Wellesley.

On the 24th of August 1758 at Poyston, Pembrokeshire in Wales Thomas Pictons son was born. The baby, also named Thomas was to become one of The Duke of Wellingtons famous commanders. 
Commisioned in 1771 as an Ensign in the 12th Foot.  A.D.C. to Sir John Vaughan in the West Indies.A Major in 1795. Brigadier General in 1801. Major General in 1808. Lieutenant General in 1813. Died at Waterloo 1815.

On the 31st of August 1813 the Spanish town of San Sebastian was succesfully stormed by the troops of Sir Thomas Graham. The French commander General Rey. During the assult which cost the lives of 3500 Allied soldiers, Major Edward Somers-Cox  was killed.

The largest battle of Napoleons 1812 campaign was fought 115k from Moscow at Borodino on the 7th of September 1812. French numbers were 133,000 and 587 guns, Russian numbers 120,000 and 640 guns.
The battle opened at around 06.00hrs with 100 French guns fireing at Bagrations positions. Unfortunatly the distance had been poorly estimated and the guns then had to be moved forward.General Auguste de Caulaincourt led the 5th Cuirassiers into the Raevski redoubt and died at the moment of his victory.

At Tinten Manor Saint Tudy in the county of Cornwall England. Francis and Jane Bligh had a son, William.
He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral but history always remembers him as 'Captain Bligh of The Bounty'.

On the 13th of September 1806 at Chiswick House London Charles James Fox died.
It is estimated that he was £10.000 in debt, and had lost more than £200.000 in gambling.

On the 14th of September 1820 Marshal Francois Jiseph Lefebvre died. He was buried at the cemetery of Pere Lachaise, Paris.

On the 23rd of September 1803 Major-General Wellesley,[later Duke of Welington] with 13,500 British and Indian troops took on a Maharatta army of approaching 100,000. Wellesley was victorius, but had taken over 10% casualties.

On the 25th of September 1811 the battle of El Bodon was fought between the Allied forces commanded by General Picton and a cavalry force of 2,500 led by General Montbrun.
When Montbruns cavalry attacked Pictons few squadrons were overwhelmed, his Portuguese artillery battery was over run and things were quite desperate until the 5th Foot attacked up hill. Led by Major Ridge the 5th pushed up hill, dispersed a French dragoon reg't and re-captured the Portuguese guns.
Picton was able to withdraw his men in good order. Victory was claimed by the Allies.

Horatio, son of Edmund and Catherine Nelson, was born September 29, 1758, in the parsonage house of Burnham Thorpe, a village in the county of Norfolk, of which his father was rector.
When Emma Hamilton and Nelson were together the day was known and celebrated as 'Horatio-mas Day'.
 

On the 6th of October 1771 Fredrick William the 4th son of Charles William Ferdinand Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg was born. At the age of 19 Fredrick was inveted with the Grand Order of The Black Eagle. In 1792 whilst serving with the Prussian Army he recieved two wounds in a skirmish at Etch near Wurbel, in consequence of his buoyant sense of youthful energy, which banished every idea of personal danger.

On the 15th of October 1810 Lord Blayney fought an action with about 1500 men, [a third of which were assorted deserters from the French Army] at Fuengirola.
The fortress he attacked refused to surrender and instead launched a sortee which captured his guns. The local popular uprising wasn't. General Sebastini and a French force of 5000 was mistaken for the Spanish. Heavily outnumbered, Blayney and many of his troops were obliged to surrender, the rest were rescued by the Royal Navy. 

On the 19th of October 1813 Marshal Prince Jozef Antoni Poniatowski died whilst attempting to cross the River Elster.

On the morning of the 21st of October Admiral Lord Nelson fought and died at his great victory of Trafalgar.

On the 23rd of October 1766 in Paris Emanual De Grouchy was born. His father was the 1st Marquis De Grouchy.
Despite being an able soldier he is always remembered as the man who lost Waterloo for Napoleon.

The Battle of Arroyo dos Molinos was fought between the Allied troops under General Hill and the division of the French General Girard.
Hill had about 10,000 horse, foot and guns under his command, Girards division, although also containing all arms was under strength, with only about 4,000 men.

At his eldest sons home in Kensington and in his 85th year Thomas Cochrane died peacefully.

On the 3rd of November 1812 during the Retreat from Moscow the battle of Fiodoroivskoy was fought between the Russian forces of General Miloradovitch and the French 1st Division under Marshall Davout. Although initially having superior numbers the Russians lost the battle after troops sent back by Prince Eugene and Marshall Ney joined the fight.

On the 19th of November 1809 the Spanish Army of Juan Carlos Areizaga was beaten by Marshal Soult at the battle of Ocana. After advancing the Spaniards halted for 3 days which allowed the French to gather all their available forces in the area.

On the 23rd of November 1833 Marshal Jean Baptiste Jourdan died.

The battle of Somosierra was fought in a pass on the road to Madrid on the 30th of November 1808 it was a French victory over the Spanish with a tragic waste of life.

On the 2nd of December 1805 in Moldavia Napoleon fought one of his most decisive battles. Austerlitz.
The Army opposing the French was led by the Russian General Kutusov, with him, Czar Alexander I of Russia and Emperor Francis I of Austria. They mustered over 85,000 men and 278 guns. The French numbered 74,000 men with 139 guns.
The 'Battle of the Three Emperors' ended in a French victory and the capture of 45 colours and 180 cannon.

On the 7th of December 1764 Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin was born in Vosges. An artillery officer with Bonaparte at Toulon, governor of Louisiana and Marshal in 1804. During the 100 days he fled to Ghent with Louis XVIII. Afterwards he voted for the execution of Ney.

At Bond Street London England, Vice Admiral William Bligh died at the age of 64. He is buried in Lambeth Churchyard.

On this Day Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane 10th Earl of DunDonald was born. As an English naval officer he was sparing of his mens lives and, at one point in his career  sending home a prize a week.

He also rose to be a Chillian,Brazillian, Peruvian and Greek Admiral.

On the 16th of December 1742 in Mecklenburg the future Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht Von Blucher was born. His family had been landowners in the area for centuries. At 14 the young Blucher joined the Swedish army as a hussar. After being captured by Prussian hussars he agreed to join them and enter Prussian service, he would remain there until he died with the rank of Field Marshal.

On the 21st of December 1808 in Northern Spain the battle of Sahagun was fought between the Cavalry of General Debelle and that of Lord Paget.
Paget initially set out with the 10th and 15th Hussars, but 'lost' the 10th en route. In a very sharp action the French lost more than 300 killed, woudned and prisnors, the 15th, 2 dead 20 wounded. The 10th arrived at the battles end, but took no part. General Moore and the rest of the army arrived at the end of the day. The victory went to Paget and the 15th Hussars.

On the 23rd of December 1777 Alexander was born. As an adult he was described as '...tall, lusty, and well proportioned; his face is full and fair; his eyes are blue, and expressive of that beneficient mildness which is one of his prominant features of his charactor.'

On the 24th of December 1814 diplomats from Great Britian and The United States of America signed the Treaty of Ghent in The Netherlands.
Although this treaty 'officially' ended the war it was some time before the information reached the troops in the field. The Americian victory at New Orleans and the British capture of Fort Bowyer both happened after the peace had been signed.

On the 26th of December 1805 representatives from Austria, [The Holy Roman Empire] and France, [M' Tallyrand] signed the Treaty of Pressburg.
After the defeats of Ulm and Austerlitz Austria agreed to terms that saw her leave the 3rd Coalition, cede territory to France and her Allies, pay an indemnity of 40 million francs to France. The Holy Roman Empire had effectively ceased to exist.