The 2nd division of the heavy cavalry ( fr. 2e division de grosse cavalerie ), sometimes also the 2nd cuirassier division ( fr. 2e division de cuirassiers ) - the cavalry division of France during the Napoleonic Wars .
| 2nd Heavy Cavalry Division | |
|---|---|
| fr. 2e division de grosse cavalerie | |
 | |
| Years of existence | August 24, 1805 - July 3, 1810, April 17, 1811 - April 11, 1814 |
| A country |  French empire |
| Included in | The Great Army (1805-08), The Rhine Army (1808-09), German Army (1809-10), The Great Army (1811-14) |
| Type of | Cavalry division |
| Includes | Shelves cuirassiers and carabinieri |
| Function | Shock cavalry |
| Number | from 1700 to 2500 people l / s |
| Wars | Napoleonic Wars |
| Participation in |
|
| Commanders | |
| Famous commanders | Jean-Joseph d'Opoule , Raymond Saint-Sulpice , Pierre Vatier , Antoine Saint-Germain |
Content
Division History
Formation
The division was formed by the Emperor on August 24, 1805. The command of the division was entrusted to the illustrious General d'Opoule . The division included 4 cuirassier regiments (1st, 5th, 10th and 11th), supported by 2 8-pound guns and one howitzer [1] . August 26 included in the reserve cavalry of Prince Murat and became part of the Great Army .
1805 Austrian Campaign
The first serious fighting clash for the division was the battle of Brunn on November 20, when 500 cuirassiers of the Fontaine brigade and 4 guard squadrons attacked at the outposts of the Russians, who had just discarded the French light cavalry. After a stubborn battle, the Russian cavalrymen had to retreat, who galloped away in the direction of Rausnitsa. The battle stopped already in the dark. The French advanced 12 kilometers and stopped not far from Rausnitsa. “The second brigade attacked with such an impulse that it overturned all the military formations that opposed it,” d'Opoule reported in his report. In the 2nd brigade, cuirassiers were injured 40 people and about 10-15 were killed [2] .
In the Battle of Austerlitz, the division operated on the left flank of the French. Supporting the offensive operations of the 5th Corps of Marshal Lannes , the cuirassiers of d'Opoule, together with Walther's dragoons and light cavalry, attacked the Russian infantry and Cossacks in the Sivitsa and Kovalovitsa area. As a result, all the Russian troops stationed north of the Rausnitsky stream were driven back and began to retreat along the highway [3] . For these brilliant actions in the Battle of the Three Emperors, Napoleon awarded d'Opule with the sign of the Great Eagle of the Legion of Honor , and all five colonels became commandants of the order.
1806 Prussian Campaign
With the start of a new war against the Fourth Coalition, the division advanced to the scene of hostilities. October 14, 1806 approached the battlefield at Jena, making 46 km of the march in 21 hours. Only the 1st brigade (1st and 10th regiments) took part in the battle, which participated in the defeat of the Rüchel corps at the height of Capelllendorf .
November 7, 1806 contributed to the capture of the last combat-ready Prussian unit at Lübeck .
Polish campaign of 1806-07
From December 13, 1806 to January 12, 1807, it acted as part of the 2nd corps of the reserve cavalry under the command of Marshal Bessières .
On February 6, 1807, it carried out a series of brilliant attacks against the Russians under Goff, which contributed to the defeat of the troops of Barclay de Tolly . On February 8, at Eilau, she took part in the legendary attack of 80 squads of Murat, during which General d'Opoul was mortally wounded. Since February 9, the division was commanded by General Saint-Sulpice . She did not take an active part in the hostilities at the end of the campaign, she was noted only when Königsberg was captured on June 15.
1809 Austrian Campaign
On October 15, 1808, the Great Army was disbanded by Napoleon, and the division became part of the Rhine Army of Marshal Davout [4] . During the Austrian campaign of 1809, she fought in the reserve cavalry of Marshal Bessières of the German Army . She distinguished herself in the battles of Abensberg (April 20), Ekmule (April 22, 1809) and Regensburg (April 23). Under Essling (May 21-22) conducted a large number of desperate attacks to save the army. Once again, she was in business in the decisive battle of the campaign at Wagram (July 6), as well as in the latest clashes at Hollabrunn (July 9) and Znaim (July 11). On July 12, Saint-Sulpice was transferred to the guard, and led the Empress’s dragoons , and Antoine Saint-Germain was replaced in his place. Disbanded by the Emperor on July 3, 1810 [5] .
1812 Russian Campaign
It was recreated on April 17, 1811. Instead of the 1st regiment, which became part of the new 4th division , the 2nd regiment received the 14th regiment (Dutch) [6] . On October 19, General Nansuti was led at the head of a division forming in Bonn . Since January 9, 1812, it was part of the 2nd Corps of the Cavalry Reserve.
June 24, 1812 the division crossed the river. The Neman at Ponemun (in the Kovno district) made the transition to Vilna , then to Braslav, Disna, Polotsk, Vitebsk and Rudne. In the battle at the village of Inkovo (Molevoy Bolot) on August 8, the cuirassiers of Vatier forced the Russian cavalry to stop pursuing the retreating 2nd Light Cavalry Division .
In August, the division, being part of the vanguard of Murat, participated in the Smolensk maneuver of the Great Army and in the battle of Smolensk.
At the beginning of the battle of Borodino, the division was in the 2nd echelon of its corps. At 11 o’clock she took up a position in a hollow at the bottom of the Kurgan height, from where she made several attacks on the Russian cavalry and infantry, located south of the Kurgan battery. Her squadrons surrounded the 4th infantry division of Major General Prince Eugene of Württemberg , but could not break through her battalion squares, in which generals Barclay de Tolly, Miloradovich , Raevsky and Prince Eugene himself took refuge.
At 15 o’clock the new commander of the 2nd corps of the cavalry reserve, the division general Kolenkur personally led the division to attack the troops stationed south of the Kurgan battery. Having overturned the infantry and cavalry, the head 5th cuirassier regiment rushed to the rear of the Russian fortification, part of the cuirassier broke through to the battery through the gorge, before which General Kolenkur was killed. About a hundred riders galloped around in the course of the Ognik stream, but were thrown back by the regiments of the 24th Infantry Division. The remaining squadrons of the division, met by infantry fire, retreated with losses (the 8th cuirassier regiment was especially damaged). After taking the Kurgan Battery, the division, settling under the cover of the French infantry, moved forward again. Together with the carabinieri from the 4th heavy cavalry division, the cuirassiers overthrew the Izyumsky Hussar and Polish Uhlans, but were stopped by subsequent counterattacks and then finally retreated behind the French infantry.
Since September 8, the division has been at the forefront of Murat, entered Moscow on September 14, then advanced on the Vladimir road, crossed the Ryazan road on September 18, later participated in the pursuit of the Russian army, and fought at Spas-Kupli on October 4. Officers and soldiers who lost their horses joined the General Sharyer’s dismounted cavalry brigade. During the camp camp at the village of Teterinka (on the Chernyshnya river), the combat strength of the division was greatly reduced due to the death of horses. By October 18, her cuirassier regiments totaled 150-200 horsemen. The 2nd Chevoleier Regiment, which received reinforcements from the marching units, was temporarily combined into a separate brigade with the 4th Chevoleier Regiment from the 4th Heavy Cavalry Division. In the battle of Tarutino, the division suffered heavy damage, its artillery was captured by the Cossacks of Major General V.V. Orlov-Denisov.
When retreating to Smolensk on November 13, three companies of the 2nd cuirassier-picket regiment of the combined Heavy Cavalry Division of General Lorges were formed from cuirassiers, which still preserved horses, and the chevolezherians entered the 5th picket regiment of the Light Cavalry Division of General Bruyere, which together with Lorges division general cavalry corps-picket of General Latour-Mobur. Both regiments, escorting the Main apartment, participated in the battles at Red. On November 23 in Beaver, all equestrian division officers who remained without a position were included in the 2nd company of the Honorary Guard Regiment (“Holy Squadron”) under the command of General Pear. General Defrance became the captain-commander of this officer company. November 28, the "Holy Squadron" and the Latour-Mobur Corps crossed the river. Berezina. On December 8, the Honorary Guard was disbanded, and the remains of the picket corps on December 11 were disbanded in Kovno.
In January 1813, the surviving fighters of the division became part of a temporary regiment formed in the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg under the command of General Bouvier des Ackles.
1813 Saxon Campaign
During the reorganization of the cavalry on February 6, 1813, the 1st cuirassier and both carabinieri regiments were added to the division.
On November 18, 1813, the 13th cuirassier regiment from the 4th division was added to the division .
Fiercely fought until the abdication of the Emperor.
Division Command
Division Commanders
- Division General Jean-Joseph d'Opoule (August 24, 1805 - February 9, 1807)
- Brigadier (since February 14, 1807 - divisional) General Raymond Saint-Sulpice (February 9, 1807 - July 12, 1809)
- Division General Antoine Saint-Germain (July 12, 1809 - July 3, 1810)
- disbanded (July 3, 1810 - April 17, 1811)
- vacant position (April 17, 1811 - October 19, 1811)
- Division General Etienne Nansuti (October 19, 1811 - December 25, 1811)
- Brigadier General Louis Beaumont (December 25, 1811 - January 9, 1812)
- Division General Raymond Saint-Sulpice (January 9, 1812 - January 22, 1812)
- Division General Horace Sebastiani (January 22, 1812 - June 29, 1812)
- Division General Pierre Vatier (June 29, 1812 - August 15, 1813)
- Division General Antoine Saint-Germain (August 15, 1813 - February 26, 1814)
- Division General Jacques Delors (February 26, 1814 - April 11, 1814)
Division Chiefs
- vacant position (August 24, 1805 - September 20, 1805)
- Colonel HQ Octav Fontaine (September 20, 1805 - February 21, 1807)
- Colonel HQ Ann Trencallier (February 21, 1807 - March 16, 1809)
- squadron commander Louis Matvon de Cuurnier (April 1809 - August 3, 1809)
- Colonel Staff Jacques Semery (August 13, 1809 - July 3, 1810)
- disbanded (July 3, 1810 - April 17, 1811)
- vacant position (April 17, 1811 - December 11, 1811)
- Colonel Staff Robert Dupont d'Herval (December 11, 1811 - September 7, 1812)
Brigade commanders
- Brigadier General Raymond Saint-Sulpice (September 1, 1805 - February 14, 1807)
- Brigadier General Jean-Louis Foconne (September 1, 1805 - September 21, 1805)
- Colonel HQ Octav Fontaine (September 21, 1805 - September 1806)
- Brigadier General Verdier (September 1806 - October 18, 1806)
- Brigadier General Marula (October 20, 1806 - December 5, 1806)
- Brigadier General Francois Clément de la Ronciere (December 31, 1806 - April 22, 1809)
- Brigadier General Adrian Guiton (April 1, 1807 - August 25, 1809)
- Brigadier General Adelaide Lagrange (after April 22, 1809 - May 25, 1809)
- Brigadier General Edme Fito (May 25, 1809 - July 3, 1810)
- Brigadier General Pierre Vatier (August 26, 1809 - July 3, 1810)
- Brigadier General Louis Beaumont (December 25, 1811 - December 4, 1812)
- Brigadier General Jean-Louis Riste (December 25, 1811 - January 26, 1813)
- Brigadier General Joseph Dorn (December 25, 1811 - December 29, 1812)
- Brigadier General Jean-Baptiste Noirot (March 1, 1813 - May 9, 1813)
- Brigadier General Charles Lalen d'Odenard (March 1, 1813 - August 3, 1813)
- Brigadier General Francois d'Avrange d'Oguranville (June 12, 1813 - October 18, 1813)
- Brigadier General Nicolas Tiri (August 3, 1813 - February 5, 1814)
- Brigadier General Guy Blancar (December 2, 1813 - April 11, 1814)
- Brigadier General Louis Soprancy (February 5, 1814 - April 11, 1814)
Division Composition
division headquarters
1st cuirassier regiment ( fr. 1er régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division from the moment of its formation, and until July 3, 1810, and again from February 6, 1813.
5th cuirassier regiment ( fr. 5e régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division since its formation.
10th cuirassier regiment ( fr. 10e régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division since its formation.
11th cuirassier regiment ( fr. 11e régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division from the moment of its formation, and until December 25, 1811.
14th cuirassier regiment ( fr. 14e régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division from April 17, 1811 to December 25, 1811.
8th cuirassier regiment ( fr. 8e régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division since December 25, 1811.
2nd Chevolier-Uhlan Regiment ( fr. 2e régiment de chevau-légers lanciers )
in the division from January 2, 1812 to February 6, 1813.
1st Carabinieri Regiment ( French 1er régiment de carabiniers )
in the division since February 6, 1813.
2nd Carabinieri Regiment ( French 2e régiment de carabiniers )
in the division since February 6, 1813.
13th cuirassier regiment ( fr. 13e régiment de cuirassiers )
in the division since November 18, 1813.
artillery
Subordination and Division Number
- division of the reserve heavy cavalry of the Army of the Ocean Coast (August 24, 1805);
- 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the reserve cavalry of the Great Army (August 26, 1805);
- The 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the 2nd corps of the reserve cavalry of the Great Army (December 13, 1806);
- 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the reserve cavalry of the Great Army (January 12, 1807);
- 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the Rhine army (October 15, 1808);
- The 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the reserve cavalry [K 1] of the German Army (April 1, 1809);
- 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the Elbe Observatory Corps (April 19, 1811);
- The 2nd division of the heavy cavalry of the 2nd corps of the reserve cavalry of the Great Army (January 9, 1812).
Campaigns and Battles
1805 Austrian Campaign
- Nördlingen (October 17, 1805)
- Hollabrunn (November 16, 1805)
- Austerlitz (December 2, 1805)
Prussian campaign of 1806
- Jena (October 14, 1806)
- Lübeck (November 5–7, 1806)
Polish campaign of 1807
- Bezun (December 23, 1806)
- Gough (February 6, 1807)
- Preisis Eilau (February 8, 1807)
- Königsberg (June 15, 1807)
1809 Austrian Campaign
- Abensberg (April 20, 1809)
- Ekmühl (April 22, 1809)
- Regensburg (April 23, 1809)
- Essling (May 21-22, 1809)
- Wagram (July 6, 1809)
- Hollabrunn (July 9, 1809)
- Znaim (July 11, 1809)
Russian campaign of 1812
- Borodino (September 7, 1812)
- Kaluga / Moscow (October 4, 1812)
- Vinkovo (October 18, 1812)
- Smolensk (November 9, 1812)
Saxon Campaign of 1813
- Dresden (August 26-27, 1813)
- Lubnitz (August 27, 1813)
- Mursdorff (October 14, 1813)
- Leipzig (October 16 and 18, 1813)
- Hanau (October 29-30, 1813)
French campaign of 1814
- Montmiral (February 11, 1814)
- Chateau Thierry (February 12, 1814)
- Woshan (February 14, 1814)
- La Guillotier (March 3, 1814)
- Troyes (March 4, 1814)
- Kraon (March 7, 1814)
- Laon (March 9, 1814)
- Reims (March 13, 1814)
- Fer-Champenoise (March 25, 1814)
- Paris (March 30, 1814)
Division Organization
On September 25, 1805:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Raymond Saint-Sulpice )
- 1st cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Adrian Guiton )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Jean-Baptiste Noirot )
- 2nd brigade (commander - Colonel HQ Octav Fontaine )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Pierre Latei )
- 11th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Albert Fule )
- Total: 12 squadrons, 1713 people, 3 guns [7] .
On October 14, 1806:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Verdier )
- 1st cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Adrian Guiton )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Samuel Lerie )
- 2nd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Raymond Saint-Sulpice )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Jean-Baptiste Noirot )
- 11th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Albert Fule )
- Total: 16 squadrons, 1927 people, 3 guns [8] .
On April 1, 1807:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Francois Clément de la Ronciere )
- 1st cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Sigismont-Frederic de Berkeim )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Jean-Charles Quinette de Serne )
- 2nd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Adrian Guiton )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Samuel Lerie )
- 11th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Antoine-Constant de Branca )
- Total: 16 squadrons, 1910 people [9] .
On July 1, 1809:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Edme Fito )
- 1st cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Sigismont-Frederic de Berkeim )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Jean-Charles Quinette de Serne )
- 2nd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Adrian Guiton )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Samuel Lerie )
- 11th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Pierre Duclos )
- Total: 16 squadrons, about 2010 people, 6 guns.
On July 1, 1812:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Louis Beaumont )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Philip Christoph de Lamotte-Gehry )
- 2nd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Jean-Louis Riste )
- 8th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Louis Grange )
- 3rd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Joseph Dorn )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Pierre de Layauberdier )
- 1st company of the 2nd Chevolier-Uhlan Regiment (commander - Colonel Pierre Berryue )
- Total: 13 squadrons, 2570 people, 2795 horses, 12 guns.
On October 16, 1813:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Francois d'Avrange d'Ogranville )
- 1st Carabinieri Regiment (commander - Colonel Francois Kursol )
- 2nd Carabinieri Regiment (commander - Colonel Marie Dezev )
- 1st cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Antoine-Marguerite Claire )
- 2nd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Nicolas Tiri )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Philip Christoph de Lamotte-Gehry )
- 8th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Louis Lefebvre )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Pierre de Layauberdier )
- Total: 16 squadrons, 6 guns.
On March 1, 1814:
- 1st Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Guy Blancar )
- 1st Carabinieri Regiment (commander - Colonel Francois Kursol )
- 2nd Carabinieri Regiment (commander - Colonel Marie Dezev )
- 1st cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Antoine-Marguerite Clerk )
- 2nd Brigade (commander - Brigadier General Louis Soprancy )
- 5th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Philip Christoph de Lamotte-Gehry )
- 8th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Louis Lefebvre )
- 10th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Pierre de Layauberdier )
- 13th cuirassier regiment (commander - Colonel Francois Bigarn )
- Total: about 720 people, 6 guns.
Awarded
Badge of the Great Eagle of the Legion of Honor
- Jean-Joseph d'Opoule , February 8, 1806 - Division General, Division Commander
Legion of Honor Commandants
- Adrian Guiton , December 25, 1805 - Colonel, commander of the 1st cuirassier
- Pierre Lateuil , December 25, 1805 - Colonel, commander of the 10th cuirassier
- Jean-Baptiste Noirot , December 25, 1805 - Colonel, commander of the 5th cuirassier
- Octav Fontaine , December 25, 1805 - Colonel, chief of staff of the division
- Albert Foule , December 25, 1805 - Colonel, commander of the 11th cuirassier
- Francois d'Avrange d'Ogranville , September 28, 1813 - Brigadier General, commander of the 1st Brigade
Legion of Honor Officers
- Francois Jacques, December 26, 1805 - squadron commander of the 5th cuirassier
- Samuel Lerrier , May 14, 1807 - Colonel, commander of the 10th cuirassier
- Sigismon-Frederick de Berkheim , July 11, 1807 - Colonel, commander of the 1st cuirassier
- Jean-Charles Kinett de Serne , July 11, 1807 - Colonel, commander of the 5th cuirassier
- Antoine-Constant de Branca , July 11, 1807 - Colonel, commander of the 11th cuirassier
- Montgen, July 11, 1807 - squadron commander of the 1st cuirassier
- Pierre Desargues, May 16, 1809 - squadron commander, adjutant of General Saint-Sulpice
- Jacques-Marie Bouillay, May 18, 1809 - squadron commander of the 10th cuirassier
- Jean Remy, November 6, 1811 - captain of the 11th cuirassier
- Philip Christoph de Lamotte-Gehry , October 11, 1812 - Colonel, commander of the 5th cuirassier
- Pierre Berruille , October 11, 1812 - Colonel, commander of the 2nd Chevolier Ulansky
- Francois Kursol , October 18, 1812 - squadron commander of the 8th cuirassier
- Sera, October 18, 1812 - captain, company commander of the 8th cuirassier
- Lespinass, September 13, 1813 - squadron commander of the 8th cuirassier
- Louis Lefebvre , September 28, 1813 - Colonel, commander of the 8th cuirassier
- Bodo, September 28, 1813 - squadron commander of the 10th cuirassier
- Dijon, September 28, 1813 - captain of the 10th cuirassier
- Shotel, September 28, 1813 - Captain of the 1st Carabinieri
- Marie Dezev , September 28, 1813 - Colonel, commander of the 2nd Carabinieri
- Midi, September 28, 1813 - Major of the 2nd Carabinieri
Knights of the Iron Crown Order
- Jean-Charles Kinett de Serne , 1809 - Colonel, commander of the 5th cuirassier
- Antoine-Marguerite Clerk , September 18, 1813 - Colonel, commander of the 1st cuirassier
Cavaliers of the Saxon Military Order of St. Heinrich
- Jean-Charles Kinett de Serne , 1809 - Colonel, commander of the 5th cuirassier
Notes
Comments
- ↑ For most of the campaign, the division operated as part of the 3rd Army Corps
Sources
- ↑ Napoleon Correspondence for August 1805
- ↑ Oleg Sokolov. “Austerlitz. Napoleon, Russia and Europe 1799-1805. " 1st volume, p. 279
- ↑ Oleg Sokolov. “Austerlitz. Napoleon, Russia and Europe 1799-1805. " 2nd volume, pp. 59-60
- ↑ Napoleon Correspondence for October 1808
- ↑ Napoleon Correspondence for July 1810, p.619
- ↑ Napoleon's Correspondence for April 1811 Archived July 16, 2014 on the Wayback Machine Archived July 16, 2014.
- ↑ Oleg Sokolov , “Austerlitz. Napoleon, Russia and Europe 1799-1805. Volume 2 ", p.150
- ↑ David Chandler, “Jena 1806. Napoleon Smashes Prussia”
- ↑ magazine “Warrior. No. 6 ". P.35
Literature
- Sokolov O. V. Napoleon's army. - St. Petersburg: Empire, 1999. - ISBN 5-93914-001-7
- Sokolov O.V. Austerlitz. Napoleon, Russia and Europe. 1799-1805 T. 1-2. - M .: Russian Impulse, 2006. - ISBN 5-90252521-7 ; 5-90252520-9; 5-90252522-5
- Vasiliev I. N. Failed revenge: Russia and France 1806-1807. T. 1-3. - M .: Book , 2010. - ISBN 978-5-91899-007-0 ; 978-5-91899-021-6; 978-5-91899-029-2
Links
- 2nd Heavy Cavalry Division on Runivers website
- Schedule of the Great Army at the beginning of the Russian campaign of 1812. Internet project "1812"
- Detailed schedule of the 2nd Corps of the Reserve Cavalry in 1812
- The composition of the Great Army in the Battle of the Peoples
- 2nd Corps on March 10, 1814