Napoleon's Marshals

by R.P. Dunn-Pattison

This book is an illustrated version of the original Napoleon's Marshals by R. P. Dunn-Pattison. It was a popular saying in the Napoleonic army that every private soldier carried in his knapsack a Marshal's bâton, and the early history of many of these Marshals bears out this saying. But while the Revolution carried away all the barriers and opened the highest ranks to talent, be it never so humble in its origin, the history of the Marshals proves that heaven-born soldiers are scarce, and that the art of war, save in the case of one out of a million, can only be acquired by years of patient work in a subordinate position. Of the generals of the revolutionary armies only four, Moreau, Mortier, Suchet, and Brune, had no previous military training, and of these four, Moreau and Suchet alone had claim to greatness. The rough unlettered generals of the early years of the war soon proved that they could never rise above the science of the drill-sergeant. Once discipline and organisation were restored there was no room for a general like the gallant Macard, who, when about to charge, used to call out, "Look here, I am going to dress like a beast," and thereon divest himself of everything save his leather breeches and boots, and then, like some great hairy baboon, with strange oaths and yells lead his horsemen against the enemy. A higher type was required than this Macard, who could not understand that because an officer could sketch mountains he could not necessarily measure a man for a pair of boots.

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 1996

Reviews

[Koeneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about all the Marshals of Napoleon. Every Marshal’s got his own little biography, their personal life and military accomplishments or failures. The more well-known get around 20 pages and the lesser known around 10 pages or less which is fair, although sometimes I missed some interesting information for example: The mistress that Massena took with him to Spain which caused some upset in the army, the eye incident of Massena, Soult his project of getting Napoleon his body back to France in 1840, Marmont his vote for the death penalty against Ney, Oudinot his last stand in a wooden house during the Russian Retreat and some other pretty big things.

So many different characters, backgrounds, personalities, desires, ambitions and glamour were leading the troops of the French. One thing they all had in common though was when they were leading the troops they did it in the best interrest of France.

So all in all it is a really good book and definitely worth 4 stars.

[Sheffielder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very well-written series of biographies, dealing in turn with each of the Marshals appointed by Bonaparte. Each Marshal is covered by a separate chapter, dealing with their background, promotion, character, actions and the circumstances of their death. Interesting stuff. [Read for the Smooth Reading phase of Distributed Proofreaders.]