'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 13, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE NAPOLEONIC WARS group.

Betsy wrote: "Napoleon seemed find it frequently necessary to rein in his impetuous brother-in-law. In the days before Austerlitz, he reminded him who was running the show: "My cousin, I cannot approve of your w..."

Its amazing how long Napoleon put up with Murat's antics, you can only assume that Caroline protected him during that early period.

"The March of the Twenty-Six" - The Battle of Austerlitz:

" ... and General Morland, a French veteran involved in the attack on the centre, started a marathon lawsuit by getting himself killed. Morland's body was sent home for interment in a contemplated Hall of Heroes and was preserved in a barrel of rum pending the building of the tomb at Les Invalides. The years went by and the Hall of Heroes was never built. Everyone forgot about the hero until one day, soon after Napoleon's first abdication, the barrel fell apart with age and the general's corpse, now decorated by long, sprouting whiskers, was sent over to the School of Medicine for dissection. The relatives got to hear about this and indignantly claimed the body for burial. The suit dragged on for years and the family won, so General Morland was laid to rest nearly ten years after his death in action. As a comment on the dividends of patriotism this is the most emphatic in history."

Colonel François Louis de Morland:
https://www.frenchempire.net/biograph...

"The March of the Twenty-Six" - A short break in campaigns between 1803-1805:

"The began a brief period of social and military splendour that advertised the assumption of hereditary power by the Commander-in-Chief. There were balls, concerts and dances to offset the weeks of intensive training. Murat outbid Lannes as the army's most reckless spender on uniforms. In a single year he spent one hundred thousand francs on coats, cloaks and spectacular additions to his gorgeous accoutrements. Leger, he military tailor, also supplied the well-dressed Berthier and is said to have made a net profit of nearly half a million francs in twelve months. Napoleon frowned at all this extravagance. He himself wore the simplest uniform and outraged the perfectionist Leger by asking him to put a patch on a worn pair of breeches. Leger's professional pride was equal to rebuke. He would sooner, he told the First Consul, go out of business altogether. Napoleon grumbled and ordered a new pair."

March of the Twenty-Six by R.F. Delderfield

"The March of the Twenty-Six" - Here is a good account of the surrender negotiations at the end of the siege of Genoa. The city was held by forces under the command of Masséna:

"At the initial meeting between the three parties his impudence made them gasp. He would prefer, he said, to march out with drums beating and join Suchet's troops in south-eastern France but as a concession to the allies he promised not to fight until he got there! The French, or course, were to retain their arms and he also required permission to send two officers through the Austrian lines in order to inform Napoleon what had happened! The Austrian general was so dumbfounded at this insolence that he was unable to utter a word but Lord Keith, who greatly admired his opponents' courage, bullied his ally into accepting the terms. Just as he was about to sign the agreement, however, Masséna heard what he felt sure was gunfire. 'Why, there is the First Consul coming now!' he exclaimed, laying down his pen.

But it was not the First Consul, just a peal of Alpine thunder, and in the end Massena signed and the garrison tottered out with all the honours of war, Masséna at the head of the column on one of the very few horses left in Genoa."

The Siege of Genoa:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_o...

"The March of the Twenty-Six" - Talking about Murat here is a funny story about Lannes and Murat who were both wounded at the Battle of Aboukir:

"The two future marshals, who already detested one another, were laid side by side in the hospital and Lannes must have taken full advantage of the fact that he could insult his rival with impunity, for Murat's jaw had been shattered by a pistol shot and his face was swathed in bandages."

Battle of Aboukir:
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/...

Totally agree Betsy, competition and rewards are always a good motivators for some men as long as its kept in check and is proportionate, otherwise, like you said, it could do more damage than good.

Another good story Scott!

I suppose when you consider the various Marshals and their backgrounds I tend to think they decided they were in a unique position and grabbed all that they could while their luck held. Many of these men rose from the ranks or from civilian positions that would never had allowed them access to the riches and woman that now fell into their lap. I suppose you could say they were living the great life while they could, at the detriment of their military duties in some cases. Shame all the Marshals could not have the same standards as Lanne and Davout.

Betsy wrote: "Just saw this novel being offered: Finding Napoleon by Margaret Rodenberg. It's supposed to be based on his real attempt to write a novel, called Clisson. Just thought I'd mention it in case someon..."

Thanks for that Betsy!

I've read only one decent book on Marshal Masséna:

Marshal Massena by James Marshall-Cornwall

"The March of the Twenty-Six" - Masséna facing off against the Russians in Switzerland:

"The miserly old rascal had two things in his favour, his own indomitable patience and the extremely high quality of his divisional commanders. Serving under Masséna in Switzerland at this time was no fewer than four future marshals. Acting as Chief-of-Staff was Oudinot, the tough, front-line fighter who once thought of being a brewer and with Oudinot was Michel Ney, who might have been an Alsatian barrel-cooper, Louis Suchet, who should have obeyed his parents by becoming a silk merchant, and Nicholas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, who had wanted to be a baker. Also there was farmer's son Mortier, the big jolly fellow whom everyone liked, as well as leaders like Lecourbe, Souham, d'Erlon and Vandamme, every one pf whom was to write his name on the Arc de Triomphe. The roll call of the Army of Switzerland would have encouraged a less self-reliant Commander-in-Chief than Masséna as he sat still in his headquarters outside Zurich, holding his troops as a desperately anxious gambler holds his cards."

The Second Battle of Zurich:
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/09...

Nice title Betsy - 'The Eagle' - I'd watch it :)

Jerome wrote: "A June 2022 release:

by Alexander Mikaberidze
Description:
Alexander Mikaberidze's latest book is the first modern English-lan..."

I will have to try and remember to keep an eye out for that next year then :)

R.F. Delderfield reckons that allowing Caroline to marry Murat was one of Napoleon's biggest mistakes!

"The March of the Twenty-Six" - The author on Marshal Augereau during Napoleon's Italian campaign:

"Augereau, entering his fortieth year, should have also been too old for this kind of warfare but he supplied incontestable evidence to the contrary. His tough, seasoned frame responded to every demand and he was seen in the thick of every fight, bellowing oaths picked up during his service with the Russian and Prussian armies and earning the nom de guerre of Le Grande Prussien on account of his size and explosive language. The ex-valet led his men into the hottest fire time and time again and his counsel, when it was asked, was always the same - 'Attack! attack! attack!'

At Castiglione he saved the army. Grossly outnumbered, Napoleon's nerve faltered for a moment and he called a council of war. Most of those present urged retreat and Napoleon himself was inclined to agree. He then asked Augereau's advice and was told to advance with every musket he could summon. 'If we are defeated, we can think about retreating then,' he said, 'and in any case, I shall be dead, so why should I worry?' Napoleon finally came down on Augereau's side, ordering a advance that culminated in a smashing victory. He never forgot the adventurer's courage. In after years Augereau shared with Lannes the distinction of being in and out of trouble most of the time and complaints about him were very frequent indeed. Napoleon would listen patiently, smile and then dismiss the complainant with: 'Ah well, he's a terrible fellow it's true but just think of what he did for us at Castiglione?' "

Marshal Charles Pierre François Augereau:
https://www.frenchempire.net/biograph...

https://www.napoleon-series.org/resea...

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/...

I'm still going through the various backgrounds of the Twenty-six who would become Marshals under Napoleon. The author made this statement in regards to Edouard Mortier:

"Edouard had no intention of wasting good drinking time tilling his father's acres while a revolution was taking place just over the hill. He was a man who needed action and boon companionship as he needed food and fresh air and he found all four in the ranks of the volunteers. He was to rise to great heights in the next ten years although not so rapidly as did some of the less amiable men whom he met in billet and bivouac. He is, however, the one man among the twenty-six about whom it is impossible to find an adverse comment in the memoirs of the period. All write of Edouard Mortier with goodwill and to the end of his life he was welcome wherever he went. Even the English squires who, for the next twenty years were to sneer at everything French, voted Mortier 'a thorough-going gentleman'."

Marshal Adolphe-Édouard-Casimir-Joseph Mortier:
https://www.frenchempire.net/biograph...

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/...

Betsy wrote: "I know Macdonald had some successes, but I've seen references to his being a 'hard-luck' marshal. Since luck was important to Napoleon, perhaps that also played a part in their relationship?"

I have a copy of Macdonald's memoirs that I am yet to read as well:

Recollections Of Marshal Macdonald, Duke Of Tarentum by Etienne-Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre Macdonald

I've started my theme book; "The March of the Twenty-Six" by R.F. Delderfield. The first chapter just sets up who the future Marshals are and their background. I liked this story about Etienne Macdonald, although born in Sedan, he had Scottish ancestry:

"Macdonald was to fight many battles in the years ahead but he was never sent to fight against the British. Napoleon said, half-jokingly, that he would never trust a Macdonald within sound of the bagpipes."

Marshal Etienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre Macdonald:
https://sonofskye.wordpress.com/2014/...

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/...

https://www.frenchempire.net/biograph...

Sounds like a great idea converting your guest room into a library, a much better use of space :)

I also hope you enjoy Attteridge's book on Murat!

KOMET wrote: ""Napoleon's Marshals" by R.F. Delderfield

"

That's the one I'm leaning towards as well Komet.

Michał wrote: "Do excuse that I have them only in Polish, these are good Biographical books.

I will read more and more of it, its just I have renovation of my flat soon and have no time relay to read, or space ..."

I hope your flat is finished soon so you can relax and read a good book :)