MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES NAPOLEON'S GERMAN ALLIES 1 WESTFALIA AWD KLEVE-BERG - lst ra OTTO VON PIVKA RICK SCOLLINSNéepoleans erman Allies (1): Westfalia and Kleve-Berg Napoleons German Allies THE KING AND TH DOM OF WESTFALIA GRAND DUCHY OF KLE BERG The emergence of revolutionary France as an aggressive and capable military power at the end of the eighteenth century, caused the collapse of the Holy Re (a loose coalition of Gerr Austria’s defeat a 3 December 1800, created a power vacuum in the area now known as Germany, and Napoleon lost little time in transforming this neutralized zone intoa pro-French ‘cordon sanitaire’ between F and her traditional Prussi ce occupied defeated ad Hanover Austria and Russia at Ulm (17 October 1805) Austerlitz (2 December 1805). As a final step in the creation of the ‘cordon sanitaire’, Napoleon ned a Confederation of the Rhine (Der Rheinbund) which was eventually to include the following states Saxony, Westfa of Kleve-Bi nce; the kingdoms of Bavari and Wirttemberg; the duc Warsaw, Baden, Hessen-Darmstadt Oldenburg; and the principalities of Sach: Weimar, Sachsen-Coburg Saalfeld, Sachsei Gotha-Altenburg, sachsen-Hildburghau Sachsen-Mei Schi Reuss, gen, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, rzburg-Sondershausen, the fiv Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg- Strelitz, Waldeck, Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt- Dessau, Anhalt-Kéthen, —_ Hohenzollern- Hechingen, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Lippe- Deunold, Schaumburg-Lippe, Isenburg, Houses of Lichtenstein, Wiirzburg; and the city states of Frankfurt and Erfurt. Confusing as this list may appe: simplified the situation which had e 1800, when there had been an even gr number of tiny, independent states within Germany Grand Duchy of Kleve-Berg Napoleon decreed the formation of the Grand Duchy of Berg on 14 November 1808. This was a gement of territory subsequent to the dona tion of Hanover to Prussia by France on 15 December 1805. In exchange, Prussia gave up Kleve and the fortress of Wesel. Furthermore, Bavaria released Ansbach and the Herzogtum Berg to Napoleon, who rewarded the Bavarian Prince Elector with Austrian lands and the title of King. Napoleon united Kleve and Berg, nominated Diisseidorf to be the capital, and gave the throne Grand Duchy of Berg: flag dé and white, with gold embroideryARRETE DU PREFET. Decree concerning the number of conscripts to be raised in the Rhineland when the area was under French control to his brother-in-law, Joachim Murat, later King of Naples. After the Peace of Tilsit the grand duchy received the duchies of Mark and Dort- mund from Prussia. The deerce of 14 November 1808 reads thus: APUME IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS IN BURGOS, 14 NOVEMBER 1808 Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Pro lector of the Rheinbund, Grand-Duke of Kleve and Berg, et On the submission of our minister of the Grand Duchy of Berg and the State senate, we have decided as follows : First Article The Grand Duchy of Berg will be divided into four departments. 1 The Department of the Rhine It will consist of the old Duchy of Berg with the exception of Windeck and part of Blankenberg; of 4 the lands vacated by the Duke of Nassau Vilich Wolkenburg; Deutz; of the Baronies of Broich, Styrum and Hardenberg of the Herrlichkeiten; Elten; Essen; and Werden; and of those parts of the Duchy of Kleve which lie on the right bank of the Rhine with the exception of the French-ruled town of Wesel and the area belonging to it, and the Districts of Huissen, Sevenaer and Malburgen which will go to Holland. Population: 322,284 souls Capital: Diisseldorf It will be divided into four districts: Diisseldort, Elberfeld, Miilheim, Essen. 2 The Department of the Sieg It consists of Windeck and part of Blankenberg; of the Baroni ff Homburg, Gimborn-Neustadt and Wildenburg; of the Principalities of Siegen and Dillenburg, in the latter case with the exception of Burbach which will go to Nassau; of the barony of Beilstein and the Principality of Hadamar; of those parts of the Herrschaften of Schadeck and Runkel which lie on the right bank of the Lahn and of the Herrschaft of Westerburg. Population: 133,070 souls Capital: Dillenburg It will be divided into two districts Dillenburg. 3, The Department of the Ruhr It consists of the Counties of Mark, Dortmund and Limburg, part of the Principality of Minster: the Herrschaft Rheda and of the town of Lippstadt and its area. Population: 212,602 souls Capital: Dortmund Itwill be divided into three districts: Dortmund, Hagen, Hamm. 4 The Department of the Ems It consists of the greater part of the Principality of Miinster; of the Counties of Horstmar and Rheina-Wolbeck; of the Counties of Steinfurt and Bentheim; and of the Counties of Lingen and Tecklenburg. Population: 210,201 souls Capital: Munster It will be divided into three distri Goesfeld, Lingen. is: Miinster,Anticle 2 The cantons and parishes of which the districts will consist, and the borders of the Departments, are drawn on the attached map. ticle 3 Our ministers in the Grand Duchy of Berg are charged with the execution of this decree. Signed: Napoleon By this time the grand duchy had a new ruler, Napoleon himself. Murat had left Berg under a decree of 15 July 1808 to become King of Naples. A decree of 3 March 1809 gave Berg to the young nephew of the Emperor, Louis, the eldest son of the King of Holland. Napoleon became Regent until the boy should become of age. By a Senate decree of 13 December 1810, the grand duchy lost the north-east part of the Principality of Miinste and all parts of the Department of the Ems. The lost provinces became French Departments. In 1811, however, it was increased again by the addition of the Duchy of Recklingha nd part of the Amt of Diilmen. Berg remained so until its dissolution in 1813. Kingdom of Westfalia The process of formation of the kingdom of West- falia was somewhat simpler. This state bort the Peace of Tilsit, and was a gift by Napoleon to Jerome, his favourite brother. An imperial dec of 15 November 1807 from Fontainebleau a nounced the constitution of the new state. King Jerome decreed the formation of the Departments of this kingdom in a decree from Kassel, its capital, on 24 December 1807: In the palace of Kassel 24 December 1807 We Hieronymus Napoleon, ete order that the Kingdom of Wesifatia shall be divided into eight Departments : 1 The Department of the Elbe It will consist of the greatest part of the Duchy of Magdeburg: of the Duchy of Barby; of the Aemtern of Gommersch, which has come from Saxony; of the Alt Mark; of the Brunswick Amt Calvorde and the Amt Weserlin; Flag of the 5th Westfalian Line Infantry being paraded in ‘Hamburg in og: a print. (C. Subr) Population: 253.210 people Capital: Magdeburg It will be divided into four districts: Magde- burg, Neupaldensleben, Stendal, Salawedel. 2 The Department of Fulda It will consist of a part of Nieder-Hessen; the state [Land] of Paderborn; of the areas of Gorvey: of the Amt Reckenburg; of the County of Rietberg Kaunitz; and the Amt of Munden. Population: 239,502 people Capital: Kassel It will be divided into three districts: Kassel, Haxter, Paderborn. icipality of Richsfeld; of unty of Hohenstein; of part of the Princi- pality of Grubenhagen ; of the area of Walkenried ; of part of the Land of Blankenburg; of part of 5‘Trooper of rst Westfalian Kiirassiers in the first uniform of that regiment: a contemporary plate. (C, Suhr) Hesse; and of the towns of Muhthausen and Nordhausen. Population 210,989 people ciligenstadt It will be divided into four districts: Heiligen- stadt, Duderstadt, Osterode, Nordhausen. 4 The Department of the Leine It will consist of the area of Gattingen, of part of the Principality of Grubenhagen and of parts of the Lander of Hildesheim, Braunschweig and Hesse. Population: 145,537 people Capital: Gottingen It will be divided into two districts, Gottingen inbeck and 5 Department of the Ocker It consists of almost all of the Principality of Wolfenbiittel; almost all of the Principality of 6 Hildesheim; the town and area of Goslar; some of the villages of the Land of Magdeburg; and Halberstadt. Population: 267,878 people It will be divided into four districts: Braunsch- weig, Helmstadt, Hildesheim, Goslar. 6 The Department of the Saale It will consist of the Principality of Blankenburg; of the County of Wernigerode; of the town of Quedlingburg with its area; of the § r those parts of Mansfeld which belonged to Prussia and of some villages of the Duchy and to Saxony of Magdeburg. Population: 206, Capital: Halberstadt It will be divided into three districts stadt, Blankenburg, Halle. people Halber- 7 The Department of the Werra It will consist of the whole of Ober-Hessen; of the County of Ziegenhain; of the Principality of Hersfeld; of the greater part of Nieder-Hessen and of the Herrschaft of Schmalkalden, Population: 254,000 : Marburg It will be divided into three distrie! Hersfeld, Eschwege. : Marburg, 8 The Department of the Weser It will consist of the Principality of Minden; the County of Ravensburg; of the Bistham Osnabriick of the Hessian parts of Schaumburg: and of the Amt of Thedinghausen. Population: 334,963 people Gapital: Osnabriick Itwill be divided into four districts: Osnabriick, Minden, Bielefeld, Rinteln. Signed: Hicronymus Napoleon 1 Westfalia were ruled completely accord: ‘rench laws. Each district was divided into h were further divided into ing to cantonments_ wh municipalities. A prefect ruled the Department t. Cantons were and a sub-prefect each distr headed by the canton-master and municipalities:by community leaders. It must be admitted that this reorganization swept away many evils in the old system, An edict of 31 March 1809 abolished the old distinctions between the nobility and the peasantry and petty bourgeoisie. On 12 November 1809 the Code Napoleon was introduced into the territories, bringing all citizens to equality before The French laws also repealed unfair the law, penaltics against such religious minorities as the Jews. There were also disadvantages, however: free speech was suppressed, newspapers were censored, political articles were limited to those which appeared in the Paris Press and particularly the Moniteur. This was not all, War contributions and taxes were wrung from the people; billeting and supply of troops followed close on; and a state monopoly was declared on the sale of tobacco and salt Cformation of the Army of Berg Prior to 1806, the Duchy of Berg had belonged to Bavaria, and Bavarian rulers lie buried in logne’s famous cathedral. When Napoleon amalgamated Berg with Klev Minster and Nassau, certain army units also came to the new state from these vanished terri tories. They included the 12th Bavarian Li Infantry Regiment ‘Kinkel’, a battalion of the Nassau-Oranien infantry, and a detachment of Nassau-Oranien Hussars. On 24 April 1806 the rst Bergisch Infantry Regiment of four battalions was raised in Diissel- dorf, Each battalion had eight companies each of 100 men. Many French soldiers were also drafted into this new regiment in order to ensure a degree of reliability. The French conscription system was introduced into Berg in October 1806, and on ag August 1808 the single regiment was re- organized into two (the 1st and and Regiments), cach of three battalions containing six companies of 120 men. There was also a common depot battalion of four companies for recruit taining. and parts of In October 1808 the grd Regiment, also of three battalions, was raised. This infantry organization was maintained until 9 August 1811 when the 4th Regiment was raised from the three existing regiments, Now each regiment consisted of two battalions each containing eight companies (one grenadier, one voltigeur and six fiisilier) of 120 men. Each regiment had in addition its own Depot-Kompagnie. ‘The cavalry of the duchy consisted initially of one regiment of light horse (chevau-légers) but on 1 April 1812 a second regiment was raised by transferring fifty troopers from the 1st Regiment and conscripting the rest. ‘There was also a battalion of artillery consisting of one company of horse artillery, one of foot artillery, one company of sappers, miners and pontonicrs and one company of train. Gendarmerie units on the French model were raised throughout the duchy and cach city and town was required to provide its contingent of garde national. Following the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, Berg’s troops were reduced to one weak infantry regiment of about 200 men, one cavalry regiment of one squadron, and two artillerymen. Berg fell under Prussian rule in 1813, and in May 1815 the infantry and cavalry were reconstituted, Of the two infantry regiments re-raised after 1812, the ist Infantry Regiment of Berg became the 28th Prussian Line Infantry Regiment, and the and Regiment became the 2gth. The cavalry regiment became the 2nd Westfalian Hussars, Regiment No, 11. These numbers were retained until after the First World War. Origins of the Westfalian Army Of the old states which went to make up the infant kingdom of Westfalia in 1807 (Hanover, Braunschweig and Hessen-Kassel), only the latter had any troops to pass on to the new state. These were the men recruited by Marshal Mortier in October 1806 from the disbanded Hessian Army, 7to form the ‘Franco-Hessian Infantry Corps’. In 1807 the two weak regiments of this formation were reorganized to form the ist and and West- falian Line Infantry Regiments. When Jerome entered his new kingdom in December 1807 he was escorted by a detachment of Polish lancers, ‘These men were transferred to Westfalian service and formed the basis of the 1st Squadron of the Chevau-légers of the Guard and of the Garde du Corps. The 1st Light Battalion’s «: some hundreds of non-Prussians who had served in the Prussian Army and had been captured by the French in 1806. Napoleon had had them collected together at Kiistrin and sent to Westfalia to help the rapid build-up of the Westfalian Army ‘This unit, consisting of a very mixed bag of men, was most unpopular in its garrison town of Kassel. Its misconduct reached such a level that it was t town which even today serves as a garrison for dre was formed of nsferred to Paderborn as a punishment — a ‘man and British soldie Westfalian general 8 a contemporary plate. (C. Suhr) ‘The remainder of the units of the Westfalian Army ~ with the exception of the Hu: Guard, who were of French origin and reinforced by drafts of conscripts. The French system of conscription was only one ofa number of French features adopted: Westfalian_ soldiers wore French rank badges, answered to French titles, and were taught French drill and military discipline by French instructors. sars of the were raised Chiiforms of the Wistfalian Army GENERALS As for the F lace and button lette; white breect with gold edging, loop and button and white feather trim, sword with gold hilt on white slings nch Army’; dark blue coats with gold gold sash, epaulettes and aigui- high black boots, bicorns THe GUARD Garde du Gorps. Gala uniform: white tunic, royal blue collar, lapels and cuffs all edged in red and, bearing gold lace decoration; stecl helmet with brass trim and combe, blac! nd white plume on left-hand side, ‘JN’ on front plate white breeches, high jacked boots, white gauntlets, gold buttons and gold fringeless epaulette Service dress: same helmet (off duty a royal blue forage-cap with red piping and yellow grenade and lace could be worn); short-tailed, ‘oyal blue coat, red collar, turnbacks, eufls and crest piping, gold lace to collar, cuffs and button- holes, gold shoulder-strap on the right shoulde royal blue waistcoat and trousers, jacked boots. ‘Trumpeters wore reversed colours and red plumes, Black bandolier and waist-belt with gold fittings and edging The Grenadier-Garde. Sec colour plates. dress: black bearskins with red cords and plume and red top patch bearing a yellow grenad white coat with long, red-lined skirts and red collar, lapels, cuffs and piping, yellow lace to collar, lapels and cuffs, yellow buttons; white trousers and white gaiters (black for winter and Parade campaign wear), red epaulettesField dress: shako with dark blue within white Westfalian cockade, red pompon, brass ch scales and lozenge plate; single-breasted white coat with short red tails, red collar, cuffs and piping, red epaulettes. Off duty a plain bie and cockade were worn, Equipment was white crossbelts, black pouch with brass diamond plate and four grenades. French-pattern sabre with brass hilt and red knot. Officers wore a silver gorget with gold cagle badge and gold epaulette gold cords and white plumes to their bearskins. Drummers had red coats with white collars, cufls, lapels and turnbacks, white swallow’s nests edged in yellow and yellow lace edging to collar, cuffs and lapels; brass drum, white cords, dark blue hoops The Figer-Garde, Shako with white eagle plate and cords, white plume, usual cockade (green forage-cap with yellow edging and horn badge) ; dark green coat with lemon-yellow collar, cufls, turnbacks and edging to dark green lapels; white buttons, white lace on collar, cuffs, lapels and turnbacks, Green epaulettes, green breeches with white Hungarian thigh knots and white side- stripes, black short gaiters with white top t and tassels. White belts, black pouch with white bugle badge, sabre with green knot. The Chevauelégers-Garde. See colour plates. Black leather helmet with black crest and brass trim, red plume; short-tailed green jacket with red collar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping, yellow buttons, cuffs and across the chest, Green waistcoat and trouse n thigh knots and side trim, hussar boots with yellow trim and tassel. Trumpeters wore red coats, green collars and cuffs, red turnbacks with green piping, yellow lace on collars, cuffs and chest, hussar busbies with red cords, white plume and bag with yellow tassel; other items as for the troopers The Fisilier-Garde, See colour plates. As for the line infantry (white with dark blue facings) but white buttons and white lace decoration to collar, lapels and cuffs. The Husaren-Garde (“The Lobsters’). See colour plates. Red shakos, white plumes, yellow shield plates, red dolman with yellow lace and buttons, blue (some sources say red) pelisses; red breeches with yellow trim, yellow lace to collar, yellow scale epaulettes and aiguilette, yellow Hungar Kadtel plate of Westfalian National Guard, 1 The Faiger-Carabinier-Bataillon, Shako with cockad green plume with red tip, red cords, yellow eagle plate and chin-scales; dark green coat with red piping and turnbacks, dark green collar and culls, yellow buttons, dark green epaulettes with red half-moons, red lace decoration to collar and cuffs; dark green breeches with red Hungarian thigh knots and side-stripes, short black gaiters with red trim and tassel. Black crossbelts. red flask cord, brass-hilted Hirsch-fiinger in brown sheath, rifles, Artillery of the Guard, Shako with red cords, pom- pon and plume and yellow lozenge plate; royal blue jacket with seven red laces across the chest, red collar, cuffs, turnbacks and epaulettes; blue breeches with red Hungarian thigh knots and side seams; hussar boots with red trim and tassel, buff gauntlets and bandolier. THE LINE INFANTRY Shakos with red pompons, cords and plumes for grenadiers (those of the 1st Regiment wore bear- skins as for the Grenadier-Garde); green cords and pompons and green plumes with yellow tips for voltigeurs; white cords and company colour 9pompons for the fusiliers blue, and ~ white, 3rd — yellow, 4th — green), yellow lozenge plate bearing the eagle over the black regimental number. White coats with fac- ist Company — light ings shown on collar, cufls, lapels and turnbacks, yellow buttons. Initially the regiments were differentiated by the facing colours (1st and and — dark blue, grd and 4th ~ light blue, 5th and 6th yellow), but in 1810 all facings became dark blue and regimental distinction was limited to the number raised on the buttons. Grenadiers had red epaulettes, voltigeurs gr and fusiliers initially had white shoulder-straps edged in the facing colour, but in 1812 this (Alexander Sauerweid) 10 changed to dark blue epaulettes with white half- moons. Legwear was white breeches in knee-high black gaiters with black leather buttons. Equip- ment was white crossbelts, French sabre with knot according to company (grenadiers—red, voltigeurs — green, fusiliers — white) and rank (sergeants mixed with gold, sergeant-majors — all gold) Drummers had red swallow’s nests and their facings were edged in a coloured lace which varied according to regiment CHE LIGHT INFANTRY Their first uniforms were cornflower blue with green facings (soon changed to orange) and white buttons. This was soon changed to a dark green coat and trousers with light blue collar, pointed culls, turnbacks and piping, white buttons. Black belts, green breeches, black gaiters; shako with cockade, white eagle plate and green plume THE 18T KURASSIERS (1806-12) eel helmet of French Kirrassier pattern with black crest and brown fur turban; white tunic with crimson collar lapels, cufis and turnbacks, white piping and buttons, red epaulettes, white breeches; high jacked boots. White belts, heavy cavalry swords, no kiirasses until 1810 when French-pattern items were introduced. IST KURASSIER REGIMENT As above but dark blue coat. 1812-13) QND KURASSIER REGIMENT Helmet, breeches, boots, equipment and kiirass as for the 1st Regiment; dark blue coat w orange facings and white button IST CHEVAU-LEGERS RE Helmet as for the Chevau-légers-Garde, but with white fittings; dark green coat, orange collar, pointed cufls, piping and turnbacks, white but- tons; green breeches with orange Hungarian thigh knots (silver for officers) and side-stripes; black hussar boots with white trim and steel screw-in spurs. Officers wore silver and black bandoliersand silver edging to collar and cuffs and silver epaul- ettes, Trumpeters wore light blue coats with red facings and white lace; black for colbacks with green bag and white plume; and a light cavalry sabre. (A lance with white and blue pennant was introduced for a short time in 1811 and abandoned soon afterwards. GIMENT2ND CHEVAU-LEGERS REGIMENT. As for the rst Regiment but with buff facings IST HUSSARS Shako with cockade, white eagle plate and green plume, white chin-scales; green dolman pelisse and breeches with white buttons and lace and red collar and cuffs, black fur; red and white sash, black belts and. sabretache with Trumpeters wore reversed colours, Bra light cavalry sabre in steel sheath. red silver -hilted aND HUSSARS Asfor the rst Regiment but with light bluedolman, pelisse and breeches with red collar and cuffs and white shako plume and grey fur to pelisse; silver ‘2’ on black sabretache THE ARTIL Apart from the red collar this uniform was exactly as for the French artillery: shako with cockade, red pompon and cords and yellow plate; dark blue coat and trousers, dark blue lapels piped red, red collar, cuffs and turnbacks, yellow buttons; dark blue breeches with red Hungarian thigh knots; black gaiters, white belts. THE TRAIN Shako with cockade and white plate; grey coat with red collar, pointed cuffs and turnbacks, grey lapels piped red, white buttons; red waist- coats with white lace and buttons, Grey breeches, hussar boots. Officers had silver epaulettes and shako trim and silver bandoliers with red edging and silver plate beating crossed cannons. Light cavalry sabre in steel sheath, hussar boots with ‘ver trim. THE GENDARMERIE Once again, almost as for the French organization: bicorn with silver edging, cockade and red plume; dark blue coat with red collar, cuffs, lapels and tumbacks, white buttons and aiguilette; white breeches and high boots for mounted gendarmes, dark blue breeches and black gaiters for foot gendarmes, white belts, THE DEPARTMENTAL COMPANIE Bicorn with cockade; grey coat and trous infantry cut, grey collar and cuffs piped red; black gaiters, white buttons and belts. PIE NATIONAL-GARDE ‘The 1st Battalions of every town. Bicorn with cockade; long-skirted, dark blue coat with dark blue collar, cuffs and lapels all edged in red, red turnbacks. Blue trousers, white gaiters. Grenadiers ad red epaulettes; black leatherwor! . Voltigeurs wore green cpaulettes with red half-moons; buttons were white. The and Battalions had th same uniform but with white facings, mounted companies had red waistcoats with yellow buttons and lace Cflags and Standards of the Westfalian Army The infantry flags were of two patterns which differed only in that the inscriptions on the first were in French and on the second in German. The st flags were issued in 1808 and are known as *M1808" pattern. They were sq k blue with an upright white diamond in the centre. In cach corner was a golden laurel wreath. The central diamond was edged in gold laurel leaves and bore on the face side the inscription ‘Le, RoI / DE WESTPHALIE | AU —Bar.’ On the reverse was ‘VALEUR / Ev / DISCIPLINE’. Two years later the ‘M1810’ flags were issued; the design was the same but the inscriptions were now in German and in Gothic script. On the face side was ‘DER PHALIEN / AM REGIMENT"; was ‘TAPFERKEIT / UND / GUT —BAT", KONIG / VON WE the reverse came four versions, M1808, M1812, M1812 (Guards) and M1813, These were all square and Go centimetres along cach side. Mi8o8 standard was dark blue with a white diagonal cross, on the face side was the royal monogram ‘HN’ and the Westfalian eagle, and ‘on the reverse the Westfalian crest and mono- grams, The inscriptions were in French. ‘The M1812 standard was the same as the M1808 but with German inscriptions. The M1812 (Guards) was only issued to the Garde du Corps, was in the same colours as the M1808 model, and was embroidered and edged with gold fringes. On the iWgles and the central inserip- tion ‘DER KONIG / VON WESTPHALIEN / AN SEINE / LEIRGARDE ZU PFERDE’. On the reverse was the Westfalian crest with the monogram ‘HIN’ in the corners. The M1813 standards were ofa different vertically halved, dark blue (next to the erman face side were four e design pike) and white with ( Chiiforms of the Army of Bag Initially, the infantry continued to wear their Bavarian ely changing the light blue-within-white Bavarian cockade for the red- within-white one of Berg. ‘This uniform consisted of the very tall, black leather casque with black woollen crest, round brass front plate bea ‘JMK’ (Max Josef Kénig (von Bay flower-blue coat with black lape collar and turnbacks and piping to lapels and cufls; white buttons, white trousers and belts, black gaiters, shoes and pouches. The brass-hilted sabre had a black sheath with brass tip. Later in 1806 the uniform changed to a more scriptions. uniforms, me nd cuffs, red French-style pattern, The shako replaced the nd the Bavarian coat was discarded for the French spene buttoned back, in white, Light blue was the facing colour for all the four regiments and the dis- tinguishing feature was the style of cult. Buttons were yellow, belts white, packs brown calfskin, pouches black. The cockade remained red within white but shako plates seem to have varied. ‘Three types appear to have been used: two were oval, one bearing the lion of Berg, the other the the standard loze easque closed to the waist with lapels initial ‘J’, and the third wa cagle plate of the French Army Internal regimental organization seems to have been on the French pattern. Fusiliers wore trident- ended should blue straps in white, edged with light grenadiers had bearskins with red cords and plumes and a white cross on a red background on top. They wore red epaulettes and had red knots, whereas the fusilier sabre knot blue, Chasseurs had green pompo: cords, green epaulettes with a red moon, and a 12 abre light green sabre strap with a red tassel. Rank badges were also on the French model and worn on the lower arm and round the top of the shako. Officers wore white French spencers faced in light blue with gold epaulettes according to rank, silver gorgets bearing the golden arms of the grand duchy, gold porte-épée and gold trim on the shako according to rank for junior officers; majors and above wore bicorns with gold trim and tassels. To protect the expensive white uniforms officers wore grey-beige surtouts and breeches while on campaign. Drummers wore the distinguishing marks of their respective companies together with black coats with light blue collars, cuffs and turnbacks and a white lace with a red worm decoration to collar, cufis and sleeves. Drums were yellow metal. Pioncers wore grenadier bearskins with red plumes and cords, red-fringed epaulettes and long white leather aprons edged in black fringes and decorated by a_ blue-within-white-within-red Guard: a plate. (Alexander Sauerweid)edging. They wore full beards and carried heavy axes, brass-hilted sabres with red knots, and carbines slung over their right shoulders. Grena- diers and voltigeurs wore moustaches, fusiliers were clean-shaven. ARTILLERY French infantry shako with red pompon and cords, brass shield-shaped plate bearing an ‘N’. While Knotel shows the jacket to be almost of French artillery style (dark blue with red collar, shoulder- straps, cuffs and turnbacks, dark blue lapels and square cuff-flaps edged in red and with yellow buttons), a collection of pictures in the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal painted by a Peter Schulten (who lived in that town and saw the troops passing through) shows a very Prussian style coat (dark blue with black collar, cuffs, lapels, shoulder-straps and turnbacks all edged in red and with yellow buttons). For parades, the horse artillery wore red plumes, dark blue breeches with a red side-stripe and short hussar boots with straight-necked, screw-in steel spurs. On campaign they wore grey buttoned overalls with red side-stripes. They had white pouch bandoliers and carried brass-hilted sabres insteel sheaths on white belts worn under the coat. The foot artillery wore red plumes, white cross- belts, and brass-hilted sabres with red knots; dark blue breeches within knee-high black gaiters with wwelve brass buttons for parades, on cam- paign dark blue trousers with a red side-stripe over the gaiters. THE TRAIN French infantry shako with light blue pompon, red-within-white cockade, oval brass plate bear- ing a lion, brass chin-scales, no cords; grey coat with light blue collar, pointed cuffs, lapels and turnbacks, grey shoulder-straps piped light blue; black sabre bandolier, brass-hilted sabre in steel sheath, red knot. For parades grey breeches in short hussar-type boots with straight-necked, screw-in steel spurs; for campaign grey, buttoned overalls with light blue side-stripe worn over the boots. THE CHEVAU-LEGERS. This regiment’s uniform and designation under- went several changes during its short life. Initially it was termed the ‘Chevau-légers du Grand Due de Berg’ (1807-8) ; then ‘Chasseurs & Cheval du Grand Duché de Berg’ (1808-9); anciers du Grand Duché de Berg’ (1809-12); stand and Regiments Chevau-légers du Grand Duché de Berg’ (1812-13) In the first role, although not armed with lances, they wore traditional lancer costume white with pink facings edged in white, white buttons; pink-topped czapka with white cords and plume, red-within-white cockade, white front plate with yellow rays; pink breeches with double Jerome Napoleon, King of Westfalia white side-stripes, white belts and gauntlets, brass-hilted sabre in steel sheath, white sabre knot. ‘Trumpeters wore reversed colours and had brass trumpets on silver cords and there was also a kettle-drummer, a Moor, in Arabian costume. Officers wore silver waist-sashes and silver car- touche belts and had silver sabre knots. On campaign in Spain they wore grey single-breasted coats with pink collar, cuffS and turnbacks and grey buttoned overalls with a pink side-stripe. The czapka was covered in black oilcloth. 13Coat of a Fusilier private, 5th Westfalian Line Infantry, 1812; facings and epaulettes are dark blue. (Museum fiir Deutsche Geschichte) In the Chasseurs a Cheval role (1808-9) the uniform became dark green and the cut was no longer lancer-style. The collar, cuffs and turn- backs were pink, as was the piping to the dark en lapels and shoulder-straps. The élite com- pany wore black sealskin colbacks with red plume, pompon, bag and tassel, and red epaulettes. Other companies wore black shakos with red-within- white cockade, company coloured pompon (1st Company — light blue, and ~ white, 3rd — yellow, 4th — green) and diamond-shaped brass plate 14 ‘Trooper's helmet of che Westfalian GardeduCorps.(Museum fiir Deutsche Geschichte) / bearing an eagle. Breeches were dark green and worn within hussar boots with red top trim and tassel. Gauntlets were white. On 17 December 1809 the regiment was equipped with lances and retitled ‘Lanciers du Grand Duché de Berg’. They wore the same dark green uniforms but adopted pink shakos with the same cockade and plate as before, and a white plume, For their action in overthrowing the Heavy Cavalry Brigade of the King’s German Legion at Villadrigo on 23 October 1812 theywere awarded the privilege of wearing pink-over- white pennons on their lances. By 1812, as the ‘Chevau-légers Lanciers’, they were back in complete lancer costume in dark green with pink facings and white buttons and ink-topped czapkas. The élite company wore black fur colbacks and red epaulettes as before. Cflags and Standards of the Grand Duchy of Berg There is very little evidence of the appearance of flags and standards or details of their issue. Murat designed the first flags and standards according to the following scheme: a red ground, round white central field edged in gold oak leaves and bearing the arms of the grand duchy, in each corner of the flag or standard a gold laurel wreath containing the regimental number; in the centre of each side a golden thunderbolt. The pike tip was a gilt spear-point. The motto on the scroll over the ducal crest was: ‘Dieu, la Gloire, et les Dames’. It seems fairly certain that one standard of this design was presented to the regiment of Cheva legers and one flag to the 1st Infantry Regiment ‘Prince Joachim’ in Diisseldorf in 1807. ‘The standard seems to have gone to Naples with some ofthe men of the cavalry who accompanied Murat to his new throne in 1808. The 1st Chevau-légers did not receive another standard. The flag of the ist Infantry Regiment was taken with the regi- ment to Spain in 1808, deposited in Figueres for safe keeping when the regimental strength became too low, and fell into Spanish hands when that town was captured. When the grand duchy passed into Napoleon's personal (effective) control, according to verbal tradition new flags were issued to the infantry in Diisseldorf, but the exact date is unknown. These flags were white and bore in the centre the Napoleonic eagle holding a thunderbolt in its claws. In two opposite corners were crowned ‘N’s, in a third corner the number of the regiment, and in the fourth the number of the battalion. Below the eagle was the inscription: “BRIGADE D'INFANTERIE DU GRAND DUCHE DE BERG) and above the eagle was: ‘ET NOUS AUSSI, CESAR, conbUIs-NOUS A LA vicrorE”. None of these flags has survived and it is most likely that they were destroyed or lost at the battle at the Beresina crossing in 1812. ‘The 2nd Regiment of Chevau-légers Lanciers apparently received a green standard, 60 centi- metres high by 48 centimetres wide, bearing on the face side a silver grenade with gold flames between the gold initials ‘B’ and G’, and on the reverse a number (2?) within gold laurel wreaths. ‘This rather sketchy description is given by the Russian General Gekkel in his book describing the many trophies captured by the Russians in 1812 and laid up in the cathedral of Notre Dame de Kazan in Petrograd. The standard was lost at the Beresina crossing. No flags or standards were issued to the new units raised by Berg in 1813. Guampaigus of the Yistfalian Army SPAIN 1808-13 Napoleon demanded Westfalian troops to support his campaign in Spain, initially requiring a division. By summer 1808 only one infantry regiment and the st Chevau-légers were ready ‘The cavalry regiment marched off in September 1808 with a strength of 500 men, but the desertion rate was high and only 390 men were still present when it reached the Spanish frontier. By spring 1809, however, the 2nd Division of the Westfalian Army was ready, and was sent southwards. They reached Perpignan on the Spanish border on 2 May 1809. Divisional organization was as follows: Commander ~ Divisionsgeneral Graf Morio Chief of Staff — Major von Hessberg 1st Brigade (Commander Brigadegeneral Boerner) and Infantry Regiment (Oberst Legras ~ later Oberst von Bosse): two battalions. 15jth Infantry Regiment (Oberst von Bonneville — later von Lassberg) : two battalions and Brigade (Commander Oberst von Ochs) rd Infantry Regiment (Oberst Zincke) :two battalions ist Light Battalion (Bataillonschef von Meyern) tillery (Bataillonschef Heinemann) ‘Two companies In Perpignan a depot under command of Major von Lassberg was set up. The Spanish War soon developed into a guerrilla campaign which sucked the life-blood out of Napoleon’s occupying troops, and can be compared in effect to America’s involvement in South Vietnam. ‘The Westfalians entered Spain on 5 May 1809 and were sent to join the besieging forces at Gerona under General Gouvion St Cyr. Arriving at Gerona next day, the 2nd Brigade was im- mediately involved in combat with the Spanish defenders of the town. Asa result of their successful conduct in their baptism of fire, many men and officers were decorated and promoted, among them von Ochs (the brigade commander) who was promoted Brigadegeneral on 15 June 1809 On 8 July 1809 Gerona was stormed with 3,000 men of the fourteen élite companies of the West- falian infantry regiments, the grenadier company of the 1st Neapolitan Infantry Regiment, twelve companies of the infantry of Berg (3rd Regiment) Marshal Augereau 16 and Wiirzburg, and ten French élite companies). But the Spaniards beat off the attack and caused 1,770 casualties dead and wounded. Due to sick- ness among the Westfalian officers, von Ochs took command of the and Division on 24 November 1809. On 31 August 1809 the Spanish General Blake attacked General St Cyr about seven miles south of Gerona. St Cyr ordered General Verdier (commander of the besiegers of Gerona) to join him with the bulk of his men. Verdier left only the Westfalian division, an Italian division and the regiments of Berg and Wiirzburg to cover the fortress and marched off south with the rest of the force. Blake promptly slipped round St Cyr, attacked the weakened besiegers, burned their camp, killed their wounded, and entered Gerona with a supply train of 1,500 mules. At Verdier's return, Blake pulled offinto the mountains again. Sickness and lack of food decimated the foreign troops attempting to subjugate Spain even more than the action of the enemy, and it was quite usual for entire companies to die in that country leaving none to report the state of affairs back to their homelands. Gerona was stormed again (and in vain) on 19 September 1809 and cost the Westfalians and the Berg Infantry Regiment g officers and 124 men killed and wounded. ‘These losses included the commander of the 3rd Berg Infantry Regiment Oberst. Muff. Gerona finally surrendered on 10 December 1809 having been starved into submission. ‘The Westfalian division then numbered 1,500 of all ranks; but on 12 March 1810 they were joined by 650 reinforcements from Westfalia. General St Cyr was replaced in command of the French Army of Catalonia by Augereau in October 1809; by the spring of 1810 Augereau had bdued the province and marched to Barcelona The Westfalians, who remained to garrison Gerona, were subjected to ceaseless guerrilla attacks which reduced their strength so much that in May 1809 the 1st Battalions were made up to strength by men of the 2nd Battalions, and remained in Spain, while the cadres of the and Battalions of the regiments were sent back 1 Westfalia to recruit up to strength again. Augereau was replaced by Marshal Macdonald in May 1810, but the position in Spain continued‘Acontemporary English cartoon pokes fun at Napoleon's ‘newly baked?” Confederation of the Rhine to deteriorate, On 1 April 1811 the 1st Battalions of the Westfalian units were withdrawn home to reeruit, and there remained in Spain only one battalion of 500 men (composed of those men of all units who were still fit for duty) and an artillery detachment. These units did not return home until spring 1813. ‘The Westfalian Chevau-léger Regiment had never operated with the Westfalian division in Spain; initially it was attached to Victor's I Corps and later was transferred to Sebastiani’s IV Corps. It was involved in many skirmishes and battles and won great fame. The first commander of the regiment, Oberst von Hammerstein, returned to Westfalia on 16 July 1810 to be replaced by Oberst von Stein, In February 1813 the main part of the regiment returned to Westfalia, but one squadron remained in Spain under command of Eskadronschef von Plessen. This unit was (like all other German satellite units) declared unreliable by the French, disarmed, and interned as prisoners of war on 23 December 1813. THE 1809 CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN GERMANY Austria declared war on France on g April 1809 and placed the weight of her forces in southern Germany and Italy. Only secondary forces were deployed in the north, against Westfalia and, to combat this threat, King Jerome was given command of X Corps of the First German Army on 18 April. In addition to the Austrian threat to the cast, Jerome had also to keep an cye on the northern coast to guard against possible British landings, ‘The composition of X Corps was as follows: Commander, King Jerome Chief of Staff, the Westfalian General Rewbell 1st Westfalian Division of the Guard (Divisionsgeneral Graf Bernterode) ‘One squadron Garde du Corps of 14 by Brigadegeneral von Bongars One battalion Grenadier-Garde of 840 men com- manded by Oberst Langenschwarz One battalion Jtiger-Garde of 600 men commanded by Major Fiillgraf men commanded 7Bice «i peoreneranaes ke Eugéne Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy ~ the man who finally led the remnant of the Grand Armée back to Germany G Three squadrons Chevau-légers-Garde of 550 men commanded by Oberst Wolf? One battalion Jager-Carabinic manded by Prinz von Hesse Total 2,490 men znd Westfatian Division (Divisionsgeneral d’Albignac) ist Infantry Regiment of 1,680 men commanded by Oberst Vauthier (killed at Dodendor!) Regiment of 1,800 men commanded by Oberst Graf Wellingerode Gth Infantry Regiment of 1,700 men commanded by Major von Bosse ist Kitrassier Regiment of 260 men commanded by Oberst von Warthen Total 5.440 men of 360 men com- Philippsthal grd Dutch Division (Divisionsgeneral Gratien) th Dutch Infantry Regiment 7th Dutch Infantry Regiment 8th Dutch Infantry Regiment oth Dutch Infantry Regiment and Dutch Kitrassier Regiment Three companies of artillery ‘Total 5,300 men ‘Thus the grand total of X Corps was 10,263 men 18 Also coming to join Jerome from the West were, under command of Oberst Chabert: 3rd Regiment of Berg Infantry (1,000 men) Detachments of the 22nd, 27th, goth, 33rd and 65th French Line Infantry and 28th Light Infantry regiments and of the 6th, 7th and 8th Artillery Regiments ~ 3,000 men in all Phe Prussian fortresses of Stettin, Stralsund and Kiistrin were garrisoned with Rheinbund troops .g00 Mecklenburgers and 800 Oldenburgers But these troops could not be removed from the fortresses to support Jerome in his field operations, A detailed account of this campaign in North Germany appears in The Black Brunswickers (see Sources) so only details concerning the armies of Westfalia and Berg will be given here. On 4 May 1809 the Westfalian General von Uslar, with a force of 1,000 men (four companies of the 1st Westfalian Infantry Regiment, two companies of the 22nd French Infantry Regiment under Oberst Legat, and two guns) moved to Dodendorf to block von Schill’s advance. Duc to the bad state of readiness of the 5th and 6th Westfalian Infantry Regiments at this time (they were still in training) General yon Uslar was removed from command that day and replaced by Oberst Vauthier, Von Schill’s Freikorps with 400 hussars, 60 Reitende Jager (mounted rifles) and 50 infantry advanced on Dodendorf from Sulldort Vauthier left his defensive position behind the River Sulze, advanced to meet von Schill, and formed his men into three squares (two in front one in reserve) with his two guns in front of the front two squares. Von Schill’s cavalry charged, broke the squares at the first impact, and captured 200 men and both guns, Oberst Vauthier was badly wounded, captured, released by Schill, and died later in Magdeburg. The Westfalian Gendarmerie had great trouble rounding up their scattered soldiers after the battle, many of whom took the oppor- tunity to return to their homes. Legat’s grenadier company, which was in reserve behind Dodendorf, was also captured by von Schill’s men. The Dutch Division after the Austrians next day. But Jerome men, while the Westfalians remained at Domit. on the Elbe to regroup. On 18 June 1809 Jerome left Kassel with theGuards Division to march eastwards. His mission was to help King Friedrich August of Saxony whose city of Dresden had been occupied by General Am Ende’s Austrian forces on 11 June 1809. By 21 June Jerome was at Eisenach, and had the divisions of d’Albignac and Gratien join him; thus his total force was 12,900 men, increased the following day by 2,000 Saxons. On 24 June Jerome advanced from Sonders- hausen towards Querfurt, crossed the River Saale, and entered Merseburg. Meanwhile the Austrians had occupied Leipzig; Jerome sent the and West- falian Division against them and the Austr withdrew again. He then entered Leipzig on 26 June with three divisions, and sent the Dutch Division after the Austrians next day. But Jerome was outwitted by the rapid movements of the Austrians and their Black Brunswick allies, and was always at least one move behind in his dispositions. From 1 to 4 July he stayed in Dresden, celebrating his strategic successes while the enemy rampaged in the Niirnberg area Finally he moved out of the city comforts he loved so much (his nickname was ‘Konig Lustig’ (the Merry Monarch) and marched south to Chemnitz His aim was to join up in Hof with Junot’s corps, Josephine Beauharnais, Napoleon’s first wife coming north-east out of Franconia with over 10,000 men and pushing the Austrian General Kienmayer before him. Kienmayer broke contact, turned on Jerome, and overthrew him at Berneck and Gefraess on 8 July. On 11 July X Corps was checked again by the Austrians near Hof, Jerome fell back on Schleitz, where Kienmayer again pushed him aside on 13 July. By 17 July X Corps had with- drawn to Erfurt when news of the armistice between Austria and France (due to the Austrian defeat at Wagram 5 and 6 July 1809) reached Jerome. Full of relief, Jerome hurried back to his capital, Kassel, with his guard. The Dutch Division remained in Erfurt. The remaining Westfalian troops under General Rewbell went to Hanover in pursuit of the Black Brunswickers, who were fighting their way up towards Bremen to be shipped to England on British ships. General Rewbell, with the 1st Kiirassiers, 1st and 6th infantry regiments, the 3rd Bei infantry regiment, and ten guns, was to have be joined by the 5th Westfalian Infantry Regiment from Magdeburg, but this unit was destroyed at Halberstadt on 29 July by the Black Brunswicke 1,500 men of the sth were killed, wounded or captured (300 of these crossed over to the Black Brunswickers) and only about 100 escaped. Their flags were also captured, but what became of them is not known. Rewbell moved to Celle on 31 July 1809 to cut the Brunswickers off from the coast, and on 1 August a skirmish took place with them at Oelper (nowadays absorbed in the town complex of Brunswick). After initial success, Rewbell’s men were repulsed. The Kiirassiers suffered heavily from artillery fire, fell back under pursuit by the Brunswick hussars, rode over their own infantry, and nearly caused a disaster. Only the brave conduct of the Westfalian gunners prevented the enemy exploiting this advantage. ‘The chase up to Bremen was then resumed, with Rewbell making haste slowly in order to keep a safe distance between himself and his quarry. In this he succeeded so well that the Brunswickers were even able to sell their horses before embark- ing for England, at Brake on the Weser, on 8 August 1809. Suspecting that he might suffer Jerome’s rage for his failure in this campa Rewbell took ship for Ame isch ian91, 1S12 Res Much has been written about thisill-fated venture, one of the most dramatic and tragic military events of modern times, The Grande Armée of 1812 contained, as well as French troops, Rhein- bund Germans, Poles, Prussians, Austrians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, Neapolitans, Swiss and Croats, Over half the men involved were non-French. The Westfalian Army formed its own corps (VIII). The troops of Berg became part of IX orps. ‘The composition of VITT Corps was as follows Commander, King Jerome Executive Commander, Divisionsgeneral Vandamm French offic appointed by Napoleon Divisionsgeneral RD Division (Commander ‘Ochs 1st Brigade (Commander, initially Brigadegeneral Graf Wellingerode May 1812 3 Legras) Grenadier-Garde, 1 battalion (Oberst Legras Jager-Garde, 1 battalion (Major Picot Jager-Carabiniers, 1 battalion (Major Miildner| Battalion e von from adegeneral ist. Light Infantry (Bataillonsehel von Rauschenplatt sth Line Infantry Gissot) Regiment, 2 battalions (Oberst and Brigade (Commander, Brigadegeneral Danloup- Verdun ist. Line Plessmann 8th Line Infantry Regiment, 2 Bergeron) Infantry Regiment, 2 battalions (Oberst battalions (Oberst yth Line Infantry Regiment, 2 battalions (Oberst Rossi ayrn—pivistox (Commander, _ Divisionsgeneral Thareau 1st Brigade (Commander, Brigadegeneral Damas} Gth Line Infantry Regiment, 2 battalions (Oberst Ruelle and Line Infantry Regiment, 3 battalions (Oberst von Fallgraff 3rd Light Infantry Battalion (Oberst von Hessberg. ‘ond Brigade (Commander, Brigadegeneral von Zur- westen (from 2 July 1812 von Borstell) 3rd Line Infantry Regiment, 2 battalions (Oberst Bernard 20 David's portrait of the Emperor in 1810. He is wearing hi favourite uniform of a Colonel of the Guardath Line Infantry Regiment, 3 battalions (Oberst Lageon and Light Infantry Battalion Bodicker) Garde-Kavallerie-Brigade (Commander, Brigadegeneral Wolf) Garde du Lallemand) Chevau-léger-Garde, 4 squadrons (Oberst Miller) When the Garde du Corps returned to Kassel with King Jerome in August 1812, the Chevau-léger- Garde was attached to the Leichte-Kavalle Brigade.) Leichte-Kavallerie-Brigade (Commander, Brigadegencral von Hammerstein) ist Hussars, 4 squadrons (Oberst von Zandt) and Hussars, 4 squadrons (Oberst von Hessberg) Schwere-Kavallerie-Brigade (Commander, — Brigade- general von Lepel ist Kiirassiers, 4 squadrons (Oberst von Gila) and Kiirassiers, 4 squadrons (Oberst von Bastineller) Intllere (Commander, Divisionsgeneral Allix) st Reitende Batter arde st Reitende Batterie Two foot batteries Bataillonschef von Corps, 1 squadron (Eskadronschet der Four Train companies ‘Twelve regimental pieces (six-pounders) Six reserve guns A total of forty-eight cannons The entire contingent numbered as follows Men Horses Guns Infantry Cavalry Artillery 36 ral staff, gendarmerie, ete, = Totals 27.852 6061* 48 The horses of mounted officers; djutants, ete, are not shown ‘This organization soon changed, however. In Warsaw in June 1812 the Schwere- Kavallerie-Brigade was detached and became part of IV Cavalry Corps. The ist and 8th Line Infantry Regiments were detached and trans- ferred to X Corps and went into Danzig as garrison troops. The 4th Line Infantry Regiment was detached to become part of XI Corps of the ‘Duna Army’. These detachments reduced VIIT Corps to 22,392 men, 4,284 horses and 44 guns. On 4 March 1812 VIII Gorps marched off from Kassel; by 6 April they were at Glogau, and on 14 April at Rawitsch. There Jerome assumed command of the right wing of the Grande Armée, consisting of V Corps (Poniatowski and the Poles), VII Corps (the Saxons under General Reynier), VIIT Corps and IV Cavalry Corps (Latour- Mauborg). In all this force totalled 80,000 men. Napoleon’s strategy for 1812 was to make a rapid advance into Russia, catch the two Russian armies separated, and destroy them in detail before they could unite. This meant forced marches for the troops through very poor areas few (and bad) roads. The logistics vehicles ofthe Grande Armée failed to keep up with the for- ward troops, hundreds died of exhaustion, thirs starvation and suicide and the organization of the forward elements became completely weak and confused. As one Wiirttemberg officer wrote in his diary: ‘What will happen if we catch up with the enemy?” ‘There-was little danger of this, however. The two Russian armies withdrew eastwards in excellent order, leaving no stragglers or booty behind them, and they devastated the areas which they had to sacrifice to the invaders. Relationships between Jerome and Vandamme were very bad, Vandamme had the men’s welfare at heart and constantly interfered with Jerome’s plans in order to ensure that all units had sufficient food. Finally, in Grodno, Jerome's patience came to an end, and he dismissed ‘Vandamme. Both then appealed to the Emperor who, more out of family loyalty than good judge- ment, sent Vandamme back to France. General Thareau took over command of VIII Corps on 6 June for about four weeks until Marshal Junot arrived to replace him. On 13 July VIII Corps reached Nieswitz in a most exhausted condition and Jerome allowed his troops a few days’ well-earned rest. ‘To date only cavalry skirmishes had taken place with the Russians and these had all ended in defeats for the invaders. The two Russian armies were now able to unite and Napoleon’s hope of an early victory was dashed. Even though that wing of the Grande Armée under Marshal Davout had also failed to catch their allotted Russians, Napoleon poured 21