27e regiment of light infantry

The 27e regiment of light infantry (27e light) is a unit of the French Army .

Creation and various denominations

• 1796 (decree of the 18 nivôse year IV): creation de la' 27e half-brigade of infantry légère' from:
• 4 {{E}} half-brigade of light infantry.
• 15 {{E}} half-brigade of light infantry (first formation).
• 11th provisional half-brigade.
• 2nd battalion of the 52e half-brigade of Infantry of Line.
• 1st battalion of riflemen of the Alps.
• Pomegranates of the 1st battalion of Gravilliers.
• Legion of Allobroges

• 1st vendémiaire year XII (September 24th, 1803): regiment of light infantry becomes the 27e.

Badge

Battles in which it took part

* 1796: Tagliamento, Battle of Lodi, Rocca-d' Anfo

25 germinal year IV (7.6.1799)… The chief of brigade is colonel Jean-Baptiste Brunet.

• 1805 : Halm and Austerlitz

• 1806: Scheltz, Market, and Lubeck
• 1807: Mohrungen and Friedland
• 1808: Madrid, Durango, Valmaseda, Sandupe, and Espinosa
• 1809: Essling and Wagram
• 1809: Talavera-with-the-Reyna
• 1810: Medina-Sidona and Celerico
• 1811: Chiclana and Fuentes-with Oñoro
• 1813: Wurschen, Gieshubel, Dresden, Grieffenberg, Elsen, Dohna, Bautzen, and Dantzig
• 1813: Collar of Maya, Pampelune, Bidassoa, Spelleto, and Bayonne
• 1814: Lille and Courtrai

• 1828 : Forwarding of Morée

Chiefs of police

• 1800 : Joseph Marie Dessaix (**)

• 1804: Jean-Baptiste Charnotet
• 1807: Clement Jean Etienne Lacoste
• 1813: Pierre François Deschamps

(*) officer become brigadier general
thereafter (**) officer become major general thereafter

Revolution and First Empire

History of the 27e regiment of light infantry under the Revolution, the Consulate and the First Empire.

Revolution

1796

1800

The half-brigade is built-in the Armée with the Rhine (and the Moselle), with the 2nd body of the major general Moreau (temporarily Lecourbe), the 2nd division Richepanse. The brigade is ordered by the brigadier general Drouet. The half-brigade has three battalions.

It must go in Batavie (order of March 22nd). With the orders of the general Augereau then of the general Victor, the units settle in a camp between Maëstricht and Breda. September 19th the regiment leaves Rotterdam to enter to shift and to begin the third war against the house of Austria. Route: Gauda, Utrecht, Nimègue, Düsseldorf, Solingen, Eberjel, Mühleim, Köln, Bonn, Koblentz, Remagen, Andernach, Neuwied. November 6th the regiment is in Mainz, the 10 in Kassel, the 14 in Franfurt, Aschaffenburg from December 16th to 22nd. December 23rd the half-brigade is in Salsminsterburg (Fulde), then in Nedhof. The enemy ordered by Albini tackles on December 31st. The half-brigade puts the adversary in escape.

1801

The villages of Krönenburg and Offen are occupied. Then Rokemburg, Hesse-Hamburg, Fréderikdorf, Friedberg, Obvilistadt, Rökemberg from where the regiment leaves on April 8th for Mainz. Then Cassel, Nassau, Limburg, Montabaur, Coblentz, Neuwied, Düsseldorf, Linz, Sigburg, Eberfelt, Cleves, Delle, Kikerkues, then finally $the Hague.

Napoleon asks that the light half-brigades be made up of two or three battalions, of 5 companies, with to the maximum 72 men each one (either approximately 1100 men for three battalions).

From May 8th to October 30th the half-brigade remains in $the Hague.

In summer, it passes from 800 men to 1500 thanks to a contribution of volunteers of Branbaçonnais and conscripts of France. October 1st, it is with Berg-COp-Zoom, then Flessingue to join the island of Santo Domingo. But, the fact that 400 men are at the hospital with fevers and the opposition of the colonel, the departure is not done. The 27e is replaced by the 7 {{E}} of Line.

In November 1801, the 27e joined Breda and Wood-the-duke, where it remains until October 31st, 1802. The third battalion settles in Mordick, between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

1802

By decree of Thermidor 18 year X, the Tarn must provide 486 conscripts to the 27e half-brigade of light infantry. At the end of the year, it has 400 men on leave, 500 on the rows. She is thus carried to: 1500 hommes.
The conscripts do not pass more than eight days to the deposit. Spent the period of instruction, one pours them in the regiments, where they will mix with the soldiers aguerris to learn “on the heap”.

The general Claude-Victor Perrin order troops of Holland, in the place of the general Augereau.
The 27e half-brigade is in Breda (western of Tilburg).

1803

Bonaparte gives the order to Mortier “to take Hanover”. For that, it must

“join together with Nimègue, under the command of the brigadier general Frère, the two battalions of the 48 {{E}}, the two battalions of the 100 {{E}}, the two battalions of the 27e Légère, and the six squadrons of cavalry which are under his orders, with a division of eight pieces of artillery harnessed, with the cartridges and provisioning of war necessary for this column. ”

The battalion of deposit (3rd) of the 27e Légère remains in Breda, and does not take part in the intervention. The men suited of the 3rd battalion supplement 1st and 2nd.

The troops camp between Harlem and Nimègue.

May 23rd: the French are in Koerwen.

The 27e half-brigade is in Hanover. It is made of three battalions (of which the third of deposit and recruitment which is only of 100 men… always with Breda in Batavie). It is in the division of the Drouet general of the first army corps of the Mortier marshal. The chief of police is Colonel Brunet then colonel Chanotet.

The Drouet June 1st with the 27e, load Hanovriens with Börstel. They capitulate on June 3rd. June 5th the French enter the town of Hanover. The fortresses of Hameln and Nienburg are occupied. Hanovriens are withdrawn behind Elba.

At the end of June, Drouet division goes to the meeting of the army of Hanover to require its total capitulation of him, after the British refused the compromise of Napoleon. The prisoners hanovriens must be gathered in Ösnabrück.

Napoleon orders on July 9th, 1803 that the 3rd battalion of deposit of the 27e makes movement. He passes from Breda to Berg-COp-Zoom (southern of Rotterdam) then Zwot, Hardenberg, Meppen, Haselune, Kakemburg, Ösnabrück, before reaching Lüneburg.

August 1803 of Napoleon with Mortier:
“The conscripts of the reserve of years IX and X walk to force to reinforce your bodies. It leaves there nearly 400 for each one of your half-brigades, which will make you nearly 6000 men; arm them and equip them. ”

The mission of the army corps is, in addition to the occupation, to impose the blockade on the English goods. Napoleon also decides to control the mining richnesses of the solid mass of Harz (Hartz), they are the great richness of England. He gives for mission, in Héron de Villefosse, mining engineer, to manage these mines.

October 5th, 1803, the 27e Regiment of Light Infantry , with the orders of colonel Jean-Baptiste Chanotet, is really created to replace the 27e Half-Brigade. The new conscripts who arrive from the Tarn (second quota of this department), of Frank the County, of Piedmont, of Orleans and Paris, are in Bréda (Batavie). October 31st the captain Jerome Laugier (of the 3rd battalion) accompanies them by Hardenburg, Meppen, Diephale, Haselune, Kakembruck, Niembourg on Wesser.
They arrive at Lüneburg (southern of Hamburg) where are the staffs of the division of Drouet, the brigade of Desaix, and colonel Charnotet of the 27e. Are also two battalions of the regiment there. 2nd (captain Derbez Latour) and the 3ie battalion of deposit (Albertini captain). The first battalion is in Winsen, on Elba close to Hamburg (Delonge captain).

Many men of the 27e are detached with joined together transport of the army of Hanovre.
During an inspection of the general Berthier prince de Wagram, he is noticed on the report of inspection of the 27e regiment of Light Infantry, which should be carried out the orders relating to the accountancy and the attribution of gratifications. The troops of the 1st body (known as army of Hanover) are also in garrison in cities like: Sycke, Nordheim (principality of Göttingen), Sublingen, Diephaz. A fortified town, Hameln, only remain preserved after the departure of the troops of Hanover in June 1805. An important unit is installed in Ösnabrück, it with the guard of the troops hanovriennes. A hospital is in this city, like another in Hamburg.

1804. Occupation of Hanover

New structures of the infantry légère.
The decree of the 22 ventôse year XII (March 13rd, 1804) imposes Voltigeur S in the “light one”. The 1st company of the battalions is made up of Carabinier S, 3rd or 6th acrobats. The latter, of small size, can be moved in croup by the troops with horse. This explanation is the pretext to be incorporated reformed because of their small size (old limit 1,60m).

May 12th 1804 the number of regiment S was to be brought back to 15, of three battalions each one. They remain made of six companies: 1st police officers, 4 of Hunter S, 6th acrobats. Each regiment has a manpower of 1379 men, officers included/understood. In fact, certain battalions remain with 9 companies, and the 27e is often close to the 2000 men, even of the 3000 at the end of the Empire. The conscripts of Years XI and XII are department of Marengo (558 men).

The festivities for “the handing-over of the Eagles” of May in Lüneburg are imposing. The regiment receives 14 legions of honor to be distributed to the not-officers.

With the Senate in December 1804: Charnotet, colonel of the 27e of Light Infantry, requires and obtains the privilege to make wear bearskins for its police officers.

July 15th, 1804 the Mortier marshal (repudiated for a financial loan for the benefit of the French State, in Hanover) is replaced temporarily by the Dessolles general who orders the division of Ösnabrück. Then, by the Bernadotte marshal.

In August 1804, the 3rd battalion passes from Lüneburg to Lauenburg. The major is Ronzier. The leading seaman is Chamatier instructor of the new conscripts of the department the Marengo one. 1st and 2nd battalions remain respectively in Winsen and Lüneburg.

Worsen

1805

The Bernadotte March 20th is in Utrecht.

In 1805 the light infantry passes to 32 regiment s.
The great units become then bodies of armée.

In June 1805, the regiment, within the 1st army corps, leaves the town of Lüneburg and its surroundings, where it spent ten eight months, to settle in a ground in the east of the city. At the same time a quota is taken by Bernadotte on the light 27e, with the profit of “joined together transport of the army of Hanover”. This quota returns in May 1806 to the regiment. It thus does not take part in the campaigns of Austria and Saxony, nor in Austerlitz.

July 15th, 1805 the regiment takes its quarterings around Lüneburg. The third battalion occupies is of Elba, Molln and Lauenburg, then again the regiment regains Lüneburg. No certainty for the 1st battalion. August 15th the 1st army corps gathers and the regiment leaves Lüneburg again. After four days of walk the regiment arrives at Österode (mining city of Harz). The army corps is complete. Two days after it is in Göttingen. It takes the route: Münden (Hann-münden), Kassel, Butzbach, Friedberg, Rokemberg, passes close to Frankfürt and arrives at Hanau. Only the fortress of Hameln is preserved by the French forces; some isolated detachments help with the operation of the backs and the connections.

Two mails of Napoleon, with the Berthier marshal:
Camp of Boulogne, August 23rd, 1805.
that it makes come all the troops that it has in Osnabrück, where it is enough that it has 25 men of cavalry; that will form a body of 10.000 men, that it will make order by and a two brigadier general major general, and who, joined together in Göttingen, will go everywhere where it will be necessary; that it makes make in Göttingen 100.000 rations of cookie, but which it does not uncover yet this movement; that it gains four days, in manner that with the first mail which it will receive it can, in three days, to have all its joined together body with Göttingen. It will receive a mail in two days. ”

Camp of Boulogne, August 26th, 1805 (8 fructidor year XIII).
“My Cousin, prepare orders for the Marmont general and the marshal Bernadotte.
The Marmont general will start himself with all his strong body of 20.000 men, all his artillery material and the most provisioning of war than it will be able to carry. He will go to Mainz: it takes him fourteen days of walk. This order will be dispatched the 9, after me to have required the authorization of it at ten o'clock in the evening; it will arrive the 12; the Marmont general will leave the 14 and will have arrived at Mainz the 28. He will go at the same time, by three roads, so that all its body is joined together in Mainz before the 30 fructidor. He will make pour balances it in the cases of the leading seamen of his body until the 1st brumaire. You will also present the 9 to me, at ten o'clock in the evening the orders for the Bernadotte marshal. You will order to him to meet in Göttingen. The mail will not have arrived before the 14. The Bernadotte marshal will leave the 15; it takes him four days of walk to meet in Göttingen. Recommend to him to raise the most horses of crews and to provide to his army corps the most provisioning of war and artillery which it will be able. ”

Countryside of Bavaria (3rd coalition). September 1805, displacement of Hanover in Bavaria. Letter of September of Napoleon to the Bernadotte marshal, ordering the 1ier body of large the armée.
“Mister the Marshal, the Emperor orders to you to leave, with your army corps, to return to you in Würzburg, and to combine your walk so as to be arrived of 1st at the 2 there vendémiaire (September 23rd, 1805). ”
The enemy Austrian body is then between Frankfurt and Mainz. September 13rd division moves towards Würtzburg forsaking the Austrians. The French Army of Hanover and that of prince de Bavière form a manpower of more than 42.000 men.

Saint-Cloud, September 22nd, 1805: with the marshal Bernadotte.
“My Cousin, I received your letter of the 1ier vendémiaire (September 23rd), gone back to Windecken. According to my calculations, you were to be this day with Würzburg. ”
The 26 the regiment is in Anspach, the 28 in Weissenburg, the Dutch army joined the 1ier body with his 15.000 men. For its part Napoleon arrives, from Boulogne, with the other army corps (of the second to the seventh) by the north of the Black Forest, it moves towards Ulm.

The 27e regiment of light infantry passes close to Nuremberg (Nürnberg) about on September 25th, 1805. It is necessary to avoid this free and imperial city which has the statute of “reichstadt”, (town of Empire), old Burgraviat, for reasons of neutrality.

The regiment reaches Einstadt. It passes the Danube to Ingolstadt.

Two other divisions go towards Munich. October 10th the 1st body of Bernadotte is in Pfaffen-Hoffen, the avant-garde with Reicherhausen. (This army corps does not take part in the victory of the battle, known as of “Ulm”).

Correspondences of Napoleon:
The Bernadotte marshal arrived at Munich on October 12th, at 6 o'clock in the morning; he made 800 prisoners and put himself at the continuation of the enemy. Prince Ferdinand was in Munich. It appears that this prince had given up his army of It. With the Bernadotte marshal. Imperial camp of Augsburg, 30 vendémiaire year XIV (October 22nd, 1805). My Cousin, I learn that the enemies summoned Passau. I wrote to you, there is more than ten days, to make reinforce this station. Told the Deroy general to make there spin troops, and made all that is in your capacity so that the citadel of Passau does not escape to us. It would be unhappy that after having preserved it so a long time lose we it in one moment when it will be so useful for us. I will be probably the day after tomorrow in Munich. You will have known the result of the combat of Nuremberg, where prince Murat arrived in time to entirely demolish the Ferdinand archduke, who is escaped only with very little world; the 500 carriages which it took along were taken. October 21st, 1805, between Fürth and Nürnberg, taken of 16.000 men by the units of Murat. All the town of Nürnberg was pilot bravery of French. A great number of deserters and runaways of the remains of the Austrian army fill the province with Franconie, where they make many disorders. All the luggage of the enemy were taken (Napoleon).

The army corps of the Bernadotte marshal leaves Munich on October 26th. The light 27e does not seem to have been in Nürnberg, but it passed to 40 km. October 26th the 1st body occupies Sprenglbuch and Standheim. The avant-garde is formed by the light 27e, it arrives at Wasserburg. October 28th, the 2nd battalion and the police officers go up to the attack of a fort. A mistake, between them, facilitates the escape of the Austrian defenders.

Countryside of Austria of 1805: Three divisions enter without combat Salzburg. The regiment makes a few hundreds of prisoners. There remain six days close to this city. The Bernadotte marshal arrived on October 30th, at ten o'clock in the morning, Salzburg. The Voter had left there for several days. A body of 6.000 men had withdrawn the day before precipitately. Bernadotte is Master of Salzburg. Battles of Halm (November 1st) (a wounded officer). Fights processions of Gölling and Lüeg-Pass. Bulletin 16 of the Large army of January 2nd, 1805:

au moment of its arrival in Salzburg, the Bernadotte marshal had detached the Kellermann general with the head of his avant-garde to continue an enemy column which was withdrawn by the way of Carinthie. It had been safeguarded behind the fort of Lüeg-Pass in the procession of Gölling. Some strong that was its position, the police officers of the 27e regiment of light infantry attacked it with impetuosity. The Werler general made turn the fort, by the Campocasso captain, almost impracticable ways. 500 men, including 3 officers, were made prisoners. The enemy, strong column of 3.000 men, was scattered in the celebrities. One found there a so great quantity of weapons which one hopes to still collect many prisoners. The Kellermann general gives praises to the control of the major Dherbez-Latour. The Werlé general had his sifted dress of balles.

The 1st body will take successively Lünbach, Linz, Ybbs and Melk. The retirement of the Austro-Hungarians is general. They pass between the rivers Traum and Enns. November 13rd the French troops enter Vienna.

The 1st body of Bernadotte leaves Melk, skirts the Danube, arrives at Mautern. Bernadotte makes establish a bridge of boats and passes the river on November 13rd. The following day the troops are in Krems. The regiment arrives at St-Paulen, on November 12th. The 15, the 27e are in Hollanbrun. The 17, it arrives at Znaïm in Moravie then joined Budoy and Gross Meseritsch. The 28, it is in Iglau. The Napoleon November 20th installs his Brünn staff close to Austerlitz, vis-a-vis the Russian army. Bernadotte receives the order to continue the Russian forces, which move back.

The 22, it are in Zwittau. The 27, Bernadotte is in Iglau. It made there captive 350 dragons of the regiment “the Tower”, and of the cuirassiers of Höhenhole. Then, the division of Drouet (27e) goes to Deutschbrod. Bernadotte and its army corps bivouac, the 30, behind Brünn.

December 1st this army corps forms the center, with on its right wing Drouet division. The regiment passes the Jirzokowitz river in offensive and goes in the middle of the device (plate of Pratzen). It passes the bridge of Girzikowitz.

Austerlitz (2.12) (2 wounded officers, a killed officer).

Order of Napoleon:

M. the Bernadotte marshal, with his two divisions of infantry, will go, at seven o'clock in the morning, on the same position that occupies, the division of the Caffarelli general, except his left will be with height behind Santon, and there will remain in column by régiment.

The Russian cavalry attacks the 3rd battalion of the 27e by the face of the police officers and the left side. Then Russian returns with their infantry, in front of the bayonets of the light 27e. First failure of the Russian cavalry. The Russian infantry takes refuge in disorder in the village. Bernadotte detached division Drouet (colonel Gerard) to counter the Russian infantry. It is the first time that these two crack corpses meet. 30e bulletin of the Large army: The French spring, insert the Russian cavalry. A second load of cavalry ordered by prince Repnine is carried out. Colonel Morland is killed. In reinforcement the pomegranates arrive at horse of Ordener. The fray is impressive. The French cavalry manages to disperse and to drive back the knight-guards of Alexandre, making a famous prisoner, prince Repnine in person, that the general Rapp, the cranium surrounded by a bandage, will present itself to Napoleon. The 27e and all division Drouet (94e and 95e of line) collapse those of the Russian guard. The Russian cavalry will intervene but it will be taken out of clipper by Drouet division and the cavalry of Bessières. During this time, the three regiments of Drouet division drive back the Russian, private infantry of the protection of the cavalry, on Krenovice and Austerlitz. The 27e occupies Krenowitz then. The brigadier general House, orders with the first battalion 27e to continue the enemy. Eleven guns are seized, as well as hundreds of wounded prisoners. The body remains in reserve until the end of the battle.

The very good behavior of the 2nd Drouet division is announced, unit to which belongs the light 27e. The losses with Austerlitz, for the 27e, are of an officer, and seven warrant officers and men, killed or wounded mortally. According to another source, certainly nearer to the truth, 50 combatants, all confused ranks, were put out of combat. After Austerlitz, the 1st body of Bernadotte will occupy Bohemia. The regiment will be between High-Austria and Moravie, in the surroundings of Tabor, in Christmas. Then return in Austria to Neubourg, then in Linz on January 9th. The regiment passes to Iglau (Moravie-Bohemia) and mid-January is in Budweiss (Moldavie).

1806

Stay in Bavaria, then campaigns of Saxony and Prussia. The regiment always belongs to the second division of the 1st body of Bernadotte. It passes by again in Austria by Neubourg and Linz, enters to Bavaria with Passau and continuous on Straubing and Ratisbon.

February 16th it is in Ingolstadt on the Danube.

February 24th the Bernadotte marshal installs his headquarters in Ansbach (40 km of Nürnberg). There will remain 7 months there. Quarterings are taken in évêché of Eischätt to the 1ier March. March 2nd, division is in (Vach) Fürth, with one mile of Nürnberg.

At the beginning of May the regiment is in Schwabach. June 1st, the infirmary of the regiment is in Genpratain. The 1st division of the Dupont general of the Pond keeps the bridges on the Rhine between Köblentz and Krefeld.

Division takes Nürnberg at the end of July 1806. After several years of engagements the soldiers “blow”; they thought, as promised, of entering to France, but it of it is nothing. Many are those which desert “locally”.

The Laugier captain takes the command of the 6th company of the 2nd battalion. The Bernadotte September 19th is in Bayreuth and Cobourg. The regiment spends September to the north of Nürnberg (Hersbrück, Velden, Auerbach on Pegnitz). The Bernadotte September 20th is between Bamberg and Kronach, ready to emerge towards Saalburg. The 27e is always in the division of the Drouet general.

Mainz, September 29th, 1806. With the Berthier marshal.

Mon Cousin, my intention was to join together the 1st Large army corps in Nuremberg. However I checked over my minutes, and it is true that I wrote to you: in Bamberg. Consequently give order to the body of the Ney marshal to press his walk to be joined together on October 3rd in Nuremberg, instead of Anspach. Give order to all divisions of cavalry, which remained behind, to continue their walk to give their opinions since Würzburg until Lichtenfels.

Release of the offensive towards Saxony. October 1st the regiment is around Förcheim between Nürnberg and Bamberg. It settles in the north of Bamberg on the side of Cobourg. It forms there the avant-garde of the army vis-a-vis the threat of Prussia. Napoleon takes the initiative and starts the offensive towards north. Route: crossing of Frankenland (Franconie), Kronach, Labenstein, Saalburg, Würzburg, October 5th, 1806.

Au Bernadotte marshal.

I left your army corps only to two divisions, parce I wanted to give you the Bavarian army; but, according to the desire that you expressed me not to have this body under your orders more, I had which it differently, and I ordered that Dupont division, strong from 7.500 men present under the weapons, with eight parts of gun, passed under your command. This division will be the 6 in Bamberg. You will make known to him the position that it must occupy by confining it without delay close Lichtenfels and Kronach.

The 1st body includes/understands six regiment S of infantry, of which the light 27e, and four of cavalry. The Murat October 8th is vis-a-vis Saalburg. The 27e releases the city with some riders and a little artillery. Fights in Schleiz (October 9th) (a killed officer, many losses of the light 27e). The 1st body of the Bernadotte marshal is committed. Its 3rd division of infantry is ordered by the general Drouet d' Erlon (5 978 men). In cete division, the 1st brigade (generals House and Brother) is the light 27e, with the orders of colonel Chanotet (1st and 2nd committed battalions).

Right before fallen the night, four French companies of light infantry are attacked, in a vast plain, by a regiment of hussards Prussian. Consequently, the French are formed in squares, they push back the attack and kill, via fires of mousquetery, 200 Prussian riders. The Murat general was going to be made prisoner or killed, the first company of acrobats of the 27e releases it. (Bulletin of GA).

At the entry of the village the Captain Campocasso (hero of Italy and Lüeg-pass) is killed, 200 Prussians are made prisoners by the regiment. This first battle finishes with the advantage of the French. TheSaxon ones deplore the loss of 400 killed soldiers, 300 lost prisoners and three guns.

October 9th: Bernadotte removes the bridge of Saalburg vis-a-vis a thousand of Prussians. Bulletin of the G.A. After having crossed Saale with Saalburg, Bernadotte and the cavalry of Murat start the first combat of the countryside of 1806 against a small Prussian body of 6.000 men, body of Hohenhole, ordered by Tauenzien. This body is crushed in Schleiz by two brigades of Drouet division and thanks to the behavior of the brigade of the Maison general.

The regiment moves of Auma with Géra.

Hier October 11th 1806, while passing to Gera (close Iéna) in front of the 27e regiment of light infantry, the Emperor charged the colonel with testifying his satisfaction with this regiment on his good behavior. In all these engagements, we do not have to regret any officer of mark; highest in rank is the Campocasso captain, 27e of light, brave infantry and honest officer. We had only 40 killed and 60 wounded (bulletin of GA).

The 12 Bernadotte is established in Zeitz and Drouet with Minwish, with 3 miles from there, on the road of Naumburg. Iéna (October 14th 1806). Although sometimes quoted, the 27e, in the body of the Bernadotte marshal, was only in margin of the combat of Iéna, Auerstaed and Hassenhaussen, to the great displeasure of Napoleon which in made reproach with the marshal. He shows it to be himself held with the variation. The 1st body of Bernadotte is as flank-guard in the east of Iéna, (Crossen Route, Naumbourg). Combat of Market (October 17th 1806) (an officer and many killed soldiers).

Launched to the continuation of the Prussian army in rout, the troops of Bernadotte attack Halle which 20.000 Prussians defend. The strength of the offensive of Dupont division demoralizes the adversary which is folded up after having lost the quarter of its manpower. The body of prince de Würtemberg is beaten.

Tilly division comes in support of Drouet which must cross Saale to the bridge of Market. The 27e, within Drouet division, supported by Rivaud division, continues its offensive movement, beats the load and attacks the Prussians with the bayonet. The latter summon it to go. But the two other regiments (94e and 95e) charge in their turn. The two thousand Prussians go (regiment of Tergost). The Right Bank of Saale is open until Magdeburg. The executive officer of the second battalion is killed.

The large duke of Berg (Murat Marshal) arrived at Halberstadt 19. The 20, it flooded all the plain of Magdeburg by its cavalry. The enemy troops, the isolated detachments, the lost men, will be taken at the time when they will be presented to enter the place.

The Bernadotte October 20th occupies Ascherleben, Güsslen, Bernburg. On arrival of the French avant-gardes, whose light 27e, the Abbess of Quedlinburg requires a “safeguard” for the protection of the princely fields of Quedlinburg and Hoym, with the first general who arrives (letter in appendix) .

The regiment camps between Hanover and Brandenburg, in the area of Perleberg (130 km in the North-West of Berlin). The Drouet October 22nd is in Barby, the 25 in Brandenburg.

Note: The Napoleon October 27th enters Berlin. Magdeburg is besieged by the Ney marshal.

Route of the 1st body: Lake Havel, Kremmen, Oranienburg, Grandsee, Fürstenberg, Neu-Brandeburg, Waren, Alt Schwerin, Schewerin (fixing with the rear-guard of the Prussians of Blücher with Gadebuch.)

The regiment in plain, is formed in two squares with its two battalions. It blocks the Prussian dragons. The two companies of acrobats leave the squares to protect the Bernadotte marshal who was going to be taken. Bernadotte, having reproached the slowness of the troops of infantry a few front moments, having made amend.

Lübeck (November 6th) (3 killed officers, 12 wounded officers, of which the major of Bleach on grass-Latour as well as many men).

November 4th, the army corps gave an opinion with Grevismühlen; the prince of Laying-Corvo (Bernadotte) collapsed the rear-guard; but it could not start this body, because it had only 600 men of cavalry and that of the enemy was much stronger. The Watier general made in this business of very beautiful loads, supported by the generals Pacthod and Maison, with the 27e regiment of light infantry and 8th of line. The Drouet general, with the head of the 27e regiment of light infantry and the 94e and 95e regiments, approached the batteries with this coolness, this intrepidity, which belong to the French troops. The doors are inserted at once, the climbed bastions, the enemy put in escape, and the body of the prince of Laying-Corvo enters by the door of the Notched joint. (Bulletin of G.A).

The 27e pay a very heavy tribute. The regiment has 150 men out of combat of which two thirds will die. A captain of the police officers and two lieutenants are killed, and two other seriously wounded captains. The captain of 5th of the 2nd battalion is wounded in Lübeck.

The Swedish Prussians and the two regiments are made prisoners. The army corps settles between Lauenburg (Hanover) and Mecklemburg.

Two companies of the first battalion are in Zarenti, then go in Travenmüde in Schlewich- Holstein.

November 7th the division of Drouet is in Schwartau. The 27e which walk at the head meets the Prussian rear-guards with one half-league of Lübeck. Division made there 1.500 prisoners.

The 27e captures the general Blücher (who will be released later, and whose presence will be decisive in 1815 with Waterloo) and prince Guillaume of Brunswick. November 13rd, the second battalion is in Berlin. It goes on Frankfûrt-amndts-Oder.

Head office of Magdeburg (October 20th - November 11th, 1806): The Kleist general and the garrison of Magdeburg, strong of 25.000 men, are besieged starting from October 20th, 1806 by Soult, then by Ney which has only 18.000 soldiers. The garrison makes only one attempt at exit, on November 4th, and ends up capitulating to avoid a bombardment of the city.

Countryside of Poland. After Austria and Prussia, beaten, it remains in the coalition Russia and England with all their intact forces. This is why Napoleon walks on Poland, “to release it” from Russian. Those arrive with 60.000 men on Warsaw, and 40.000 follow at a few days. After Frankfürt-amndts-Oder the regiment moves on Posen (Poznan). The Emperor is present. The Lapigue captain orders the police officers of one of the battalions.

The regiment passes to Guesna, then in Thorn (Torun) on the Vistula, on December 6th. Christmas does with bread and water, even for the officers.

The Collet captain of Lille is present at the regiment. December 29th the regiment is in Mlawa.

The 1st body of Bernadotte takes the Russian station of Biezn on the river Ukra (Wkra), then goes in Ciechanow. Too much moved away, the regiment does not take part in the combat of Golymin and Pultusk in Poland (December 26th 1806). The army corps of Bernadotte is as flank-guard in the north of the device.

The regiment belongs to the 1st army corps of Bernadotte, the 3rd division of the Drouet general (helped of the generals Werlé and Frère). It is with the orders of the colonel Chardotet (two battalions)

Its manpower is of: 53 officers, 1264 warrant officers and troops. Detached are 130 (- they in Hoym would be?). In the various hospitals one counts 350 of them.

The third battalion is that of deposit (its exact position is not known).

Note: one in addition finds the 1st battalion of elite formed of the companies of elite of the 27e light, 94e and 95e of line, and the 2nd battalion formed with those of 8th, 45e, 54e of line. These two battalions constitute the 1st regiment (provisional) of the Ruffin Brigade, of the body of the Oudinot general.

1807

The January 11th the regiment leaves for Large Poland, towards the fortress of Graudenz (Grudziadz). The second battalion in avant-garde, close to Christburg (Dzierzgon), is attacked by a unit which makes an exit out of the citadel. The battalion makes 200 prisoners.

Combat of Mohrungen (the Vistula) (January 25th 1807) (3 wounded officers): Whereas the French Army took its winter quarters, Bennigsen decides to take the offensive.

Bennigsen is solved to pass to the offensive by attacking the body of the Bernadotte marshal, located at the north of the French device and after having demolishes it to engage in the backs of the French. However Bernadotte reacts promptly by taking the offensive to Mohrungen, on January 25th 1807, which makes it possible to release its army corps, vis-a-vis forces twice higher of number. The 27e, formed on line on order of Bernadotte, attacks the Russians on the heights of Mohrungen.

The small deposit of the regiment is in Thorn (town of Poland), the large deposit in Aachen.

May 6th, the regiment is with the catch of the island of Holm which is the bolt of Dantzig. The mission of taking the island is entrusted to Drouet division. May 24th division occupies Dantzig. The regiment passes to the orders of colonel Clément Jean Etienne Lacoste (March 30th).

Spanden (June 5th). (2 wounded officers, wounded Bernadotte, yields the 1st body to the Dupont general) “The men of the 27e receive the load of the Russians and push back them by a fire particularly striking down”

Combat of the river Passarge (two wounded officers). The order was given to the light 27e to be maintained until the last end, and to even perish, to maintain the passage of the head of bridge.

June 5th, the Russian army was put moving. Its divisions of right-hand side attacked the head of bridge of Spanden, that the Frère general defended with the 27e regiment of light infantry. Twelve regiment S Russian and Prussians made vain efforts; seven times they renewed them, and seven times they were pushed back by the 27e. However the prince of Laying-Corvo had joined together his army corps; but, before it could emerge, only one load of 17th of dragons, made immediately after the seventh attack given to the head of bridge, had forced the enemy to give up the battle field and to beat a retreat. Thus, during a whole day, two divisions attacked without success a regiment, which, with the truth, was cut off. (Bulletin 78 of GA of June 12th).

The regiment is divided into two units:

• the regiment itself, which keeps name 27e.
• the companies of elite (police officers and acrobats), which are availability of the division of the Oudinot general known as “the joined together pomegranates of the Oudinot general”.

These companies of elite are in particular units, namely: At January 10th, 1807. 1st Ruffin brigade, 1st regiment, 1st Trahier battalion:

• 1st company (police officers of the 27e).
• 2èmecompagnie (acrobats of the 27e).

With the 1ier June 1807. The first regiment of this division includes/understands with the 1st Ruffin brigade:

• the 1st battalion (major Launier) with in his 6th company, resulting from the light 27e: 3 officers, 73 police officers.
• the 2nd battalion (major To crush) lays out, in his 6th company, of the light 27e with 3 officers, 76 acrobats.

Friedland (June 14th) . Wedge of Kaliningrad, nowadays Pravdinsk (1 killed officer, 4 wounded officers, 10 wounded). The light 27e is with the brigade Frère, Villatte division. The 1st army corps passed from Bernadotte to Victor. Like only one man, the troops of the Victor general like those of divisions of Lahoussaye dragon and Latour Maubourg are thrown on the Russian center right. Russian moves back.

The battle of Friedland is finished. The Russian losses are enormous: probably 12.000 men and 80 guns. But Napoleon lost 8.000 soldiers.

July 12th 1807 (Napoleon with Königsberg.): The body of Mr. Bernadotte marshal, to the orders of the Victor general, will be directed in right-hand side line on Spandau, where it will hold garrison on the States of Prussia, with the right-hand side of Elba, and where it will be with Swedish range of Poméranie, i.e. of Prenzlow and Pasewalk.

November 11th 1807 (Napoleon with Fontainebleau): The fourth command will include/understand the countries located between Oder and Elba. The Victor marshal will have this command. There will be the 1st body and three divisions of large cavalry.

1808

Three correspondences of the emperor:

1. on January 12th 1808. The Kellermann marshal has 6.000 men who await military rewards; I would wish knowledge what is opposed so that one gets rid of these men (in their giving satisfaction). I see in the financial statements of the military governments which you carry of the detachments without saying to which body they belongs. I have dissolves, I believe, all the provisional regiments, so that I do not know by which reason these detachments are there. I see well why the battalion of 17th is there, it is for the garrison of Hameln (south-western of Hanover); it is a whole body; the 44e also; but I do not see why there are 258 men of the light 27e. Country of Hanau (suburb-is of Frankfurt) being in the command of the Kellermann marshal, it made there changes of troops which it draws from the reserve army.
2. on January 29th, 1808. The Minister for the war requests the Emperor to come to a conclusion about the offer of resignation made by the sior H… who gave up his station whereas the light 27e was under Heilsberg (Heilsberg is localized close to Iéna). Answer: to make stop and judge by a commission like coward (paid by Breton).
3. on February 22nd. … As for the 1st body, 8th and 32e of line, the 45e, 54e, 63e, 94e, 95e and 96e, the 9th and 27e light will keep all their world; but if the 24e has currently twenty-seven companies with the army, it gardere four battalions full and will return the executives of the three last companies of the 3rd current battalion to the deposit.

Saint-Cloud, March 24th, 1808. (With the Berthier marshal). My Cousin, give the order to the marshals Victor, Soult, Davout and Mortier to prepare, with the first order which they will receive, to make camp their bodies by divisions, and to make known to you the place where the camp of each division will be traced, by sending the sketch to you, so that with the reception of their projects I order the execution of it. One should not camp without my order; but it is probable that I will send it before May; while waiting, one must all prepare. Three divisions of the 1st body will camp in Prussia…

Note of the Emperor of May 20th: “The light 27e is with the 1st large army corps with 2243 men and 157 detached or patients is 2500”: FORGERY, (written Napoleon), that made 2400. (!)

The essence of the 27e is always in Poland, except the principal deposit and one 4th battalion created for the Body of Observation of the Coasts of the Ocean which is already in Spain.

Countryside of Spain of 1808 with 1813

The countryside of Spain, as from August, relates to only the first two battalions of the 27e.

August 5th: order with the first body (Victor marshal) to leave Germany to Spain, with forced march. The first two battalions leave Poland with the colonel and the emblems (Eagles). They are in Bayonne in September 1808.

Note: thus the 27e includes/understands three formations (I with III) except the deposits.

• a) In Spain :
• - (I): 1st and 2nd battalions ordered by colonel Lacoste, Rignoux brigade, Villatte division, of the 1ier army corps of made the Victor marshal in September 1808 coming from Poland. A new battalion of deposit (3rd) and created in the south-west of France.
• - (II): the 4th battalion (created starting from the executives and new conscript of the ex 3rd battalion of deposit) belongs to the 8th provisional regiment of the second brigade of the general François Bernard Dufour. This unit will be in Spain at the beginning of January 1808 (with the 7th provisional regiment and the Irish battalion). This 8th regiment will be in the 2nd division of the general Nicolas Gobert, of the Body of Observation of the Coasts of the Ocean of the Moncey marshal, (COCO) (See second part).
• b) in Germany
• - (III): police officers and acrobats of the 27e in the body of Oudinot.

The indicated battalions receive the order to join Mainz. They are transported until Köblenz by carriages of the train of the crews. De Köblenz they directly rejoingnent the south-west of France to foot, for lack of transport. September 26th the regiment passes to Bayonne.

First engagements in Spain: Battle of Durango (Biscay) (October 31st, 1808), 5 wounded officers, a killed officer.

Valmaseda (Biscay) (November 5th), a wounded officer, Sandupe (Guenès) in Biscay, (November 7th), a wounded officer.

Bulletins of the army of Espagne.

Dans the day of the 7, the reinforced enemy of new troops arrived of Saint-Ander (Santander), had crowned the heights of Guenès (Sandupe). The marshal duke of Dantzick walked to them and bored their center. The fifty-eighth and thirty-second were distinguished. If these events had occurred in plain, not an enemy did not have escaped, but the mountains of Saint-Ander and Bilbao are almost inaccessible. The duke of Dantzick continued all the day the enemy in the throats of Valmaseda. In these last businesses, the enemy lost as killed, wounded and captive men, more than three thousand five hundreds to four thousand men. The duke of Dantzick rents himself particularly of the major general Leval, of the major general Sébastiani, the Dutch general Chassey, colonel Lacoste, the twenty-seventh regiment of light infantry, colonel Bacon, the sixty-third of infantry of line, and of the colonels of the regiments of Bade and Nassau, to which S. Mr. granted rewards. The army is abundantly equipped with vivres; time is very-beautiful. Our columns go while combining their movements. It is believed that the district-general leaves this night Vitoria.

Second bulletin of the army of Spain. Burgos, on November 12th, 1808. The duke of Dantzick entered Valmaseda by continuing the enemy. In the day of the 8, the Sébastiani general discovered on a very high mountain, with the right-hand side of Valmaseda, the rear-guard of the insurrectionists; he went at once to them, collapsed them, and made a hundred prisoners.

November 4th, the Emperor is in Vitoria. The light 27e is always in Villatte division.

Letter of Prince Alexandre, general major, of November 6th, 1808, with the Victor Marshal ordering the 1ier body in Osma, following the combat of division Villatte (27e light).

J' put under the eyes of the Emperor, your letter of the 6, that your aide-de-camp said to have written to midday. His Majesty, Mister the Marshal, was very dissatisfied with what, instead of to have supported the Villatte general, you let it with the catches with the enemy, fault, all the more grav, E that you knew that the Lefebvre marshal had made that to leave exposed a division of your army corps by reployant his two other divisions on Bilbao. You knew, Mister the Marshal, that this division was exposed to Valmaseda, since the general the Heather had communicated with it the 5 in the morning. How, instead of you to carry in person, with the head of your troops, to help one of your divisions, you left this important operation to a brigadier general, which did not have your confidence and which had with him only the third of your forces? How, after you had the news that during the day of the 5 the division of the Villatte general was shot, you could, instead of walking to its help, supposing free that this general was victorious? Its Majesty requires since when the shooting and attacks are a proof of the retirement of the enemy. However, Mister the Duke, the instructions of Mister the Jourdan Marshal were precise, to carry you on Miranda only when you would be assured that the enemy was in retirement; instead of that, Mr. Marshal, you left when you had the unquestionable proof that the enemy fought (…) The first principle of the war wants that in the doubt of success one goes to the help of one of his attacked bodies, since from there can depend its safety. In the other assumption, your movement could not have disadvantage since your instruction, to carry you on Miranda, was only hypothetical and that thus its non-fulfilment could influence no project of the general-in-chief. Here what arrived, Mister the Marshal: the column in front of which the general the Heather bent found the general Villatte, which, tackled face and in tail, owed its safety only with its intrepidity and after having made a great carnage of the enemy; on its side, it lost a little, and was withdrawn on Bilbao, two miles in front of this city, the 5 with the soir.

November 8th the town of Burgos east taken again.

Espinosa of los monteros (November 10th), 3 wounded officers, the 6 guns of the enemy were taken by the light 27e. The major Vivian is wounded there.

Battle of Somosierra , on November 30th. Villatte division is in the center of the device and the combat.

Catch of Madrid (December 3rd), 5 officers wounded.

December 13rd, 1808. Third bulletin of the army of Espagne.

The army of Galicia, which is in escape of Bilbao, is continued by the marshal duke of Bellune, in the direction of Espinosa, by the marshal duke of Dantzick. In the direction of Villarcayo, it is the marshal duke of Dalmatie, which ensures the continuation by circumventing Reynosa. Significant events must take place. The Milhaud general, with his division of cavalry, entered in Palencia, and pushed detachments on the outlets of Reynosa, with the continuation of an artillery park of the army of Galice.

The army of Galicia, beaten with the combat of Durango, of Sandupe (Guénès), of Valmaseda, perished or was dispersed with the battle of Espinosa. This army was made up of the infantry of the old Spanish army which was in Portugal and in Galicia, and which left Oporto at the end of June, and also, of the militia of Galicia, Asturies and the Old woman-Castille. With the combat of Durango, of Guénès, Valmaseda, Espinosa, we lost only eighty killed men and three hundreds wounded, no man of mark. One broke thirty thousand rifles and one took some in store with Reynosa. (Work Napoleon Bonaparte, volume IV).

1809

New combat in Spain. The army corps of the Victor marshal is in Tolède. January 13rd it goes up on Ocaña to the meeting of the Anglo-Spanish ones. January 13rd with the Uclés, in the south-east of Madrid, the regiment fights (a wounded officer). Villatte division goes right on the enemy, in the rocks, with the bayonet.

Valladolid, January 15th, 1809. In Jerome Napoleon, king de Westphalie, in Cassel. My Brother, when you read this letter, I will have arrived at Paris. The Spanish armies are destroyed, the beaten English army. The movements of Austria are unexplainable. Make know the quantity of troops to me of which you can lay out. Your quota must be of 25.000 men; it is extremely important to supplement it. You feel that, if the war went on your territory or that a failure was tested, the consequences would be disastrous for your kingdom. I asked you for two regiments for my army of Spain, which would return two French disponibles.

from there to me

In February 1809 the army corps of the Victor marshal receives the order to descend Tage and to cross High Extrémadure of coordination with the Soult marshal. It must go towards Talavera of Reina, then to go towards Mérida on Guadiana. It must help the Soult marshal in his attempt at reconquest of Portugal, if not order is given to him to join Andalusia.

The light 27e always belongs to the division of the general Villatte, Rignoux brigade. It takes share with the combat of Amaranth, of the bridge of Almaras. Crossings are done in Talavera, Alzobispo and Almaraz from March 15th to 17th.

The 1st body of the Victor marshal beats the Spaniards with Messa d' Ibor. March 17th, Villatte division is pointed out while making fold the Spaniards who go up Ibor. The army corps turns over again on the edges of Guadiana and on March 20th arrives at Trujillo. March 28th the 27e light participle with the victory of Medellin.

The Victor marshal by prudence remains between Tage and Guadiana into High-Extrémadure, because the Spaniards, the Portuguese and the English reorganize.

Paris, April 10th, 1809. Napoleon with Joseph Napoleon, king d' Espagne, in Madrid.

My Brother, I receive your letter of April 2nd, with the news of the victory of the Victor marshal. (Medellin).

May 14th the French fight successfully in Alcantara against the English.

The light 27e (3 battalions) is in the brigade of the general Cassagne (Villatte division) with the 63e of line.

The united troops arrive towards Extrémadure. The army corps of the Victor marshal goes close to Talavera of Reina (in the west of Tolède) at the beginning of July 1809. The Victor July 22nd evacuates Talavera. Combat take place with Alcabon (July 26th) (north-eastern of Tolède) against the troops of the garrison of Villaviciosa which are defeats (the 27e riléger deplores the death of an officer and 7 wounded men). The 27e regiment tries the catch of a nipple with divisions Ruffin and Lapisse, the 4th body is present.

According to Vigo-Roussillon , walk towards Talavera was very painful; the army corps died of hunger; one missed bread which had to be cooked oneself; one progressed under the burning sun of the middle of day; several soldiers died of insolation and other diseases.

Villatte division (with the light 27e) intervenes by a ravine which it succeeds in taking again during the night. The English artillery, reinforced on the nipple, causes heavy losses in the French rows. The following day king Joseph Bonaparte decides to bring back the troops towards Madrid. The army corps is withdrawn on Cazalegas (on Albreche). The French Army protesting the victory lost nevertheless 10.000 men (the Spanish soldiers combined with English deserted in great number). The dry grass took fire and of many casualties perish thus. The French evacuate 6.000 wounded. At the same time the English troops are withdrawn on Portugal. The Spaniards, as for them, behaved as poor soldiers. The Wellesley general is made, after this battle, Viscount of Wellington.

After the battle, the Spanish general Cuesta, old man weak and pretentious, conceited and without talent but cruel, make decimate the regiments which fled the 27; 50 soldiers are shot. The English soldiers are nauseated by the behavior of their allies which treat the casualties with largest (...)

• Leval division is made of a Dutch regiment, one of Bade, one of Nassau, and battalions of Hesse Dortmunt, Prince Primat of Frankfurt and a battalion of Paris.

King Joseph asks that each regiment of the 1st body provide him 20 men for his guard.

August 11th, the combat of Almonacid, against the troops of the general Vénégas (who had survived his received wound with Uclés) give to the Victor marshal a great victory.

In November the avant-gardes of a new English army arrive by Andalusia. The first French body is sent on Aranjuez. The Victor marshal discusses Tage. He drives out the Spanish army and united in the plain of Ocaña. United withdraw themselves in Portugal (November 18th).

During this time Wellington prepares its exit of Portugal towards Castille and Galicia, with a new body anglo-hanovrien.

1810 . January 11th the French Army takes the road of Andalusia. It is made up of the 1ier and 5th bodies, of the marshals Victor and Mortier, as well as 4th of the Sebastiani general.

The Victor marshal is charged with the right wing. He moves on Almaden where he beats the Spanish troops which are opposed to its progression on January 27th, then leads to Cordoue.

January 28th the Victor marshal is installed in Carmona, on the road of Seville. February 3rd it takes Seville. Walk continues on the town of Cadiz, which was reinforced by the English, starting from their place of Gibraltar. The Victor marshal installs his three divisions and takes then the fort of Matagorda (April 23rd).

The head office of Cadiz lasts ten eight months, from February 5th, 1810 to August 24th, 1812. Many men of the light 27e leave the life there.

In 1810 Andalusia is practically occupied, except the island of León and the city of Cadiz (defended by 15.000 Spaniards and 7.000 Anglo-Portuguese). Some Spaniard and English unloadings take place on the coasts but those are pushed back. An exit of besieged on September 28th is a failure (pushed back by the troops of the Victor marshal).

The hunter Barthélémy Morand born in 1784 in the department the Marengo one is affected on March 1st, 1810 with the 13th company of gunners veterans, with Spezzia. The soldiers of Italian origin must join their country.

May 15th the troops of the Victor marshal take share with the release of some prisoners on bridge close to Cadiz. Some were taken in Baylen, the others in various provinces.

1811 . Part of the 1ier body of the Victor marshal is occupied for the blockade of Cadiz.

Medina-Sidonia (January 28th), in the east of Cadiz (1 killed officer, 1 wounded man).

From the mountainous area known as Serranía de Ronda, guerillas make incursions repeated on the littoral close to Sherry, raflent the cattle and steal the taxes intended for French, sometimes with the manifest complicity of the local authorities, as in Medina-Sidonia. Are detached, in particular, the provided bands of Andrès Ortiz de Zarate " El Pastor" and of Pedro Zaldivia, known as " Palmetín " (a former shepherd of chartreuse of Sherry which was among the first to take the maquis in 1810). The army hispano-British gets under way on February 28th to release Cadiz and Andalusia. March 5th it tries to remove defenses of Santi-$petri, but the acrobats of the 27e of the division of the Villate general collapse them, the allies lose 300 men. Large of the troops the united continuous one towards Chiclana where the general headquarter of the Victor marshal is. By prudence Victor asks Villate to leave a way of fold with united towards the island of León.

Battle of Chiclana-Barrosa , (March 5th, 1811): the battle of Barrosa (Chiclana) close to Cadiz. The French troops of the Victor marshal have a manpower of 10.700 French. The 3rd division (Villatte) includes/understands the 27e light, 94e and 95e of line.

When it reaches the hills of Barrosa, on March 5th, shortly after to raise it day, the Spanish general Peña is informed that Villatte division is held across the road of Cadiz. Without taking account of the tiredness of its men, after 14 hours of walk, Peña orders to the Lardizabal general to continue his walk ahead. Villatte pushes back the first attack before being withdrawn in the north of Almanza, when he is threatened, on its back, by a force leaving Cadiz and taken along by the Zayas general. About midday, Peña - unconscious of the threat that Leval and Ruffin represent - orders with its unit to join the principal army corps, leaving only, on the hill, a rear-guard of five Spanish battalions and a British battalion. The battle of Chiclana is very fatal, because one fights there on both sides with the sharpest eagerness: the French soldiers there make exploits and cover glory.

Battle order:

• French

  (Victor Marshal) - 10.700 Allied men (Sir Thomas Graham) - 8.217 men

• 1a division (Ruffin) - 9th light - 24e, 96e line - combined Pomegranates

Dilke Brigade - 1e, 2nd, 3rd Footguards - 95e

• the 2nd division (Leval) - 81e, 45e, 54e line - combined Pomegranates

Wheatley Brigade - 28e, 67e, 87e

• the 3rd division (Villatte) - 27e light - 94e, 95e Browne line - 9th, 28e, 82e

Cavalry - 1e and 2nd dragons. Bernard - 95e, 47e, 20th Portuguese

United escape towards the island of León losing 3.500 men, whereas the French deplore 2.500 of them.

The 27e light regiment will regret: 1 killed officer, 1 killed man and 6 wounded.

Vis-a-vis the difficulties in Napoleon manpower made “to valser” the battalions of the light 27e. A battalion (2nd) will pass to the 9th body then will be allocated to the 1ier body after Fuentes de Oñoro.

The 1ier will remain with the head office of Cadiz.

Countryside of Portugal:

One finds, a battalion of the light 27e, within a brigade with 9th and 16th light. This brigade is in the 2nd division of the general Conroux (5588 men), which is in the 9th army corps, of the general Drouet, count d' Erlon (former chief of police of the light 27e).

Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro (from May 3rd to 5th 1811) (a killed officer, two men wounded): after having evacuated Portugal, Masséna lays out its troops on the Spanish border in April 1811. The head office of Almeida by the English decides it to take again the offensive to release the city. May 3rd, 1811, its army runs up against Wellington, cut off from the heights from Fuentes de Oñoro. After some engagements without result, Masséna discovers the weak point of the enemy force, the sector of Pozo-Velho, in the south of the battle field, where the English are very few and do not have natural protection. In the morning of May 5th, 1811, the English are inserted, but lieutenants de Masséna feel reluctant to continue the attack. The two armies remain face to face without decisive result until May 10th, date on which the garrison of Almeida manages to join the French lines. The various losses with the combat of Fuentes de Oñoro rise with nearly 2.000 men on each side.

1812 . The Anglo-Portuguese ones take “the bolt of” Ciudad Rodrigo on January 8th, they lose 600 men there. They thus open the way of the Castille Old woman and Madrid.

The Victor marshal leaves the 1ier body for the countryside of Russia on February 9th, 1812.

Napoleon in difficulty in the north of Europe, withdraws from Spain his guard, the Poles, half of his dragons and some 4th battalions.

April 6th taken of Badajoz by the English who lose 5.000 men. The French evacuate the city with a loss of 1.350 men. Besieging, furious, ransack the city and remain uncontrolled until April 11th by the Wellington marshal. The Soult marshal is appointed as commander of the troops, but his average sound too weak to take Cadiz. The 27e regrets there of many losses. Following the threats which arrive, the French, in disorder, give up Madrid. King Joseph Bonaparte takes refuge in Valence. August 12th the English penetrate in Madrid.

The 1ier body raises the head office of Cadiz, giving up any hope to release the prisoners of bridge.

August 25th, the English continue the French who take the road of Seville, then of Cordoue. The Spanish general Ballesteros badgers the French while returning under protection with the English with Gilbraltar. The rear-guard of the 1ier body is then in Carmona (40 kilometers of Seville). The Conroux general protects displacements by holding the heights from Bornos. The general hustles Spanish to the Sierra of Jerez (1 500 Spanish out of combat against 400 French). Upset to be under the command of Wellington, the Spanish general Ballesteros trails the feet to continue his attacks on the French. He is relieved of his command.

The demolished of Arapiles (Salamanque), undergone by the French before July -22, affects also the positions of the French. The latter will have thus given up the head office of Cadiz, Andalusia, Asturies, León and the Castille News. The 1ier body makes movement on Grenade then on Baza (100km in the east of Grenade) and at the end of September reached Yecla (between Albacete and Alicante). Thereafter it goes to Almansa (70 km in the south-east of Albacete).

The French having gained some small successes, as to the head office of Burgos and thanks to the Decaen general, over the Spaniards in Catalonia, king Joseph return on November 3rd in the capital.

The Cafarelli general raises the blockade of Santoña in Cantabrie.

Marmont is withdrawn from Tage for Duro, with mission of defending the north of the peninsula.

In October and November the three armies gather. Soult returns on Tage, Joseph on Madrid, the Anglo-Portuguese ones are driven out until Ciudad Rodrigo. The three French Armies are then in Alba de Tormes (Salamanca).

The situation of the 27e regiment in summer 1812 is the following one:

• - the essence of the regiment, composed of the 1ier (623h), 2nd (593h) and 3rd (586h) battalions, is with the 3rd division of the army of midday in Spain.
• - in Madrid, in Spain, army of the center (134h).
• - in Bayonne a small deposit of 2 men.
• - in Poland, 4th battalion with the 31e division of the 11th army corps (830h) and a joining detachment of 98 men.
• Spain the 5th battalion with 2 companies (195 men) with the 3rd government of Pampelune.
• - in Bruges 2 companies of deposit (218 men).

The total rises with 3288 men, officers included/understood.

1813 . The regiment is with the orders of Colonel Pierre François Deschamps (casualty in 1813). The 27e is in the Army of the south, general Gazan, the 3rd Villatte division, Rignoux brigade with the 63e of line.

Battle of Vitoria (June 21st, 1813): Making retirement in a great disorder, encumbered thousands of civilians and carriages charged with the fruits of their plunderings, the French must face, in Vitoria, on June 21st, 1813, with their prosecutors. The 57.000 men of the imperial army face 78.000 adversaries ordered by Wellington, including 25.000 Spaniards and 10.000 Portuguese. Divisions Gazan, Reille and Drouet d' Erlon are made hustle and lost the control of the main road, towards Irun and France, which constrained French to be folded up by bad ways towards Pampelune. The disaster is avoided by the cupidity of the allied soldiers who throw themselves on the convoy to plunder instead of pursueing the French.

Collar of Maya, (village of Ortiz) Ortiz July 30th. July 25th, 1813, a violent one fixing takes place under the impulse of the French troops of the Maransin general. This general, under the orders of Conroux, wants to take again the collar of Maya, in Navarre Spanish, defended by two English brigades ordered by the Stewart general. The 71e and 92e regiments of English infantry undergo the attack in the procession and must take refuge on the peak but the brigade of general major Barnes arrives at point named to avoid the defeat. The Wellington field-marshal wants absolutely to push his advantage. The Soult marshal orders on July 30th the fold. The 27e had heavy losses. The division of the general Abbé (27e) remains on Urdax.

Combat of Irun (July 31st, 1813): The last French forces in Spain deliver a rearguard action to Irun before being folded up on Bidassoa.

August 1813: counter-attack on the hills of San Marcial close to Irun.

August 31st, Wellington tackles the 3rd division of the Abbé general, between Aïnhoa and Urdax and inflicts with French losses estimated at 600 men.

October 7th, 1813, take place of the engagements on the Bidassoa river, the division of the Abbé general is in Urdax (forging mills) and Mondarrain. The 27e is in the 3rd division of Abbot, brigade of the general Boivin (which will be relieved of his rank for its incompetence), armed with Drouet.

Battles of the Bubble and Nive : The light 27e is on the heights of Aïnhoa and Pinodetta: also battle, known as of Espelette. Division is with 6.300 men (200 of losses). The Stewart general submerges the outposts of the Abbé general and makes himself main of Aïnhoa. Then it takes fear them of Ordosgoïta. Abbot in vain tries to resist. The brigade folds up itself on Espelette and holds the bridge of Cambo. November 10th, raised by the Foy general, the Abbé general gains the heights of the town of Bayonne which it must protect.

The general Conroux (the 4th division) is mortally wounded in Sare on September 10th (its destiny was related to the 27e, it had ordered the 2nd brigade). He dies in the hospital of the church of the Holy Spirit in Bayonne (a commemorative plaque is in the St-Etienne church).

After the battle of Nive is held that of St Pierre d' Irube , from December 9th to 13rd. Division has losses which rise with 1280 men. The brigade (27e light, 63e and 64e of line) is with the orders of the Baurot general. The division of the Abbé general is on the heights of Bayonne with Mouguerre.

1814

The 1st battalion and certainly the 3rd battalion of the 27e take part in the defense of Bayonne, integrated into the division of the Brunet general. They are in the citadel during the long blockade of the winter and spring. They remain there until the general capitulation. They ensure the collection of the troops which make exits. The 2nd battalion is engaged in the Moors then Béarn. It undergoes losses with Dax, Orthez… The army of Soult continues its fold and after several battles (Bayonne, Orthez), sudden of heavy losses in Toulouse, on April 10th (3 000 men). Colonel Labarbère, of the brigade of the Dauture general (with the orders of the Harispe general) with the 34e (men of the 27e) defends fears it of Caraman. Thus Soult manages to protect the essence of its troops which make their junction, a little late, with the 14.000 men of the Suchet marshal. It was necessary little of them that the battle of Toulouse is transformed into true victory for the French.

The allies enter Paris the March 31st, the whole of the army capitulates.

The marshals Soult and Suchet, in south-west, cease fighting the April 14th; they are folded up on Castelsarrasin. 54 fortified towns always resist in France. Troops of the citadel of Bayonne carry out an exit the April 14th. An attack of diversion of the division of the general Abbot, out of the citadel, with several regiments, causes heavy losses with the English. 600 dead English side including 200 prisoners and, French side, 110 died and 800 wounded. The regiment capitulates only in May 1814.

A convention of armistice is locally signed the May 5th 1814 with the English in South-west.

The 27e capitulates only the May 5th with Bayonne, one month after the Armistice.

Armies of the Pyrenees (of which the 2nd battalion) and of Catalogne are gathered in a Royal army of the South in Carcassonne, by an act of the April 29th 1814. Tarnais (those which remain…) are of return on their premises…. The 27e regiment of light infantry east dissolves. The royal decree of May 12th, 1814 recreates the 13th light one with:

• - L' ex-13th light in entirety.
• it 2nd battalion of the light ex 21e.
• them 1st, 5th and 6th battalions of the light ex-27e. (5th and 6th of the deposits)
• them 1st, 3rd and 5th battalions of the light ex-28e.

Foot-note: battalions 2,3,4 of the 27e are not localized. The 13th regiment of light infantry of colonel P.Gougeon, is in Waterloo in 1815 with the old ones of the 27e during the Hundred Days.

1808 . Preparation of the war of Spain.

End 1807 and at the beginning of 1808, the French Army is in difficulty in Portugal, country to which it must make apply the blockade towards England. The first two battalions of combat of the light 27e remain in Germany and Prussia until September 1808.

The Emperor makes prepare in Metz and Nancy two brigades of infantry provisional.

They have as a framework of the men resulting from the battalions of deposit (3rd battalion in general). The light 27e “is taxed” and it forms, with certain men and new recruits, a battalion which is included in the 8th provisional regiment of infantry. It is created with Nancy. The decree of the November 5th 1807 creates provisional regiments of which 7th and 8th. One finds them later in a 33e and then in a 34e of light infantry.

Vis-a-vis the difficulties of Portugal, Napoleon decides in great urgency to send, in the first time, units towards Spain. After having created the Body of Observation of the Gironde (C.O.G) on Bordeaux, it launches the Body of Observation of the Coasts of the Ocean (C.O.C.O) whose command is given to the Moncey marshal.

In its correspondence of December 1807, Napoleon integrates these provisional brigades in this new body. Men of the light 27e are thus in the Body of Observation of the Coasts of the Ocean (in 8th and 7th, this last ordered by major Claude Marcel d' Eslon).

The first two companies of the 8th provisional one receive the order to leave Metz and Nancy the November 15th to be in Bordeaux at the end of November. The Emperor requires that the second brigade be the January 10th 1808 with Vitoria in Spain. Men of the 3rd battalion leave the November 5th 1807 the battalion of deposit. The general Moncey receives the order to be for the February 10th with Burgos, with his first division with Vitoria and with the second with Aranda de Duero.

The Amblard captain of Dufour division, ex-28e light written:

… has Burgos, we remained a few days. One formed provisional regiments ordered by large majors leaving the deposits of their regiments, whose majority hardly knew the trade of the war. We were the victims, our soldiers were all conscript and the new chiefs required that the officers make them operate like former soldiers, impossible thing that by some rest period. They tyrannized the officers and the soldiers without that producing much effect. If the zeal, that they put to want to oblige us to make, in if little time, of our conscripts of the former soldiers, had been maintained in front of the enemy, I would not blame them, but, there, they did not have this audacity and this firmness which characterize military truths. Without the former officers who supported the attacks of the enemies, one would have succumbed before the capitulation of Bailain, and if one had wanted to take our advice, we would not have been made prisoners. That would have avoided large malheurs.

Delayed hunters, 3rd battalion of the light 27e, appear between Limoges, Bordeaux and Bayonne in March and April 1808. They must belong to this provisional regiment of the second brigade of the Gobert general, within the 8th provisional one with 7th and the Irishmen.

These men form the 5th battalion of a provisional regiment, integrated in the Body of Observation of the Coasts of Ocean (C.O.C.O), ordered by the Moncey general.

The brigade of the Dufour general includes/understands 7th (1872 men), 8th (1921 men) and the Irish battalion (654 men). This brigade (2nd) is in the division of the Gobert general.

In Madrid risen after the May 2nd an officer of the light 27e is wounded like several soldiers. The battalion belongs to the 8th provisional one. It is episode is known under the name of: “back of mayo” (immortalized by the tables of Goya).

Little time after the C.O.C.O is sent towards Valence (the 2nd division). In the first time, it fails and is withdrawn on Almanza and Albacete.

A little later, the general Moncey reduces the insurrectionists of the surroundings of Valence with its first division (of which the battalion of Westphalia). The first division remains close to Valence. The second (with men of the light 27e) is sent in Andalusia, in assistance with the Dupont general of the Pond.

In July the French Army undergoes the defeat of Baylen.

The general Gobert (the 2nd division of the COCO), coming from Madrid, arrives to Baïlen by the locality of the Caroline with 1.500 men (of the men of the light 27e are in the 8th provisional one). They are posted on the processions of the Morena Sierra and Santa-Helena. The Gobert general attacks, whereas only one third of its brigade joined. He is wounded mortally while carrying help with Dupont of the Pond, in Baïlen, which was on the bad way with his unit while returning from Andalusia. The Dufour general (brigade of the 8th provisional one where the men of the 27e find themselves) takes the command of division then and moves its troops of the position of Baïlen, for the poster on the localities of the Caroline and of Santa-Helena. He holds the processions thus. The Dufour brigade is of 5.700 men. The 8th provisional regiment which is of four battalions (1 921 men) is not completely committed.

July 18th, Vedel is with the Caroline, reorganizing with Dufour the post offices of the Sierra-Morena and lighting towards Linarès (of the troops are ahead as scouts).

Vedel returns to Baylen and follows division Dufour (ex Gobert) towards the Caroline. Dupont reproaches him for not having respected his orders to hold the crossroads of Baylen. In addition to the fact that a real risk of rupture of the line of fold by the throats existed then, one will notice that Dupont had had to envisage to start his fold the 17, thus maintaining a variation of a walk between each one of his divisions in accordance with the uses of the Napoleonean armies. In addition, the Dufour general, the first to have however given up his station without very leaving garrison with Baylen or the vat of Mengibar, is not accused in the relations nor even during the lawsuit (lawsuit of Dupont of the Pond).

In spite of victorious combat of the generals Vedel and Dufour, out of danger with their units, those receive the strict order to deliver itself with their troops, within the framework of a text of capitulation, in which the Dupont general had included them. Some go, of which the Dufour general. Major d' Elson, ordering 7th, is made prisoner. Soldiers of the 27e go. Some, while disobeying, escape with part of the C.O.C.O of Moncey, (like the commander Holy-church, which occupies Madriejes), then they gather in the area of San-Lenient before joining Madrid.

Many soldiers and Cantinière S were off-set on bridge Cadiz and on the island Cabrera with the Balearic Islands. On his return in France, the Dupont general of the Pond which had capitulated declared that it had received only 1.000 men with the title of the Gobert brigade, making carry to this general, killed with the combat, a great part of the defeat. In 1809 the Dufour general is held with Las Palmas; in autumn it is put at the Castle Bellver (Palma de Majorque). It is off-set thereafter in England.

Among the old ones of the battalion of deposit (3rd), having formed the 5th battalion of the 27e, placed at the disposal of the 8th provisional one, some prisoners are made.

The register reveals a certain number of soldiers detached with 8th who were not made prisoners and who join the 27e the September 16th 1809.

Soldiers who succeeded in fleeing the capitulation of Baïlen are built-in the guard of king Joseph to Madrid. The September 30th 1808, France is forced to sign the convention of Curved and to evacuate the Portugal. After Baïlen the 8th provisional regiment is remelted in new a 33e regiment of light infantry. What remains of this regiment east dissolves in 1809.

A 34e regiment of light infantry is formed on January 1st 1810, in Spain. It receives men of the light 27e (formed in a new 4th battalion). The regiment finishes the countryside of Spain, with the orders of colonel Perot, in the second division of the general Vandermassessen, and this in the Army of the North of Spain (general Caffarelli). The 34e with these detached companies of the light 27e (old of 8th) is with the following combat:

• 1811 : Tordesillas, Molina, Villafranca, Reigo-of-Ambroso, Laying-of-Laying.
• 1812 : Cuidad-Rodrigo, Sauria, and Sedano.
• 1813 : Midsummer's Day Foot-of-Port, Pampelune and Bayonne.
• 1814 : St Etienne-of-Baïgorry, Helete, Orthez and Toulouse.

The light 34e with the orders of colonel Labardère, Dauture brigade, Harispe division, is found with the battles of Orthez and of Toulouse, where it defends dearly fears it of Carama. With Toulouse, it is associated, in the engagements, with the 2nd battalion of the light 27e arrived by Bayonne (1st part).

Two companies with men (195) of the 27e are in 1812 in Spain, under name 5th battalion with the 3rd Government of Pampelune (denomination of the regional commands). The general Moncey (C.O.C.O) sees himself allotted the guard of Pampelune.

The French garrison falls in July 1813 at the time of the retirement from the Army of Spain. With the orders of king Joseph Bonaparte, one finds, in Madrid, 135 men of the 27e of the Army of the center.

1808

The body of the Oudinot general is in the Army of the Rhine. The Emperor modifies his composition: Letter of December 5th of the Emperor. The body of Oudinot would be then made up only of the companies of pomegranates (or rather police officers) and acrobats of the regiments hereafter namely: 6th, 9th, 16th, 25e, 27e, 17th, 21e, 24e, 26e, 28e of light infantry. The mixing of the units to the liking of the needs makes difficult the follow-up of the battalion or the companies detached from the regiment of origin. The first battalions of the 27e riléger are in the Iberian peninsula. Three companies (police officers and acrobats) remain in Germany in the body of Oudinot. The decree of March 31st gives the following organization: the first division of the Claparède general has the 1st brigade. This one is made up of two half-brigades, the second has, inter alia, of 3 companies resulting from the light 27e (233/152/164 men is a total of 549).

1809 Bavaria (fifth coalition)

The French Army, in this area, even by counting the garrisons of Prussia, is strong only of 100.000 men. It is supported by the troops of the Germanic Confederation. Within this army, the army corps of Oudinot is composed of 2 divisions of infantry (generals Conroux and Claparède) and of one of cavalry (Colbert general). The companies “Oudinot” of the light 27e are integrated into Claparède division.

The battalions of infantry of this army corps are formed with the troops of elite (pomegranates, police officers and acrobats) whose regiments are in Spain. They spend the winter of 1808 to 1809 in Thuringe and to Bayreuth. Installed in Hanau, the body of Oudinot moves in March on Wurtemberg and is installed on banks of the Lech river.

The advertisement of the fifth coalition against France is made on April 9th. The Austrian army attacks at at the beginning of April and enters to Bavaria the 15. The Oudinot general collapses the Austrians on April 18th with Pfaffenhoffen.

New countryside of Austria (1809)

Engagements of Neumark, April 22nd . April 23rd the duke of Montebello, the Lannes marshal, takes with divisions of Oudinot the town of Ratisbon. These divisions move towards Salzburg in avant-garde of the Large army. The 27, Oudinot receives the order to form the avant-garde of the Large army to Vienna. The Oudinot May 2nd takes Ried, the 3 Ebersberg, on May 10th it arrives in the suburbs of the capital. It occupies Vienna the 13. The Emperor makes provisions on left bank and in the Lobau island for a possible battle against the Austrians.

Battle of Essling (21 - May 22nd, 1809) . The 4th battalion of the 27e ril is with the orders of Oudinot. It has inter alia two wounded officers. All the battle holds in ceaseless repairs and destruction of the bridge and in the routing of the reinforcements. At three o'clock in the morning, on May 22nd, thanks to the efforts of the pontonniers, the French forces around Essling were doubled in manpower and this, thanks to the crossing of the guard, the cavalry and the body of Oudinot.

Battle of Wagram (4 - July 6th, 1809) : The body of Oudinot will have a great part of the victory. After having passed from the Lobau island in left bank of the Danube benefitting from a violent one storm, and having encircled the castle of Schesengan, then driven out the Austrians of the village of Rutzendorf. Oudinot will have been seen associating with its bodies of acrobats and pomegranates, the Army of Italy. Whereas the battle seemed lost, Napoleon will tackle the Austrian center with the support of Macdonald and the troops “of shock” of Oudinot. In this combat the battalion of the 27e will have 7 wounded officers. The Austrians sign the capitulation with Zaïm on July 12th. The body of the Oudinot general occupies Spitz. The armistice is ratified on October 14th in Vienna.

1812. Countryside of Russia (6th coalition)

The 4th battalion of the 27e regiment of light infantry belongs to the 11th provisional regiment, second brigade of the Schobert general, 31e division of the general Lagrange, 11th army corps of the Augereau marshal. It will be later in the 10th provisional regiment, 1st brigade of Labassée of the same division.

The deposit is in Bruges, with two companies.

The body of the Augereau marshal is sent at the beginning of November towards Elnia to the meeting of Russian Orlow. The 9 this last attacks the body of Augereau where men of the light 27e are. Not being able to resist Russian artillery the French troops are folded up.

The men of the 27e not having taken part in the combat of Smolensk, of Moskowa and Bérézina, are relatively saved. The countryside of Germany awaits them, it will be more severe for them.

1813. Germany, countryside of Saxony

The 11th army corps of the Augereau marshal is seen entrusting the guard of Berlin with 6.000 men; the French, under the push, give up the line of the Vistula.

Under the threat, on March 3rd, the French Army leaves hostile Berlin which is occupied by the Cossacks on March 4th. The 11th body passes to Wittenberg and Dessau. The French cannot hold the line of Elba, of Dresden with Magdeburg. The fortified towns are however maintained, of which that of Magdeburg, with the 31e division of the general Lagrange.
At the beginning of April the 31e division is on the plate of Nedlitz, in the east of Magdeburg. It drives out the allies of them. The French hold some fortified towns, but the many ones capitulate, like Thorn or Spandau. April 25th the 31e division is in Eisleben in the west of Market, it occupies Ascherleben, Quedlinburg, then That and Brunswick. At the beginning of May the 11th body is in Merseburg, in the south of Market.

Battle of Lützen (May 2nd, 1813). While Napoleon leads of Wiessenfeld to Saale, prince Eugene arrives of Merseburg. The 11th body of the Macdonald marshal attacks this city and removes it after a sharp resistance, then walk on Lützen and Leipzig. But at this time the army of allied concentrates in Pegau and attacks the Ney marshal. The 11th body is initially charged to support the body of Laurison towards Leipzig. The made enemy of great progress and the Ney marshal give up much ground. The body of Macdonald receives “the order to go to the guns”. It stops vis-a-vis the enemy with Bautzen and remains in its presence during several days. It awaits the remainder of the army.

Gerard Division of the 11th Body and the 1st Body of cavalry, to support the movement of the 5th Body, are advanced of Markranstaedt with Schönau and were established in the south of this village. The remainder of the 11th Body was placed between Lausen and Markranstaedt.

From the May 11th, the French pass on Right Bank of Elba. Ney with several army corps goes towards north, to make accept an attack on Berlin.

The principal army is directed by Napoleon, with 4th, 6th, 11th and 12th body of infantry, the imperial guard and 1st of cavalry (120 000 men). The 11th body is with the orders of the marshal of Tarente (Macdonald), the 31e division is with those of the Gerard general. They hustle the allies with Göedau.

Battle of Bautzen (20 May 21st, 1813), Combat of Würschen (May 21st, 1813) in the east of Dresden: The shortly after the bright victory of Bautzen, Ney hustles Barclay and its Russians and abuses the Prussians of Blücher, (the same one which was made prisoner with Lübeck, and was released on word…).

Engagements of Grieffenberg, Elsen, Dohna .

The 31e division gave little during this battle, written the Macdonald marshal: “the 11th body is still rather strong because the 11th division which was not ahead… ”.

The men of the light 27e are engaged in the engagements of: Grieffenberg, Elsen, Dohna.

Battle of Leipzig (from October 16th to 19th).

November 29th, the Rapp marshal capitulates in Dantzig where it has been cut off for eleven months with the 10th body. The epidemics force it to go. The allies accept that these men return to France with their artillery, saved of Russia. The Russians oppose it and they are conveyed, prisoners, in Ukraine. On his return in France, under Louis XVIII, the marshal is honoured (24 wounds with the combat). The men of the 27e remain with the 11th provisional regiment, with the 3rd division of the baron Ledru of Essarts, 11th body of Macdonald. They are numerous with being made prisoners. Division comprises three regiments of Westphalian last with the enemy.

1814

One 4th battalion of the light 27e belongs to the brigade of the general Auguste Fournier, division Lagrange, 6th army corps of Marmont, Armée of Champagne.

The men of the 27e are engaged in the combat of Lille and Courtais then to the Bataille of Rothière (February 1st, 1814)

The Marmont marshal undergoes a heavy defeat with Laon (9 March 10th, 1814).

Napoleon lets his brother Joseph Bonaparte defend Paris with 20.000 regular soldiers, under the command of the marshal Auguste Marmont. He adds 30.000 National Guards directed by the marshals Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey and Edouard Mortier. The last sudden starts in which some men of the 27e took part: With the left wing of the French body, the brigade Secreting and division Boyer de Rebeval vigorously were attacked and forced to move back. In this moment, the duke of Raguse (Marmont marshal), which was still due to the center in the position of the telegraph, tried a last effort to drive out the enemy of the village of Belleville. Joining together around him a handle of men who remained to him, with the generals Ricards, Meynadier, Boudin, Pelleport, it precipitated on the Russians. The marshal was reached of a ball which made him a strong contusion, the Ricard generals and Pelleport were wounded, but the Russians were inserted. Belleville was taken again, and the Lagrange general re-occupied his first position ahead. The allies enter Paris on March 31st, defense is quite vain, only some men of these remains of the companies of the 27e are still in a position to fight.

Losses and rewards

From 1804 to 1814 the 27e regiment of light infantry had 22 officers killed with the combat, 8 died their wounds, 137 wounded officers. The statistics do not count the men of troupe.
It is reasonable to estimate the losses as wounded or killed men with =3000, the renewal by the conscripts keeping with the regiment a manpower of approximately =3000 hommes.
He saw himself allotting 3 sabers and 2 rifles of honor, under récompenses.
The first battalions will have carried out of 1804 to 1814 more than 18.000 kilometers to foot. The companies of police officers and acrobats who did not go to Spain, they, arrived close to Moscow.

References

Sources

Sources:

1. Historical Service of Defense Ground. (SHD-T)
2. * Control of the troops of the 27e regiment of light infantry, dimensions 22YC 199, raised of the built-in troops until June 1806, following volume is not consultable. Updated in 1816.
3. * File of the pensions: dimension 2Yf 1801-1817
4. * military Femmes and cantinières: coteXr 48 and 49
5. * Women with the armies, dimensions Yi
6. * Large army of Hanover in dimension 2C, C194-C600 situation of the army of Hanover (not consulted, disappeared with the Files?) 2C 602 Batavie.
7. * Position of the units 1802-1804 army of Hanover, books connected (cupboard of the corridor).
8. books of the Captain Jerome-Roland Laugier of the 27e Regiment of light Infantry (1791-1807), published in Aix in Provence at Remondet-Aubin.
9. Victories, conquests, disasters, reverse and civil wars of French of 1792 à1815, written by a company of soldiers and men of letters. (1817).
10. site: steph77 soldiers of the Tarn.
11. Decree of the 10 termidor year X in the military newspaper year X pages 786 to 815.
12. “the army of Hanover”, “mines and factories”, “occupation of the mining district by the French troops as from July 1803, report/ratio of the Council of Ministers of the 9 pluviose year XII (30.1.1804), on the financial part of the Mines of Harz” Newspaper of the mines year XII p395-405 and 437-446.
13. Internet sites on the Emperor of which that of Mr Ouvrard, the Bivouac…
14. French in Spain (1808-1814) by Just Jean Etienne Roy.
15. Memories to be used with the French history under the dictation as Napoleon with St Helene. Volume IV. Historical report/ratio on the 27e half-brigade.
16. reviews: “tradition magazine”, “consulate and empire”….

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