“La Garde au Feu!”: My 15mm French Imperial Guard (Part 9: 2ème Éclaireurs (Éclaireurs-Dragons))

2ème Éclaireurs

And normal service is resumed…  As I said, the sci-fi games and articles will just be a bonus and my normal tedious historical rambling will continue as normal.

My surviving reader will no doubt remember Part 7 of this series, when I declared my French Imperial Guard to be finally completed…  Then again in Part 8, when I declared that it was FINALLY completed with the cavalry of the Young Guard…  Well now my Imperial Guard is DEFINITELY FINALLY finished with the addition of the 2ème Éclaireurs de la Garde!  Hurrah!  Vive l’Empereur, etc!

In my defence m’Lud, I did mention in Part 7 that I would like to do at least one of the three regiments of Éclaireurs of the Guard, but AB Figures at the time didn’t produce any suitable figures (except perhaps to use the Vistula Legion Lancer figures for the 3ème Éclaireurs).  However, that has now changed with AB Figures’ recent release of these lovely figures for the 2ème Éclaireurs, so I’ve finally been able to tick that box.  AB Figures still don’t produce anything suitable for the 1er Éclaireurs and now that they’ve remodeled their Vistula Legion Lancers, they don’t have anything suitable for the 3ème Éclaireurs either (though the old figures might still be available as a special order).  However, as mentioned before, my Napoleonic wargaming is at the ‘grand tactical’ level, where each unit represents a brigade, so my 2ème Éclaireurs represent the whole Brigade of Éclaireurs.

2ème Éclaireurs

The three regiments of Éclaireurs or Scouts of the Guard were created by Napoleon in December 1813 and would see extensive action during the Campaign of France in early 1814.  Napoleon had been plagued by swarms of Cossacks throughout the campaigns of 1812 and 1813 and the Éclaireurs were created as a means of countering them.  Cossacks had little battlefield value, but were a perpetual irritation outside the main battlefield; harassing and disrupting lines of communication, preventing reconnaissance, pouncing on convoys, stragglers and bivouacs, stripping the land of forage, terrorising friendly populations and constantly providing enemy commanders with a wealth of intelligence.  They hadn’t been quite so much of a problem in the days when France had a powerful cavalry arm with which to partly counter them, but following the disaster of 1812 France’s cavalry were a pitiful shadow of their former selves, both in terms of numbers and quality, enabling the Cossacks to run rings around Napoleon’s armies.

A Cossack Outpost 1813

Napoleon had already toyed with this idea once before, following his experiences against Cossacks in 1805.  In 1806 he ordered Duke Prosper-Louis d’Arenberg to create a regiment of ‘Belgian Chevaulégers‘, mounted on tough little horses from the Camargue coastal region of southern France.  However, this regiment for some reason didn’t campaign against the Russians in 1807, remaining instead on garrison duty in Hamburg.  The idea was then quietly shelved and in 1808 the regiment became the 27ème Chasseurs à Cheval.

Élite Company of the Chevaulégers-Belge d’Arenberg 1806-1808

During the Campaign of Germany in 1813, the Cossack Scourge became ever more acute.  However, Napoleon had been impressed by Prince Poniatowski’s newly-raised corps of Polish Krakus light cavalry, mounted on a breed of light horse called the Konia.  He saw these as the model for a possible future French anti-Cossack corps, stating “I would like to have ten thousand men like these, mounted on ‘Konias’.  They are an excellent troupe”.  Napoleon’s idea therefore, was to create a corps of cavalry mounted on small, tough horses with high endurance, like the Cossacks and the Krakus.  These breeds of horses could be found in France’s mountainous regions, such as the Ardennes, Massif-Central and Pyrenees, as well as the above-mentioned Camargue region, and were still available in large numbers as they hadn’t already been mobilised for army use.

Krakus of the Duchy of Warsaw 1813-1814

Napoleon initially limited this idea to three regiments, which would be created primarily from volunteers drawn from three regiments of the Imperial Guard; the Grenadiers à Cheval, Dragons de l’Impératrice and 1er Chevaulégers-Lanciers (Polonais).  They would then be filled out by a draft from the four regiments of Gardes d’Honneur, volunteers from cavalry regiments of the line and selected conscripts.

The 1er Éclaireurs would be primarily drawn from the Grenadiers à Cheval and would therefore have the secondary title of Éclaireurs-Grenadiers.  The 2ème Éclaireurs would be mainly drawn from the Dragons de l’Impératrice, so would also be known as the Éclaireurs-Dragons.  The 3ème Éclaireurs, being primarily raised from the 1er Chevaulégers-Lanciers (Polonais) would therefore be known as the Éclaireurs-Lanciers.  Note therefore that although all three regiments were armed with the lance, only the 3rd Regiment was known as Éclaireurs-Lanciers.

2ème Éclaireurs

Each regiment was to consist of four squadrons, each of around 250 men, for a full establishment of 53 officers, 1,005 men and as many horses.  The 1st Regiment also somehow managed to add 5th and 6th Squadrons to its establishment.  All were given the status of Young Guard, except for the 1st Squadron of the 1st Regiment, which was designated as Old Guard (this was the only designated élite squadron or company in the Brigade of Éclaireurs).

Old Guard Squadron, 1er Éclaireurs

d’Autancourt

The Brigade of Éclaireurs was established in January 1814 under the command of Général de Brigade Pierre d’Autancourt (or ‘Dautancourt’), who also held the post of Colonel-Major of the 1er Chevaulégers-Lanciers (Polonais) de la Garde.  However, the brigade ceased to be a ‘pure’ brigade of Éclaireurs on 7th February 1814 and from that date forth, various Guard cavalry regiments regularly passed in and out of d’Autancourt’s brigade.  D’Autancourt served through the 1814 Campaign with distinction, being appointed as a Commander of the Legion of Honour, as a Baron of the Empire and as a Knight of the Military Order of Poland.  He was so loved by the Polish Lancers that with the Emperor’s abdication, he was invited by General Krasinski to return with them to Poland.  However, he politely declined Krasinski’s kind invitation, saying simply “Prince, I am French”.  D’Autancourt returned to the Emperor’s service in 1815, being placed in command of the Gendarmerie d’Élite, with whom he had previously served in the early days of the Consular Guard and Imperial Guard.

d’Autancourt

From the very start of their creation, the Brigade of Éclaireurs remained woefully understrength and nowhere near their full establishment-strength.   For example, the 2ème Éclaireurs in January 1814 had only 23 officers, 829 cavalrymen and 498 horses and when committed to action at the end of the month, the regiment had only 502 men in the field.  By the end of April the regiment had fewer than 200 men in the field.  Despite the readily-available sources of small horse-breeds in France, this low field-strength would therefore seem to have been mainly due to a shortage of horseflesh and reflects the chaotic state of French logistics at this time.  There were invariably large numbers of men in the regimental depots, but there seems to have consistently been a lack of mounts for them.

Right from the outset of the Campaign of France, the Brigade of Éclaireurs sadly proved to be unequal to the task given them of countering the Cossack Horde.  However, they did nevertheless prove themselves to be excellent additions to the Light Cavalry arm of the Imperial Guard, fighting hard in numerous battles.

Officer of the 2ème Éclaireurs

Their baptism of fire was at Brienne on 29th January, soon followed on 1st February by the Battle of La Rothière, where d’Autancourt led his Brigade of Éclaireurs in repeated charges against Russian cavalry and infantry, before being finally forced with withdraw in the face of superior numbers.  As mentioned above, the Brigade of Éclaireurs was broken up soon afterwards, but the Éclaireurs continued to make a name for themselves on the battlefield.  At Champaubert on 10th February, the 3ème Éclaireurs took part in the magnificent grand charge of the French cavalry, which destroyed several Russian squares.

The Charge of the French Cavalry at The Battle of Champaubert, 10th February 1814

On 11th February and not to be outdone, the 1er & 2ème Éclaireurs, under the joint command of Colonel Claude Testot-Ferry of the 1er Éclaireurs, launched a magnificent charge at Montmirail, alongside the Dragons de l’Impératrice, destroying several Russian units and taking large numbers of prisoners.  The Éclaireurs then fought again in the French victories of Château-Thierry on 11th February, Vauchamps on 14th February and Monterau on 18th February.

Officer and Trumpeter of the Old Guard Squadron, 1er Éclaireurs

On 5th March, the 3ème Éclaireurs, under the command of the Polish Général de Brigade Ludwik Michał Pac along with the 1er Chevaulégers-Lanciers (Polonais) de la Garde, launched a remarkable charge which successfully captured the vital bridge at Berry-au-Bac and completely routed the Allied defenders.  Two days later at the Battle of Craonne on 7th March, Marshal Ney’s infantry were pinned down by a strong Russian battery.  In an attempt to restore the situation, Colonel Testot-Ferry under his own initiative, launched a charge with his 1er Éclaireurs.  Losses were terrible and his charge was checked by Allied cavalry.  However, having rallied his regiment, Testot-Ferry charged again and overran the Russian battery, allowing Napoleon to gain the initiative in what would be a French victory.  The grateful Emperor made Testot-Ferry a Baron of the Empire.

2ème Éclaireurs

Elements of the Éclaireurs fought again at Laon on 9th-10th March, Reims on 12th-13th March, Méry-sur-Seine on 19th March and Arcis-sur-Aube on 20th-21st March.  At Arcis-sur-Aube, the Emperor and his staff were surrounded by Cossacks and were almost captured until they were saved by Colonel Testot-Ferry and the 1er Éclaireurs.  However, Testot-Ferry was wounded and taken prisoner.

3ème Éclaireurs (note the officer wearing his Old Guard rig)

At Saint-Dizier on 26th March, all three regiments of the Éclaireurs distinguished themselves during the great charge of the Imperial Guard Cavalry.  Then the Brigade of Éclaireurs regrouped once again under the command of Général de Brigade d’Autancourt, along with elements of various Guard cavalry regiments, for the final defence of Paris.  The entire brigade was deployed alongside the Polish Krakus on 29th March at the Battle of Claye, after which the majority of the brigade was detached to escort the Empress Marie-Louise to safety at Blois.  The remainder of the brigade (mostly from the 3ème Éclaireurs), now numbering only 330 men then fought for the last time under d’Autancourt’s command at the apocalyptic Battle of Paris.

This was to be their last battle and the Éclaireurs were disbanded under the First Restoration.  The Éclaireurs were not reformed for the Hundred Days Campaign.

NCO of the Old Guard Squadron, 1er Éclaireurs (junior ranks had a scarlet edge to the shako)

In terms of uniform, the 1er Éclaireurs for the most part wore a dark green chasseur à cheval uniform, featuring a single-breasted habit Kinski jacket with scarlet distinctions and white metal buttons.  Headgear was a black bell-topped shako with red lace edging, a pompom in squadron colours (some sources show red pompoms or even red plumes for all squadrons) and a white metal Imperial eagle badge.  The Old Guard Squadron wore a completely different uniform, namely a hussar-style uniform in dark green with white metal buttons, white braiding (silver for officers) and scarlet facings; headgear as before.  Trumpeters had a hussar-style uniform in the ‘celestial blue’ colour typical of the Imperial Guard’s trumpeters.  Valises were green with a white lace ring at each end.  Shabraques were theoretically green with white lace edging, though it would seem that these were often not issued.

2ème Éclaireurs

The 2ème Éclaireurs also wore a dark green chasseur à cheval uniform, though this had crimson distinctions (some sources say scarlet) and yellow metal buttons (some sources say silver).  Headgear was a very distinctive conical shako coloured crimson with a black leather top, peak and false rear peak.  The top edge was decorated with a band of black leather that was pierced to give the impression of a chain of rings.  The front was decorated with a large national cockade placed centrally, secured by a button and two strips of aurore-coloured lace, with a squadron-coloured pompom above.  Artistic depictions show green, sky blue and aurore pompoms, which were typical squadron colours for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th squadrons of line chasseur à cheval regiments (I’d hazard a guess that the 1st Squadron wore scarlet pompoms, but I’ve gone with the known ones).  Two aurore cap-lines descended from the rear of the shako and were looped around the neck before being tied off on a shoulder-strap.  Officers wore gold distinctions and white plumes, while trumpeters again wore a ‘celestial blue’ version of the uniform, with crimson and gold cap-lines instead of aurore.  Valises were crimson with an aurore lace ring at each end.  Shabraques were theoretically green with an aurore lace edge (sometimes also seen with a thin crimson outer-edge), though were probably not issued.

Trumpeter and NCO of the 3ème Éclaireurs

The 3ème Éclaireurs wore a uniform that was almost identical to that of the 1er Chevaulégers-Lanciers (Polonais) de la Garde.  This of course, was the classic dark blue lancer’s uniform with crimson facings, white metal buttons, albeit with poorer-quality cloth and with shoulder-straps instead of epaulettes and aiguillettes.  Headgear was a czapka with crimson ‘box’ edged with white lace (some sources show white pompoms).  Some have suggested that this uniform was essentially the uniform already being worn by the Young Guard Squadrons of the Polish Lancers, but I’ve never found a description of that uniform to confirm the theory (it seems likely, however).  Officers had silver distinctions, while NCOs had mixed silver and crimson.  Trumpeters had a celestial-blue version of the uniform with a white ‘box’ to the czapka, edged in crimson lace.  Valises were crimson (some say blue) and may have had white lace rings on the end, though most sources show no lace.  Shabraques seem to have been plain blue without lace edging.

3ème Éclaireurs (note the lapels are buttoned across to hide the crimson facings)

All three regiments were equipped with black-shafted lances and the usual array of light cavalry equipment, including white belts, black cartridge-pouches, pistols and light cavalry sabres with steel scabbards and brass fittings.  The Old Guard Squadron of the 1er Éclaireurs also had black leather sabretaches.  Lance-pennants are shown in a number of depictions, but don’t seem to have been issued.  Equipment and harness was reduced as much as possible; partly in order to reduce the weight for the small horses, but also to reduce the overall cost.  For that reason, a plain grey army blanket was often used in lieu of a shabraque.

2ème Éclaireurs

The Éclaireurs were not presented with Eagles or standards and are not known to have carried standards of any type, official or unofficial.

2ème Éclaireurs

2ème Éclaireurs

Anyway, that’s DEFINITELY it for the Imperial Guard!  I’ve still got a few units to do that hung around with the Guard or were ‘Guard-Adjacent’, such as the Lanciers de Berg and the Neapolitan Guard Horse Artillery, but I think that I can definitely now consider my Imperial Guard to be completed.