Tag: Light Infantry
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The aftermath of Friedland and celebration at Tilsit …
Part four of Alexandre Coudreux’s letters from the year 1807 … At the Imperial camp of Tilsit, 30 June 1807. By the time you receive this letter, the newspapers will have already echoed the memorable events that have taken place here in the last eight days. I consider myself a thousand times delighted to have…
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Facing Prussians and Russians, 1807 …
Part three of an officer’s correspondence with his brother … At the camp of Dorungen, 29 May 1807. Yesterday, at ten o’clock in the evening, the division was informed of the capture of Danzig; I hasten to share this pleasant news with you. A fortnight ago, we left our cantonments. We are at present camped…
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Executed to set an example, Russia 1812 …
The author of this excerpt was a sergeant in the 7th Light Infantry Regiment at the time. An exceptional memoir, recommended reading. Having left the road to Minsk, we marched, taking all possible precautions customary on the eve of a great battle, to the entrenched camp of Drissa; however, we found it abandoned. On the…
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An officer’s adventures in Poland and Prussia, 1807 …
Part two of Commander Alexandre Coudreux’s letters … Neuschoeneberg, near Guttstadt, 28 April 1807. As I have still not received an answer to any of the letters which I have written to you for the last four months, I have only before my eyes the one dated 15 March which you addressed to my colonel.…
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Braving the elements in Poland, 1807 …
In the footsteps of Commander Alexandre Coudreux, through letters written to his brother. We follow the officer during his service in the year 1807 … At bivouac near Steinberg, [on] 22 March 1807. My dear friend, Since my departure from Paris, I have not received a single letter from France. I have however written more…
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Captain Laugier on the battle of Austerlitz …
The recollections of an officer of the 27th Light Infantry Regiment on the famous battle that took place on 2 December 1805 … At daybreak, firing was heard on the right of the Grande Armée. Subsequently, the fire intensified and at sunrise the platoon, battalion and regimental firing and the redoubled shots of the cannon…
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Recounting the Waterloo campaign, as witnessed by an officer …
Alexandre de Chéron, a lieutenant in the 26th Light Infantry Regiment who became aide-de-camp to General de La Houssaye (the latter remained in Paris), wrote a letter to his superior dated 22 June 1815. The officer describes the battle of Waterloo as he experienced it : Mon général, You should be grateful that you are…
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A Dutch officer of the 33rd Light Infantry Regiment, Russia 1812 …
The author of these letters is Theodorus Coenradus Casparus Veeren, a Dutch junior officer, and the addressee is his wife, Anna Cornelia van Orsoy. Theodorus Veeren, born in Borculo (Gelderland) 24 March 1790, was the son of Johan Frederik Wilhelm Veeren, who passed away as a lieutenant-colonel titular, and Maria Petronella Ramdohr. He belonged to…