1er regiment de chevau-legers lanciers

1er régiment de chevau-legers lanciers were formed by Imperial decree on 18 June 1811 from 1er régiment de dragons, then stationed in Iberia. It joined five other dragoon regiments that converted to lancers, along with two existing lancer regiments from the Vistula Legion and 30e régiment de chasseurs á cheval (formerly the Hamburg Dragoons).

The regiment joined 9e régiment de cuirassiers to form the 3rd brigade of the 1er division de cuirassiers de 1er corps de cavalerie de la grande armée, providing the division with a well-needed reconnaissance capability for the invasion of Russia.

Information is mixed on the strength of the unit in Russia with only a squadron or even company being listed in some sources at Borodino. However, it seems that the full regiment of three squadrons had successfully converted to its new role prior to the campaign, but it is possible that, having been instructed to leave their existing mounts in Iberia, the replacements were not all battle ready in time. 

To this end, I have stuck with my original plan to portray them as a small unit, but I do have another twelve ready for undercoating in case I ever get around to doing the whole lot.

Black Powder at Horisont VII

We ran two games of Black Powder at the Horisont convention in Odense, Denmark in November. Both featured a mixed French/Polish Corps of two infantry divisions and a below strength heavy cavalry division against a Anglo-Brunswick Corps of two infantry divisions.

Here are some of the piccies:

Big Brother XIV - more ball buttoned gunners!

These should have been done in August to finish off the second brigade, but I underestimated how long all the limbers would take. Anyway, here they are at last, the 1st company of 5th Horse Artillery Regiment (5eme régiment d’artillerie à cheval).

The previous battery can be found here: 3rd Battery

Big Brothers XIII

Some fine winter sun means I can finally share the 9th cuirassier regiment in all its glory:

Next up - more gunners!

Général de Brigade Mathieu Quenot

In comparison to the other French cavalry commander's I've managed to find very little on Mathieu Quenot. Only that he was born in 1766 and survived the campaign in Russia, living until 1845. He was a baron of the Empire and, of course commanded the third brigade in the 1st Heavy Cavalry Division in 1812. Edit - additional detail now included (below).

Anyway, here he is with his trusty bodyguard.

Edit - I've now managed to track down some more details: He entered service in 1783, and he was discharged on 26 August 1790.

He returned to service on 1 October 1791, as a lieutenant in the 23e régiment de dragons, and he participated with distinction in campaigns of 1792 and 1793, in the Northern armies, and the Rhine. He was appointed Captain on 13 May 1792 in the army of the Sambre and Meuse, and on 23 June 1794, he became aide de camp to adjudant-général Mallerot. He was at Quesnoy on 15 August 1794 at Quesnoy, at Valenciennes on 27 August  and in Sulzbach on 17 August 1796.

From 1797 to 1798, he was assigned to the army of Mainz, and 1 August 1799, he joined the army of the Danube as adjutant of the Adjutant General Delotz. He was wounded on the bridge at Dillingen on 19 May 1800, and was promoted to squadron commander on 30 June 1800 and joined 4e régiment de cavalerie on 14 December 1801. From 1802 to 1803, he was stationed at Charleville.

On 24 October 1803, he became a major  in 1er régiment de dragons, and he was made a chevalier de la Légion d’honneur on 25 March 1804. In 1806-1807, he participated in the campaign of Prussia and Poland, and was appointed Colonel on 31 December 1806 of the 9e régiment de dragons.

From 1808 to 1811, he was assigned to the army of Spain. He was created a baron of the Empire 7 June 1808, having been elevated to the rank of officier de la Légion d’honneur, a day earlier, on 6 June 1811.  He was promoted to général de brigade on 6 August 1811, and 25 December 1811, he became commander of the 3e brigade de la 1re division de cuirassier of the army of Germany.

On 6 January 1812, he suffered a double fracture of the left leg after falling off a horse at Golymin whilst he was taking part in the Russian campaign, and on 7 September1812, was wounded again at the Battle of Borodino. On 5 May 1813, he was part of General Pajol's 2e division de marche, and was at the Battle of Bautzen on 20 and 21 May 1813. On 13 July 1813, he obtained a leave to care for his wounds, having taken the command of the 1re brigade de la division de cavalerie lourde du 5e corps.

He was granted leave to retire on 19 September 1813 and died on 24 April 1843 in Sedan.

Big Brother XII

So to the last unit of cuirassiers, the second half of the 9th.

That just leaves, the Brigade Commander stand and I'm done with cuirassiers - woohoo!