‘Chasseurs Britanniques’
Translated by Geert van Uythoven
Organisation:
A light infantry battalion originally
consisting of six companies, to which later a 7th company was added; expanded to
ten companies in 1804, including two flank companies; expanded to twelve
companies in November 1810.
History:
- 1800: On 7 March, the Armée de Condé was taken over from
the Russians into British service. Initially destined to participate in an
expedition into the Languedoc, the corps marches on 16 April from Linz to
Italy. Reaching Pordenone on 9 May, they learn that plans have changed and the
corps remains in place to await further orders. These mend that the corps has
to march north again, to reinforce the Austrians retreating from Ulm. On 12
June they go in cantonments around Salzburg until 5 July, on which date the
corps is ordered to move Rosenheim to defend the Inn river. Engaged in some
outpost fighting only they are not present at Hohenlinden (3 December) were the
Austrians are defeated. Starting their retreat as well on 9 December, they are
finally cantoned in Windisch-Feistritz after the hostilities ended.
- 1801: Still cantoned here, the Armée de Condé received the
order to hand over their horses, further learning that with a peace closed now,
there was no further use for them on the continent. This had a very bad effect
on morale, resulting in the defection of seventy fully equipped dragoons to the
French! Next, it became known that the British government planned the use of
the corps in Egypt. As a result, except for 250 of them, all officers and
nobles demanded their dismissal. The enlisted men received the offer to go over
to the Swiss ‘Roverea’ regiment, also in British pay. Only 28 men accepted.
After being proposed to serve in their own companies under former officers of
the Armée de Condé, only having to serve in Europe and de Mediterranean,
Egypt included, about 600 men accepted, the remainder receiving a gratuity
based on their rank. Those that remained were combined into a single battalion
with the name Chasseurs Britanniques.
On 1 May 1801 the remnants of the Armée de Condé were
disbanded and the Chasseurs Britanniques corps was raised, a light
battalion consisting of six companies commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas
Charles le Forestier (commissioned 25 April 1801). The corps proceeded to
Trieste immediately, where it embarked for Malta. It was at Malta in early June
but almost immediately embarked again to reinforce the British army in Egypt.
It arrived in time to participate in the siege of Alexandria, being part of
Moore’s reserve, but saw very little fighting and suffered only minor
casualties. Returning to Malta, the Chasseurs Britanniques arrived on 15
October with a strength of 32 officers and 632 others.
- 1803: Early that year, the Chasseurs Britanniques moved to
the Isle of Wight and the Channel islands, were it was reinforced with émigrés,
possibly from recently disbanded émigré units. Later that same year the
corps returned to Malta, and then to Sicily.
- 1806: During the Maida campaign, three companies of the Chasseurs
Britanniques participated in the siege and capture of Reggio (9 July).
After that the corps saw a substantial increase of men, from 600 to 900,
because of the incorporation of many of the prisoners captured during this
campaign. Back on Sicily in September.
- 1807: Participating in the expedition to Alexandria in March,
suffering heavy loss in the attack on Rossetta, losing 300 men while covering
the retreat (31 March). Remaining in Alexandria until September, absorbing some
officers and men from Froberg’s Corps. General Fox mentions the good conduct of
the Chasseurs Britanniques and their ‘unimpeachable fidelity’. After the
Egypt campaign, the corps returned to Sicily, where additional foreigners were
enlisted.
- 1809: During Stuart’s expedition to the Bay of Naples the Chasseurs
Britanniques participated in a raid against French ports immediately
opposite Messina, including the island of Ischia (24 June) the castle of Scylla
(30 June).
- 1810: During autumn the Chasseurs Britanniques left Sicily
for the peninsula, reaching Cadix in November with a strength of 1,740 men in
twelve companies. On Wellington’s orders they were detained here for some time,
eventually reaching Lisbon on 27 January 1811. Two companies were however left
at Cadix until ordered to Lisbon as well on 1 January 1813.
- 1811: By General Order of
5 March the creation of the 7th Division was ordered, which included the
Chasseurs Britanniques. Taking part in the pursuit of Massena after he
was forced to abandon his positions in front of the Lines of Torres Vedras, the
corps distinguished itself by its steadiness and good conduct during the battle
of Fuentes d’Onoro (5 May), suffering 60 casualties. The 7th Division, placed
some way out as a flank guard, was taken in the rear by French cavalry which
had made a great circuit, and only escaped worse disaster because two
battalions, the 51st Regiment and the Chasseurs Britanniques, had time
to form front to flank, and a few British cavalry squadrons sacrificed
themselves in checking the enemy’s superior horse for a moment. The Chasseurs
Britanniques, placed behind a lose stone wall, poured such a fire that the
French cavalry recoiled, giving the British Light Division enough time to come
to the aid of the 7th Division. During the storming of Badajoz (7-10 June)
however, when forming ladder-parties, they threw away their ladders and fled!
- 1812: Present at the siege of Cuidad Rodrigo [?](19 January),
Larena (19 March), and siege of Salamanca Forts [?](21-28 June). Participating
in the attack on the French strongly held Retiro-strongpoint in Madrid (13-14
August), were the Chasseurs Britanniques entered through the botanical
gardens, using cover of the night to demolish about forty feet of the estate
wall which formed the outer line of defence of the French strongpoint. After
the following attack the French retreated on their second defence line and
capitulated that same day. Also present at Olmos (20 October).
- 1813: The Chasseurs Britanniques distinguished themselves
during the battle of Vitoria (21 June) by dislodging the enemy from La
Hermandad, suffering 140 casualties. Later that year on the second day of the
fighting at Sorauren (30 July) the corps was again sharply engaged, losing
nearly 50 casualties. Present at the Bidassoa (31 August), and at the battles
of Nivelles (10 November), and the Nive (9 December).
- 1814: Present at the battle of Orthez (27 February). On 12 March
the Chasseurs Britanniques reached Bordeaux, escorting the Duke of
Angouleme. In July the corps left Bordeaux for Britain again. A detachment
served as marines on the Ramillies off the American coast. On 5 October 1814
the Chasseurs Britanniques were disbanded in Lymington, its British
officers placed on half pay, foreigners receiving a gratuity based on their
length of service.
Battle record:
- Alexandria 1801
- Reggio 1806
- Rosetta 1807
- Bay of Naples 1809
- Fuentes d’Onoro 1811
- Badajoz 1811
- Cuidad Rodrigo 1812
- Larena 1812
- Salamanca 1812
- Retiro 1812
- Olmos 1812
- Vitoria 1813
- Sorouren 1813
- Bidassoa 1813
- Nivelles 1813
- Nive 1813
- Orthez 1814
Officers:
Colonel:
- 10 February 1803 until
disbandment: Colonel John Ramsey
Lieutenant-Colonels:
- 25 April 1801 –1809:
Lt-Col Thomas Charles le Forestier; placed on half-pay 1809
- 6 November 1806 [?] – 21
April 1808: Lt-Col James S. Barns; transferred to 1st Regiment Foot
- 21 April 1808 – 1810 [?]:
Lt-Col John B. O’Neill; transferred to 8th Regiment Light Dragoons
- 23 August 1810 until
disbandment: Lt-Col William Eustace
- 7 March 1811 until
disbandment: Lt-Col Mark Dufaure
- [?] until disbandment:
Brevet Lt-Col Alexis du Hautoy
Recruitment and
desertion:
Initially composed of French émigrés
the Chasseurs Britanniques behaved very well. Overall its fighting
record was and remained very good, but when the unit had to be kept up to
strength by enlisting prisoners of war and deserters of many origins, with
finally Poles, Croats, Italians, and some Swiss outnumbering the French, it
build a reputation for desertion: during 1811, the regiment lost 139 men by
desertion, 170 men in 1812, 224 men in 1813. It seems to have been the working
rule for the officers accepting ‘volunteers’ from the prison-camps to enlist
French and Italians into the Chasseurs Britanniques, while all Germans
were enlisted into the King’s German Legion or the Brunswick Oels Jägers; Swiss
were partially enlisted into the Chasseurs Britanniques, partially into
the Watteville’s Regiment; Poles and Croats were enlisted in no specific units.
At this time, French deserters were not of the calibre of the old émigrés,
but a conscribed soldier who enlisted either for a change to get a chance to
desert back to its own army, or a mauvais sujet, without patriotic
feelings or morality, ready to fight against his own countrymen for pay and
plunder. The latter had of course no inspiring cause to keep them true to their
colours.
The
officers of the Chasseurs Britanniques still were almost without
exception French royalists, during the later years mostly sons from the
original French émigrés, still fighting for their cause, under any
colours, to avenge the death of Louis XVI, the atrocities of the Terror, or
other personal reasons. With a personal hatred for the new French regime they
were fierce and desperate fighters. They kept their unreliable men committed to
their charge under an iron discipline, and used the lash freely. It was their
doing that made the Chasseurs Britanniques into an efficient fighting
force, but they could not stop desertion nor frequent misconduct. For example
on 5 October 1812, two corporals and sixteen chasseurs had deserted as a body,
but were caught, of which sixteen turned out to be Italian, one Swiss and the
last one Croat. This was only the largest case of a constant series of
desertions, the corps melting away whenever it came near the French lines.
Wellington issued a standing order that the Chasseurs Britanniques
should never be entrusted with outpost duty. Nevertheless, as a fighting force
its record was good, due to the efforts of their officers.
Uniform:
The Chasseurs Britanniques were
originally dressed in green with yellow facings; black half-lapels, pointed
cuffs, shoulder straps and turnbacks; grey long breeches; black half-gaiters;
cylindrical shako with black cockade and green plume, white metal bugle horn
badge; their equipment and accoutrements were still Russian.
In
1803, while on the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, uniform was changed
in British red coats with light blue collar and cuffs; white turnbacks; silver
lace for officers, white with a red and light blue stripe for others; white
breeches with short black half gaiters; black stovepipe shako with white over
red plume and a brass plate on the front; grenadier companies had a white
plume, light companies a green plume; black leather sword and bayonet belts for
all ranks. Officers had a large bicorn hat with a white over red cut feather
plume; light company officers wore a shako with green plume; company officers
had silver epaulettes on the shoulders, grenadier and light company officers
had silver wings on each shoulder with grenade and bugle horn devices. Officers
had also bugle-horn badges on the turnbacks. Crimson sash for officers, and a
red sash with a central light blue stripe for the sergeants. Officers had a
gilt hilted sword in a brown leather scabbard, mounted with gilt.
As
far as I know, the Chasseurs Britanniques had no colours.
Main sources used:
- Some data on the
officers provided by Ron McGuigan
- "Versuch einer
Geschichte der französischen Emigranten-Corps", in ’Militairsches
Taschenbuch’ 6. Jahrggang (Leipzig, 1826)
- “Uniform info” in ‘Military Modelling’
magazine, November 1975
- Atkinson, C.T., "Foreign Regiments
in the British Army, 1793-1802”, in ‘Journal of the Society for Army Historical
Research’ Vol. XXII
- Chartrand, René & Courcelle, Patrice,
“Emigré & Foreign Troops in British Service” Vol. 1 (Osprey Men-at-Arms
No.328) and Vol. 2 (Osprey Men-at-Arms No.335)
- Haythornthwaite, Philip J., “Uniforms of
the Peninsular War in Colour 1807-1814 (1978), reprint Arms and Armour Press
(London 1995)
- Oman, Sir Charles, “Wellington’s Army,
1809-1814” (London 1913), reprint Greenhill Books (London 1986)
© Geert van Uythoven