This is an excellent volume on the Imperial Guard which features not only excellent line drawings of uniforms and equipment of the Guard but also primary source material on the tables of organization of the different Guard units as well as the Imperial Decrees, and their dates, that formed and organized the Guard units. Anyone who is interested in the Imperial Guard, the individual units of the Guard, as well researching the Guard's formation, this volume is invaluable.
An example of the Imperial Decrees forming the Guard units follows for the Guard infantry taken from the book:
-Decree of 29 July 1804: The reorganization of the Consular to the Imperial Guard for all Guard units.
-Decree of 15 April 1806: The new organization of the Grenadiers a Pied and Chasseurs a Pied.
-Decree of 19 September 1806: The organization of the Fusilier-Grenadiers from the Regiment of Velites.
-Decree of 1 October 1808: The reorganization of two grenadier regiments back into one regiment each.
-Decree of 13 September 1810: The creation of the Dutch Grenadiers.
-Decree of 8 April 1815: The organization of the four regiments of grenadiers a pied.
-Decree of 15 December 1806: The organization of the fusiliers-chasseurs and the fusiliers-grenadiers from the 2 regiments of velites..
-Decree of 16 January 1809: The creation of the tirailleurs-grenadiers and the tirailleurs-chasseurs.
-Decree of 25 April 1809: The creation of the 2d regiment of tirailleurs-grenadiers and tirailleurs-chasseurs.
-Decree of 30 December 1810: Change of title for the 1st and 2d regiments of tirailleurs-grenadiers to the 1st and 2d regiments of tirailleurs. Change of title of the 1st and 2d regiments of tirailleurs-chasseurs to the 1st and 2d regiment of voltigeurs.
-Decree of 29 March 1809 created the 1st regiment of conscrits-grenadiers.
-Decree of 31 March 1809 created the 2d regiment of conscrits-grenadiers.
-Decree of 4 September 1811 created the flanker-chasseurs.
-Decree of 23 March 1813 created the flanker-grenadiers.
-Decree of 30 December 1810: Change of title of the conscript-grenadiers to 3d and 4th regiments of tirailleurs. Change of title of the conscript-chasseurs to 3d and 4th regiments of voltigeurs.
There was one possible error in that the Flanquers-Chasseurs were probably formed before the Flanquers-Grenadiers, and that change is reflected in the above decree listing.
Absolutely Hans-Karl. I have learned so much from the selfless sharing of people on here. The depth and breath of knowledge is truly humbling and awe inspiring.