Napoleon did not officially classify the Imperial Guard into Old, Middle, or Young Guard until 1812, shortly before the beginning of the Russian campaign. The organization of the senior regiments of Grenadiers a Pied and Chasseurs a Pied changed from time to time, and the regiments were increased, and then decreased, periodically until finally in 1815 there were four each Old Guard regiments of grenadiers and chasseurs.
Organization:
1804:
Grenadiers a Pied:
The regiment had two battalions of 8 companies each. Each company had four officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals, 1 fourrier, 2 corporal sapeurs, 2 drummers, and 80 grenadiers.
There was one battalion of velites of five companies. Each company had 2 officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sargeants, 8 corporals, 2 drummers, and 172 velites.
Chasseurs a Pied:
The regiment had two battalions of 8 companies each. Each company had four officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals, 1 fourrier, 2 corporal sapeurs, 2 drummers, and 80 chasseurs.
There was one battalion of velites of five companies. Each company had 2 officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sargeants, 8 corporals, 2 drummers, and 172 velites.
1806:
Grenadiers a Pied:*
Two regiments of grenadiers and one regiment of velites were formed by a decree of 15 April 1806. Each of the three regiments was composed of two battalions. Each grenadier battalion had four companies of 120 grenadiers. The grenadier companies had 3 officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals, 1 fourrier, 2 corporal sapeurs, 2 drummers and 102 grenadiers. When on a war footing, two companies of velites would march with each grenadier battalion.
Each velite company was composed of 2 officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals, 1 fourrier, 2 drummers, and 150 velites.
Chasseurs a Pied:*
Two regiments of chasseurs and one regiment of velites were formed by a decree of 15 April 1806. Each of the three regiments was composed of two battalions. Each chasseur battalion had four companies of 120 chasseurs. The chasseur companies had 3 officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals, 1 fourrier, 2 corporal sapeurs, 2 drummers and 102 chasseurs. When on a war footing, two companies of velites would march with each chasseur battalion.
Each velite company was composed of 2 officers, 1 sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 8 corporals, 1 fourrier, 2 drummers, and 150 velites.
1810:
By a decree of 13 September 1810 the 2d Grenadiers a Pied (Dutch) were created when the Kingdom of Holland was annexed to France. They were renumbered the 3d Grenadiers a Pied when a new French 2d Regiment of Grenadiers a Pied were reformed in anticipation of the invasion of Russia by a decree of 18 May 1811. The regiment lost heavily in Russia and its survivors were put into the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers a Pied.
1815:
Grenadiers a Pied:
By a decree of 8 April 1815 3 regiments of Grenadiers a Pied of the Old Guard were ordered to be formed, each to be of two battalions of four companies each, each company to be between 150 and 200 grenadiers. On 9 May 1815 the 4th Grenadiers were ordered to be formed by decree. All four regiments were Old Guard. The 1st Regiment numbered 32 officers and 1,000 other ranks. The 2d Regiment 34 officers and 1,060 other ranks; the 3d Regiment 34 officers and 1,146 other ranks, and, apparently, the 4th Regiment consisted of a single battalion of 508 all ranks.
Chasseurs a Pied:
By a decree of 8 April 1815 3 regiments of Chasseurs a Pied of the Old Guard were ordered to be formed, each to be of two battalions of four companies each, each company to be between 150 and 200 chasseurs. The 4th Chasseurs a Pied were ordered formed by decree on 9 May 1815. All four regiments were Old Guard. The 1st Regiment numbered 41 officers and 1,307 other ranks; the 2d Regiment 35 officers and 1,200 other ranks; the 3d Regiment 38 officers and 1,100 other ranks.
*After the 1807 campaign the 2d Regiments of Grenadiers and Chasseurs were amalgamated with the 1st Regiments only to be reformed in 1811.
References:
-La Garde Imperiale by L Fallou.
-The Anatomy of Glory by Henry Lachouque.
I would appreciate that you would source your statements.
Especially when your references are 45 and 59 years old respectively. They are both fine works, although perhaps a little old fashioned. In the intervening half century or so, has no one produced any further original research of note?
Sorry to be pedantic, but Fallou's book was originally published in 1901 - the 45 year old edition you refer to was a reprint of that
Thanks Paul, I missed that. Which makes the position even worse. But that highlights the ‘danger’ of works that get considered definitive. If all we do is sit back for a hundred years and lamely quote it then where is the incentive to re-examine? Availability of sources, methods, techniques and attitudes will have all changed. Sometimes for the worse, losses to WW2 bombing for example,. So older works may still have value because they may be our only insight into items long gone. However, modern conservation is allowing new access and modern IT equipment allows for better statistical analysis.
@david Tomlinson
Of course I would agree that no work would be definitive, on the other hand I have to say that a lot of books published 100 years ago - will still hold the test of time, there at this time, seemingly research was impeccably conducted - you see this with Fallou - a great book it still is, but does it cover the whole Guard? - The Anatomy of Glory is more like edutainment, at least that one edited, re - written by ASK Brown, it is not a translation of Lachouques original work -
I have eliminated many names and details.preface XVSo in case you would like to learn more detail, you have to consult the real Lachouque.
There are only very few recent researchers who would go and check the original documents - like Dawson - and they unearth quite a lot of very interesting details, unfortunately those hard work will stand in the shadows of those older works mentioned.