@Geert van Uythoven and @Hans - Karl Weiß thank you for referencing an excellent review.Another nail in the coffin of the ‘credible secondary sources’ theory. Good and even great historians can, probably for perfectly valid reasons, produce imperfect works. These could, and should, be superseded by better use of primary sources if applicable. I agree with NDL, I found the names very hard to follow and the sympathies of the author distracting.Sadly, ‘credible’ and ‘excellent’ are often just code for ‘agrees with me’ or ‘shares my biases and prejudices’. My bookshelves are filled with books by people with whom I don’t agree, but I’m happy to take on board when the footnotes are referenced and evidenced appropriately. I retain the right to change my mind!
The Irish Regiment, which finished its career under the Empire as the 3d Regiment Entranger, was the successor to the old, famous Brigade Irlandais of the old Royal Army.
It was formed as a single battalion in 1803, it became a veritable 'foreign legion' although it did retain a tough, Irish core that was always ready to fight. Napoleon apparently referred to it as 'this Irish regiment we recruit in German.'
The regiment refused to turn its eagle in to the Bourbons in 1814, either destroying it or hiding it.
under FitzHenry, the 2nd battalion managed to keep an active force in thefield in the Peninsula, mustering between 500 and 550 effectives from April toDecember 1810 – a respectable number when compared with other foreignunits.34 Though the Irish Legion became ‘The Irish Regiment’ in May 1809,and Colonel Daniel o’Meara was appointed commander,35 FitzHenry remainedcommander in Spain until o’Meara’s arrival. However, o’Meara’s dismissalfor incompetence by Junot,36 placed FitzHenry again at the top in Spain, butthe unit was shocked by a second defection in early 1811, that of FitzHenryhimself, this time to Wellington.By December 1811, the demoralized and reduced battalion had been
Well said, I agree fully.
The Memoirs of Miles Byrne, 3 volumes, also available at archive.org, have a wealth of information about the Irish. See also:
Gallaher is an excellent historian. He has also written biographies of Davout and Vandamme.
This is an excellent reference for the Regiment Irlandaise:
Napoleon's Irish Legion: Gallaher B.A. M.A. Ph.D., Professor John G.: 9780809318254: Amazon.com: Books
The Irish Regiment, which finished its career under the Empire as the 3d Regiment Entranger, was the successor to the old, famous Brigade Irlandais of the old Royal Army.
It was formed as a single battalion in 1803, it became a veritable 'foreign legion' although it did retain a tough, Irish core that was always ready to fight. Napoleon apparently referred to it as 'this Irish regiment we recruit in German.'
The regiment refused to turn its eagle in to the Bourbons in 1814, either destroying it or hiding it.
Thanks!
The unit was commanded by Colonel Daniel Joseph O'Meara from May 17, 1809 to November 12, 1811.