"These people only know how to fight !"
The charge of "these gallant horsemen [at Somosierra]"
"You are worthy of my Old Guard
I proclaim you my bravest cavalry !"
- Napoleon
"can hardly be paralleled in the annals of war."
- William Napier, British Army
1. Introduction. 2. The Poles entered France. 3. Uniforms. 4. Weapons. 5. Horses. 6. Battle Record 7. Campaigns: - - - - - - 1808 in Spain > - - - - - - 1809 in Austria > - - - - - - 1810-11 > - - - - - - 1812 in Russia > - - - - - - 1813 in Germany > - - - - - - 1814 in France > - - - - - - 1815 Elba Squadron >
"... I ordered, 'Charge !' and |
"We charged at full speed, I was about 10 paces in front with my head bent down, uttering our war cry by way of distracting my attention from the din of the enemy's fire which was all breaking out at once and the infernal hiss of their bullets and grape shot. ... Our warlike cries were becoming lost in the cries of pain of the unfortunate Poles; I did not dare to turn my head, fearing that the sad spectacle would cause me to give up. ... One officer alone was following me, Rudowski, I believe, a colossus, like most of these picked men. He was still on horseback, but wounded to death, staggering, and on the point of falling off with his face to the enemy. ... Nearly the whole of the squadron was laid low ... twenty alone had escaped this massacre safe and sound. These had assisted their wounded to retire, so that, over the whole of the remaining ground covered by our charge. I only saw one trumpeter left standing, motionless in the midst of the firing which was still going on. The poor child was weeping for his squadron..." - de Segur, Somosierra 1808
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Introduction. Picture: trumpeters of Lighthorse of the Imperial Guard in parade uniforms in Paris. Picture by L. Rousselot, France. In 1807 Napoleon authorized the raising of a guard regiment of Polish light horse. His main object in so doing was probably political, a first token of his promise to establish an independent Polish state.
Whatever his motives,he obtained the services of some of the finest soldiers who ever
served under him. Qualifications for enlistment were high. Applicants must be landowners
or the sons of landowners. Some financial backing was certainly necessary, as those accepted
had to provide their own uniforms, saddlery and horses.
The Poles reached Paris, having established a considerable reputation for drunkenness and disorder on the way. Under General Lasalle they were given an intensive course in horsemanship and discipline. They soon proved their value in action. Picture: officer of Lighthorse of the Imperial Guard in parade uniform. Picture by S.Letin, Russia. In November 1808, Emperor Napoleon was advancing on Madrid. Across his road lay the Sierra de Guadarrama, crossed by the Somosierra pass defended by 12,000 Spaniards. Marshal Victor, commanding the advanced guard, set about forcing the pass by conventional means, sending infantry to the high ground on either side. Napoleon was impatient. He ordered light cavalry to storm the pass. When one of the French commanders raised not unreasonable difficulties, the Emperor turned to the Poles who were acting as his escort and told them to charge. One hundred and fifty horsemen charged uphill for a mile and a half, storming four successive batteries, two of them covered by earthworks. As they approached the crest the Spaniards fired their cannons and muskets and fled. Eighty-three of the Poles were casualties, including all seven officers. It was an incredible feat for light cavalry. At that time they were armed only with light cavalry sabers and carbines. They were issued with lances in the following year (in the end of 1809). Their uniform was Polish from the start; the square-topped cap or czapka, jacket or kurtka was dark blue with crimson facing and white piping, the trousers were also dark blue with crimson stripes. Officers were distinguished by silver lace and piping. When lances were issued they had pennants in the Polish colors, red over white.
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The Poles entered France. The Poles reached France and Paris. Dinners, parties, and other gayeties were treats to the Poles after long marching and insufficient supplies. Henri Lachoque describes their entry into France: "A third detachment appeared in January. Passing through Chalons it ran afoul of the chief of police who reported: 'Each trooper is a law unto himself and races through the streets at full gallop. Drunkenness is rife and discipline nonexistent. Marshal Kellermann gave the Poles a warm welcome. He had known them of old and spoke their language, being a veteran of their war of independence from Russia. ... In Paris the Poless were warmly welcomed by the Imperial Guard and entertained at banquets at the Emperor's expense. The regiment was proud that its members all came from Old Poland rather than 'South Prussia'." The Poles met famous General Lasalle. An officer of the Poles wrote: "It was in Lasalle's school that we learned outpost duty. We have kept a precious memory of this general in whom all the lovable and imposing qualities of a born marshal were combined ... He should have replaced Murat to whom he was vastly superior ... "
In honor of the Poles, Lasalle composed a verse to the tune of their regimental march which he immortalized by singing it as he led them into battle:
Now the Poles have come to Spain; ... For Poles and Frenchmen, in one breath, Could put all men on earth to death !" The Poles were in a daily contact with the battle-hardened veterans of the Imperial Guard (Horse Grenadiers and Chasseurs). Soon they were fully trained and acquired discipline that made the regiment outstanding. Napoleon brigaded the Polish chevaulegeres with the Chasseurs-a-Cheval, his personal escort.
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Uniforms of the Polish Lightorse-Lancers.
For parade the troopers did the following: was removed and the headwear was decorated with a white plume. For campaign the lapels were turned under.[2] his service trousers. The overalls were called pantalon de voyage were reinforced with leather on the inside of each leg and around their bottoms. A toned down version of the parade uniform was worn in battle (not in skirmish). The toned down version was something between the parade and campaign uniform. During campaign the lance pennon was protected by a cover. In 1809 were issued white capotes with sleeves and shoulder cape. They had red collars.
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Weapons of the Polish Lightorse-Lancers. In the beginning they were armed with sabers, pistols and carbines with bayonets. The sabers and pistols were primarily drawn from captured Prussian stocks, generally being of indifferent quality. (Rousselot - "Napoleon's Elite Cavalry") The Prussian weapons were gradually replaced with excellent French weapons. Henri Lachoque writes: "The Polish lighthorse ... had become lancers to satisfy the demand of their chief Count Krasinski. Their training in the new weapon began in earnest when Major Fredro returned from leave in Poland bringing back manuals and exhibiting amazing skill in handling the lance. ... Dautancourt proposed permitting only the front rank of a squadron to carry lances for fear that in charging those in the 2nd rank might injure the horses and men in front. Furthermore, a lighthorseman armed with a lance, carbine, bayonet, saber, and 2 pistols would hardly continue to be a lighthorseman ! But Dautancourt was voted down. All troopers of the regiment were armed with lances ... Experience proved Dautancourt correct." The Poles were eager to show their skill with their traditional weapon, the lance. In 1809 in Vienna, NCO Jordan, called upon dragoons of Napoleon's Guard, to "fight" him. Two battle-hardened veterans stepped out, he unhorsed both. This friendly duel was watched by Napoleon, Marshal Murat, and staff officers. (see picture -->) Since then on the primary weapon became lance. It was issued in the end of 1809 to troopers of both ranks. However soon it had become evident that the 2nd rank in a charge didn't need lances. Form then on they were armed in an "old Polish style", that means only part of the troopers of the 1st rank were armed with lances.
Company of 125 men was armed as follow:
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1808: Campaign in Spain In 1807-08 the regiment had 60 officers and approx. 1,000 other ranks in four squadrons. (In the history of regiment were total of 195 officers of these 22 were Frenchmen.) The squadron of Guard Lighthorse had two companies of 125 men each.
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STAFF : In 1808 the regiment was moved from Poland, through France and to Spain. Officer Chlapowski writes: "I spent 3 days in Bayonne, just at the time when the old Spanish king, Charles IV, his queen, and the Prince of Peace [Godoy] were leaving for Valencay, where the Emperor was to imprison them. ... The Emperor also invited Ferdinand to Bayonne, but refused to recognize him as king and packed him off to Valencay as well. ... The Emperor and Empress lived in the palace of Marac a quarter of a mile from the city on the road to Pamplona. ... A battalion of Old Guard Foot Grenadiers were camped in tents by the chateau, so close that only a carriage could pass between them and the wall. Right beside them were 200 Basques from the Pyrenees, who had formed a guard of honor for the Emperor. Their costume was a short blue jacket, short black breeches ... They were fine looking, lively people, and reputedly good shots. Five hundred paces further on along the Pamplona road was a squadron of our Polish Guard Lighthorse under Cpt. Dziewanowski." (Chlapowski/Simmons - "Memoirs of a Polish Lancer" p 33) Chlapowski continues: "There can be no frontier in Europe which so starkly divides two such markedly different countries. ... On one side of the Bidassoa the people are short, cheerful and lively, and on the other side [Spanish] tall, serious and dreary. On the French side, little houses ... are scattered here and there, over more or less flat countryside, while on the far side stands the town of Irun, hewn from the local stone, with high mountains behind it into which the road climbs immediately on leaving the town, twisting and turning upwards from peak to peak until it reaches Vittoria ... There wass a post rider, a Spaniard in his great cape, galloping along in front of me. His horse's bridle was covered with bells, so at night, although I could not see him, I could always hear him. Spanish post horses are marvellous mounts ... " (Chlapowski/Simmons - p 35) Chlapowski and his troop went on to Vittoria, Miranda and reached the battlefield at Somosierra, about which they had been told on the way. There were still several bodies of Polish lighthorsemen in the snow, which continued to cover the summit of Somosierra. Chlapowski found some severely wounded men who had not yet been transported ! They told him about the charge, claiming all the officers and over half the men had been killed and wounded. The ambulances soon arrived and took the wounded to Madrid. "The action fought at the pass of Somosierra on 30 Nov 1808 marked the culmination of a dramatic campaign that had seen the French army more than avenge Bailen. The Spanish armies had been swept aside, whilst the emperor had reached the very gates of Madrid. At the heart of this situation, it has often been argued, was the influence of Bailen." (Esdaile - "The Peninsular War" p 109) On picture: Awed Emperor salutes the wounded Poles after their charge at Somosiera 1808. Picture by Wojciech Kossak. According to napoleon-series.org the Battle of Somosierra or Battle of Madrid, in itself would be forgotten by most, except for the valor of the troops involved. The main participant of the charge was the III Squadron of Polish Guard lighthorsemen. The Spaniards refused to flee, they stubbornly defended their guns to the very last and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. The charge took between 7 and 25 minutes (Marian Kukiel gave 8-10 min., Kossak 7-8 min., and Niegolewski simply "several minutes'). The Poles took 16 guns in frontal assault and broke through enemy's lines. The battle was won. De Segur gave a fascinating description of the charge: "We charged at full speed, I was about 10 paces in front with my head bent down, uttering our war cry by way of distracting my attention from the din of the enemy's fire which was all breaking out at once and the infernal hiss of their bullets and grape shot. ... Our warlike cries were becoming lost in the cries of pain of the unfortunate Poles; I did not dare to turn my head, fearing that the sad spectacle would cause me to give up. ... One officer alone was following me, Rudowski, I believe, a colossus, like most of these picked men. He was still on horseback, but wounded to death, staggering, and on the point of falling off with his face to the enemy. ... Nearly the whole of the squadron was laid low ... twenty alone had escaped this massacre safe and sound. These had assisted their wounded to retire, so that, over the whole of the remaining ground covered by our charge. I only saw one trumpeter left standing, motionless in the midst of the firing which was still going on. The poor child was weeping for his squadron..."
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1809: Campaign in Austria. In 1809 "Napoleon wanted as many Austrian officers as possible captured and sent to his headquarters; he also ordered prisoners captured by Eugene at Raab escorted by Polish lancers, picked for their intelligence, who were to chat casually with them and obtain all possible information concerning their regiments." (Elting - "Swords Around a Throne") The regiment was present at the battle of Wagram. Lachoque writes: "The weather cleared, revealing a superb view. In the distance the Poles saw the Kahlenberg, its summit still haunted by the ghost of [King] Sobieski who had delivered Vienna from the Turks in 1683." (Lachoque - "The Anatomy of Glory" p 161).
The Austrians had retired to the Russbach, with their center
at Wagram, and left at Neusuedl. The next day the Poles and Guard chasseurs advanced, their cloaks slung
over one shoulder, ready to charge.
Chlapowski delivered the orders to the Polish Guard Lighthorse and French Guard Chasseurs-a-Cheval to attack the Austrian Schwarzenberg Uhlans and Latour Dragoons. The two front squadrons of the Poles were commanded by Delaitre (a Frenchman) and the other two by Kozietulski ("Hero of Somosierra"). Delaitre was senior to Kozietulski but he was short-sighted and wore spectacles. Seeing the uhlans preparing to charge, and overestimating their strength, he decided that the regiment should retire on the Guard Chasseurs-a-Cheval who were in support to the rear. Being the senior officer he ordered the entire regiment to turn right about face. Kozietulski saw the danger that the uhlans would catch the regiment from behind, and so immediately gave the same order again. So having twice turned about face, the Lighthorse again found themselves facing the Austrian uhlans.
Kozietulski ordered: "Advance at the trot !" The Poles fought well, they captured 150
prisoners including several officers and the Duke of Auersberg. Majority of the prisoners were
Poles who no longer wanted to serve in the Austrian army. It was the greatest 'catch' the
regiment enjoyed.
Colonel Wincenty Krasinski Major Pierre Dautancourt Major Antoine-Charles-Bernard Delaitre Adjutant-Major Ignace-Louis Duvivier Adjutant-Major Ladislas Poleretzky Quartermaster Antoine Raulet Paymaster - ??? I SQUADRON - Tomasz Lubienski II SQUADRON - Jan Leon Hipolit Kozietulski III SQUADRON - Ignacy Ferdinand Stokowski IV SQUADRON - Henryk Ignacy Kamienski |
1810-11: in Netherlands. In 1810 and 1811 the regiment rested and enjoyed good time in France. Many lighthorsemen were awarded, for example Kozietulski received Legion d'Honneur and the title of baron of Empire. Wincenty Krasinski was promoted to the rank of general.
The Poles also escorted Emperor and his wife on their trip to Belgium.
Chlapowski writes: "In Spring 1811 I was ordered to take 150 of our lancers and 150
Guard Chasseurs-a-Cheval to Boulogne, where the Emperor was to make a visit.
He arrived soon after us. There was one division there, in the same camp which
the whole army had occupied in 1804 preparing for the invasion of England, and from which
it had set off for Ulm, Austerlitz, and later, Jena in 1806. There were also a few hundred
barges still in Boulogne, which had been collected to transport the army to England.
The Emperor had the division put though its paces, then went on board one of the boats.
I was detailed to bring along 50 chasseurs, and the whole flotilla put to sea.
The weather was quite calm all morning, and our oarsmen had an easy job of it.
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1812: Invasion of Russia.
The regiment spent the winter of 1811-1812 very happily in Paris.
Chlapowski: "... the Emperor decided on his return from Holland to provide entertainment
for his much younger bride, and so every day there was a reception or ball, sometimes in the
Tuileries, sometimes at the house of one of his sisters ...
The regiment was very strong and formed entire brigade.
STAFF : Colonel - GdB Jan Konopka First Grosmajor - Pierre Dautancourt Second Grosmajor - Dominik Radziwill . . . . . I SQUADRON - Jan Leon Hipolit Kozietulski . . . . . II SQUADRON - Dezydery Chlapowski . . . . . III SQUADRON - Jan Pawel Jerzmanowski . . . . . IV SQUADRON - Piotr Krasinski . . . . . V SQUADRON - Seweryn Fredro . . . . . VI SQUADRON - Stanislaw Rostworowski Some sources mention only five squadrons (total of 10 companies). One company of Vistula Uhlans was attached to this regiment and numbered 11th Company. The regiment on the march would be to walk for the first hour, then stop for 10 minutes to dismount, give our horses water, and tighten all their saddle straps. After an hour's march every horse loses weight off its stomach and the straps loosen, so it is a good idea to tighten them. The men then remounted and walked on for a few hundred paces, then break into a trot if the ground allowed and continue for 2 hours. When they reached destination the quartermaster would distribute billeting cards. One squadron of the Poles served as escort to Marshal Davout, another squadron to the Emperor. The regiment reached Wilia River and Napoleon ordered Kozietulski's troop to chase off some Cossacks who had collected on the far bank. One of the Polish officers wrote: "Our boys jumped into the water and some were drowned, but the Cossacks disappeared."
De Segur writes that "Napoleon ordered a squadron of Poles to throw themselves into
the river. Unhesitatingly these elite troops do so. At first they ride in good order,
and when they can no longer touch bottom they redouble their efforts. Swimming, they soon
reach midstream. But the current, which is at its swiftest there, scatters them. Their
horses panic. Their loss is certain, but it;s their own country that lies ahead, their
devotion is to the liberator ! About to be engulfed, they renounce their efforts, and
turning their heads towards Napoleon, shout
A deputation came from Polish parliament in Warsaw to ask the Emperor to announce the union
of Lithuania and the Duchy of Warsaw, but the Emperor gave an ambiguous reply which saddened
many lancers.
Napoleon wanted to appease Russia, but the Tsar refused to make peace.
Chlapowski writes: "The Emperor would then find himslef at war at both ends of Europe,
in Spain and in Poland. That way he could never bring England to heel. ... From Vilnius we
eventually marched off with the Emperor to Glebokie on the Vitebsk Road.
A few miles short of this city there was a bloody skirmish at Ostrowno ...
"News reached the headquarters at Dabrowna that a Russian force had crossed the Dnieper
River ... The Emperor sent four squadrons [from the total of six] of Polish Guards under
Kozietulski to investigate. We set off after midnight, and ... arrived at a spot half mile
from Katane. There we encountered our first Cossacks. Our main body halted by some building
and one squadron went out to meet them. The Cossacks retreated off to our left, towards the
Dnieper. At about this time the sun rose and we were able to see the country round about.
To our front stood a line of cavalry on the crest of a hill, screened by a few hundred
Cossacks. Kozietulski now recalled the first platoon, which had already come to grips with
the Cossacks, and he formed the leading squadron into line. The regular cavalry must have
been able to see our other three squadrons in support, as they did not move from their
position.
Smolensk is on the left bank of Dnieper River. Chlapowski writes: "From the Emperor's tent
we could see all of Smolensk ... There were masses of Cossacks circling in front of the city.
Between the French line and the city walls was a massive gully into which the Cossacks had
spilled. As I was on duty that day, I was ordered by the Emperor to take a squadron and force
the Cossacks wiwthdrew.
The entire regiment spent the whole time in a hollow, and only once moved to higher ground,
and that was when the French, Polish and Saxon cuirassiers charged the Russian infantry in
Raievski Redoubt. The regiment moved in support and charge in turn if the heavies were
repulsed.
The cuirassiers captued the earthwork and cut the infantry to pieces. The day after battle
the Poles and the Red Lancers set off to the south of the great Moscow Road.
In the Polish Guard Lancer Regiment served men from eastern parts of Poland who spoke some Russian language. These were used as translators or put into the advance guard. They would speak Russian to anybody they came across and pass themselves off as Russian troops. Some of the locals knew that the Russian army had uhlan regiments, so they mistook the Polish Guard for one of those units.
The Dutch 'Red Lancers' had no knowldge of Russian language, so General Colbert added 1 or 2 Poles to each Dutch outpost.
In Moscow, officer Chlapowski was ordered to leave 1 officer and 25 lancers in the
Kremlin where Napoleon was. Chlapowski was given quarters in the palace of Prince Lubanov,
Colonel Krasinski in the palace of Baryshnikov, the great banker.
Near Malo-Yaroslavetz the Cossacks attacked Napoleon's headquarters at Gorodnia [Horodnia].
The only troops with the Emperor was the Duty Squadron of the Guard Lancers under Kozietulski.
Kozietulski's men threw themselves at the swarm of Cossacks, Kozietulski was pierced by
lance "which entered his shoulder as far as the bone." It was a dramatic fight. There
then appeared the Old Guard Horse Grenadiers in line formation and the Cossacks disappeared
into the forest.
(In Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw is exhibited his uniform with the
visible hole in the sleeve and stained in blood). The Cossacks returned in large numbers and
surrounded the Red Lancers on three sides.
The Dutch lost more than 100 men and the Poles lost approx. 20 killed and wounded.
Chlapowski writes: "This was the fault of General
Colbert, (ext.link) who over-reacted to the threat to an isolated squadron by hurling everything he had at the enemy.
We could have avoided suffering losses if he had charged with only a few squadrons and
followed up with the rest of the brigade at a slow and orderly pace. You should never
engage your whole strength at once, especially when dealing with Cossacks. This was
the worst loss we suffered during the entire Russian campaign. The Dutchmen were less
experienced than our men and did not know how to handle Cossacks. Every time they were
in the rearguard they would lose a few men, and the Cossacks were becoming increasingly bold
in attacking them. So one day Colbert ordered a squadron of our boys to swap their white greatcoats for the Dutch ones." (to confuse the enemy)
The Dutchmen were brave men, no doubt about it, but not well suited for this campaign. The Poles, whose homeland habitually suffered bitter winters and cold winds from the east,
will have been better prepared for the hardships, mentally and perhaps physically.
After the battle of Krasne Napoleon moved toward Smolensk. Murat ordered the regiment
to follow him at the trot and then ordered to charge right in to the village occupied by Russian jagers. The Poles suffered 10 killed and wounded before they reached the center of the village.
The cavalry was unable to gallop in deep snow, they lost several horses to close range fire, came out the other side and formed up again. Napoleon was furious at Murat and sent a single infantry company (of Old Guard Foot Grenadiers) who took the village without a single shot.
The Foot Grenadiers also freed several Poles who had been unhorsed and taken prisoner by
the jagers. Chlapowski was greatly impressed with the Foot Grenadiers, saying that they "stood as solid as a wall."
During retreat from Russia the Polish Guard Lancers and the French Guard Chasseurs formed
Napoleon's escort. Napoleon said to the Poles: "I count on you. In case of certain danger I want you to kill
me rather than let me be captured." The Poles responded: "We shall all be hacked to pieces
rather than permit anyone to approach you !"
The 7th Company of the Guard Lancers and the French Guard Chasseurs-a-Cheval formed Napoleon's escort and accompanied the Emperor through Lithuania. The rest of the Guard Lancer Regiment
escorted Emperor's money and baggage. Lachoque writes: "Dressed in a Polish costume consisting of a green pelisse
and a cap of marten fur, Napoleon had so far traveled in his closed carriage."
(Lachoque - "The Anatomy of Glory" p 251)
The lancers also guarded their regimental cook Garlinski
"like hawks". He busy himself cooking whatever the lancers collected, flour, beef and horse meat.
Every morning before setting off, every lancer would receive a round of bread and a piece of meat.
They crossed the Niemen River at Kovno, left the hostile territory behind and entered Lithuania.
They no longer slept in the open.
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1813: in Germany. Picture: Guard Lighthorseman vs Prussian Death Head's hussar, by W.Kossak. This picture is not authentic in its details but is evidence of the enduring interest in the regiment. After the retreat from Russia and massive losses the regiment was forced to accept many young soldiers without battle experience. In the beginning of April 1813 the regiment had 531 men in 3 squadrons and was part of 1st Guard Cavalry Division. In mid August 1813 they still were part of the 1st Guard Cavalry Division, their strength however was increased to 7 squadrons (1.380 men) In Dresden in 1813, the Guard Lancers suffered from artillery fire. Officer Julian Krasinski had his head taken off by cannonball in front of the regiment. Officer Kruszewski was mortally wounded. But the Guard Lancers had no reason to complain, at Dresden Napoleon defeated Russia, Prussia and Austria, all three participants of the partitions of Kingdom of Poland. In Hanau "Colonel Dautancourt and his Polish lancers sabered the Bavarian light-horse (picture, ext.link) so effectively that General Nansouty announced that the Colonel 'might consider himself promoted to major general." (Lachoque - "The Anatomy of Glory" p 323) On Sept 16th 1813 at Peterswalde the Guard Lancers put to rout the Prussian Life Hussars. NCO Mierzejewski wounded Colonel Friedrich von Blucher, a relative of the well-known General Blucher, and took him prisoner. Officer Jankowski was awarded with a star of the Légion d'honneur [Legion of Honor] and the whole regiment won fame. The campaign in Saxony was a busy time for the Guard Lancers. They participated in numerous skirmishes and several battles. The Polish Guard Lancers, the Red Lancers and the Berg Lancers formed brigade under General Charles comte Lefebvre-Desnouettes (1773 - 1822) He was a very brave man. He participated in every major campaign and after the Napoleonic Wars he escaped to the United States, and spent the next few years farming in Louisiana.
In May near Zgorzelec (Gorlitz) General Walther was ordered to take all regiments of the
cavalry of Imperial Guard and move to the right. Walther's force met Russian rearguard at Reichenbach.
Chlapowski describes the actions of his regiment: "We marched off by platoons, and crossing the fields at a trot we covered about 0.5 mile until we came to a deep ditch
full of trees. There we had to halt and cross slowly in pairs. As soon as my 2 squadrons had crossed, General Lefebvre-Desnouettes ...
ordered me to see off a mass of Cossacks that had appeared to our front. I formed line with my two squadrons and advanced toward the enemy.
The Cossacks retired before us firing their side arms. We followed them for 300 paces, while
the next two squadrons under Jerzmanowski (in 1815 Elba Squadron) crossed the ditch behind us.
We came upon a second ditch ... The Cossacks halted on the far side, and kept up a lively
fire from behind the trees.
The Guard Lancer Regiment then marched to Haynau and camped there until Napoleon arrived.
Napoleon ordered the Cavalry of the Imperial Guard circle the town of Lignica (?) in order to catch any enemy that might still be retreating.
Chlapowski: "As soon as my two squadrons had crossed, I led them rapidly out of the village ...
When we arrived in the open again I saw four squadrons standing in line.
So I turned my line to face them and just as we did so, they began to advance and their trumpeters sounded the charge. I advanced to meet them.
...
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1814: in France. In 1814 as the Emperor struggled to thwart the advance of the Russian, Prussian and Austrian armies on Paris, his tactics put the Polish lancers to the most gruelling of physical and psychological tests. They distinguished themselves in every engagement they fought: Brienne, Montmirail, Vauchamps, Montereau, Craonne, Rheims and Paris. On April 7th Napoleon called for volunteers from his Old Guard to serve in his guard on Elba Island. The Allies allowed for 500 infantrymen, 120 cavalrymen and 120 artillerymen. Generals Petit and Pelet were soon swamped with requests. Many officers asked to serve as simple privates. Krasinki, wearing his parade uniform announced to his lancers that "God has visited misfortune upon the Emperor" and all began to weep. They regreted they had not all been killed before hearing that anyone had dared demand Napoleon's abdication. Loud cries for vengeance were heard along with "Vive l"Empereur!" Lances were raised and the cavalry spontaneously moved toward Fontainebleau. They passed through Nainville before Sebastiani's ADC halted them. Krasinski galloped off to headquarters to protest that his duty and honor called him to Napoleon's side, since it was not to France but to Napoleon that his lancers had pledged their lives.
The regiment was split into three groups:
The lancers sent the following memorial to Napoleon: "Sire: Released from our obligations,
we come with one accord to place at Your Imperial Majesty's feet the arms that no man could
take from us by force. ...
As Poles we have served the most amazing man of the century ... Sire, accept the homage of our eternal loyalty, maintained under the most trying
circumstances ..."
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1815: in Belgium.
When Napoleon was forced to abdicate, Jerzmanowski was chosen as the commander of cavalry volunteers who were allowed to accompany the Emperor to Elba Island.
(Jerzmanowski didn't like one thing about Napoleon: the Emperor was unable to correctly pronounce his name ;=)
"A squadron of Polish lancers under Chef d'Escadron Jerzmanowski and Major Roul - 125 men divided into a mounted company of 22 under Capitaine Schultz (a giant over 2.13 metres who was present at Waterloo); a dismounted company of 96 under Capitaine Balinski... There was also a group of 7 chasseurs and Mamelukes commanded by Lieutenant Seraphin (a Mameluke...) The lancers had a white standard emblazoned in crimson with the words, 'Polish Light-Horse, Napoleon Squadron' with a crowned 'N' on the reverse." (Adkin - "The Waterloo Companion" p 14) On Elba Island, the grenadiers and chasseurs were assigned to guard the Emperor. Lachoque writes: "Major Raoul, carrying a brace of loaded pistols, and two Polish Guard Lancers escorted Napoleon every day." There were horse races in which the Poles competed against the Elbans on their wild horses. For the opening of the carnival Princess Pauline organized a costume ball at which Malet appeared as the Sultan and Captain Schultz of Polish lancers as Don Quixote (ext.link), to whom he bore a striking resemblance. On Napoleon's return from the Elba Island, Jerzmanowski's squadron formed a supernumerary but senior squadron to the 2nd Regiment of Guard Lancers during the 100 Days Campaign in Belgium. A Young Squadron had been planned but not completed. Only a single squadron of the Lancers was at Waterloo. Henri Lachoque writes: "The Poles' silver trumpets may have sounded the last charge of the Guard [at Waterloo]." (Lachoque - "The Anatomy of Glory" p 471)
The war was over and the veterans returned home. "... Lieutenant Markiewicz of the Polish
Lancers lived in 3 centuries. He was born in Cracow in 1794 fought in Russia, charged at
Waterloo and was still alive in 1902." (Adkin - "The Waterloo Companion" p 207)
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Sources and Links.
Recommended Reading.
Bielecki - "Somosierra 1808"
Gates - "The Spanish Ulcer"
Kukiel - "Dzieje Oreza Polskiego w Epoce Napoleonskiej, 1795-1815"
Gembarzewski - "Wojsko Polskie. Ksiestwo Warszawskie 1807-1814"
Lachoque - "The Anatomy of Glory"
Rousselot - 'Napoleon's Guard Cavalry"
Bielecki - "Szwolezerowie Gwardii"
Bukhari - "Napoleon's Guard Cavalry"
Chlapowski - "Memoirs of a Polish Lancer" (translated by Tim Simmons, USA)
(Tim Simmons writes: "Chapowski certainly admired the French army, but he did not write his
memoirs in order to glorify Napoleon or to puff up the reputation of the French military
machine. He was a foreigner of junior rank who at the same time had priviledged access
to the Emperor's Court. As such, he betrays neither the implausible boasting of Marbot,
nor self-justification of Marshal Macdonald. He is able to say that the fighting at Aspern
in 1809 convinced him that the French infantry was the best in the world, yet he makes no
bones about the rout of Ney's conscripts at Lutzen ...")
Pictures of Polish Guard Lancers.
Polscy szwolezerowie gwardii .
Pictures of Szwolezerowie Gwardii.
Baron Jan Leon Hipolit Kozietulski "Hero of Somosierra".
Pawel Jan Jerzmanowski .
Fête et reconstitution historique ... le 30 mai 1937