5th Squadron during the Hundred Days

On the 30^th May 1815, Napoléon wrote to General Drouot, authorising the formation of second, Young Guard, regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval. It was to be organised in accordance with the decree of 8^th April 1815 with an establishment of 46 officers and 829 men.[1]


 

  By the 1^st June 75 former Young Guard Grenadiers and volunteers had been admitted into the new regiment, bringing the regimental strength up to 228 men.[2] By the 16^th June 1815, the 2^nd regiment had some 19 officers and 244 men in Paris. Of these men, 160 men were still at the depot, under going training and being equipped 56 men were in hospital, and 20 were at the barracks, and 8 were on leave. These men had no mounts.

  These men destined for the second regiment had actually re-enlisted at the start of May 1815, but had not been allowed to enter the Old Guard squadrons of the Grenadiers à Cheval. General Guyot the Colonel Commandant of the Grenadiers à Cheval noted in a letter of 8^th May 1815 that the Young Guard Grenadiers comprised some 243 men.

   He further noted that of these former Young Guard Grenadiers who had served in the old 2^nd regiment that 75 men were paid as for the Old Guard and sent to fill out the ranks of the 1^st regiment as 2^nd grenadiers:[3]

7 had been admitted in 1812 as farriers

54 admitted in 1813 as conscripts

9 admitted in 1814 from the Guards of Honour

5 admitted from the former Scout Grenadiers in 1815.

These men do not appear in the muster roll of the 1^st regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval, so presumably they remained with the 2^nd regiment.[4]

In addition 168 men were classed as Young Guard and admitted directly to the new regiment:[5]

129 were admitted in 1813 as conscripts

29 were admitted in 1814 from the Elite Gendarmes of  the Guard

10 were admitted as volunteers in 1815.

General Guyot further adds that 15 of these men were not suitable for the Grenadiers and were sent to the 2^nd regiment of Chasseurs a Cheval of the Imperial Guard or back to the Line.[6]

The 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval, like its predecessor formed in 1813, consisted of a single  squadron, numbered 5 comprsing 9 and 10 company, as opposed to being a separate regiment in the manner of the 2^nd regiment of Chasseurs a Cheval of the Imperial Guard. Each company contained:[7]

1 captain, 2 1^st lieutenants 2 2^nd lieutenants, 1 sergeant major, 6 sergeants, 1 quarter-master corporal, 8 corporals, 58 grenadiers 2^nd  class, 20 grenadiers 3^rd  Class, 2 trumpeters, 2 farriers.

 Claude Noirot was appointed Veterinary to the staff of 5^th squadron on 1^st April 1815:[8]

The Cadre of 9^th company, forming 5^th squadron were:[9]

Sergeant-Majors:

1.                  Jean Alexis Pillor, born 18^th October 1771, stood 1.81 meters tall. Admitted 1801, promoted corporal 1803, sergeant 26^th February 1806, sergeant-Major 31^st December 1812.

2.                  Jean Schmitt, was born on 26^th December 1777.He stood 1.82 meters tall. Entered the 8^th Hussars in 1798, passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval in 1801. Promoted to corporal on 1^st August 1806, sergeant 1^st January 1810 and sergeant-major on 3^rd April 1814. Placed on half pay from 23^rd August 1814, he was admitted to the 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval as sergeant-major 31^st May 1815. He was discharged 20^th November 1815.

Sergeants:

1.                  Jean Dominique Beccaria, born 8^th September 1784 at Marengo. Stood 1.86 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 11^th January 1811, promoted corporal 27^th November 1811, sergeant 1^st April 1812

2.                  Jean Baptiste Bogeut, was born on 2^nd February 1778.  Admitted to the regiment 9^th July 1807. Promoted corporal 1^st April 1812, sergeant 1^st March 1813. Discharged 28^th April 1814, re-admitted 7^th June 1815. Captured 6^th June 1815.

3.                  Jean Chapelle, was born in Paris in 1771. Admitted to the 16^th Dragoons on 20^th December 1792, he passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval in 1803. Promoted to corporal in the new year of 1804, he was then promoted to sergeant on 26^th February 1806. Admitted to hospital 30^th December 1813, admitted to the  Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France on 26^th July 1814. Discharged from the Grenadiers a Cheval on 2^nd October 1815.

4.                  Jacques Rueb, Born 7^th January 1775, Stood 1.78 meters tall. admitted to the 9^th Cavalry regiment on 11^th October 1793, passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval in 1801, and promoted to corporal in the 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers  a Cheval on 21^st February 1813. Promoted to sergeant on 3^rd April 1814.  He passed to the Royal Guard on 20^th November 1815.

5.                  Pierre Savatie, born 11^th February 1783, stood 1.80 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1^st October 1808, promoted corporal 12^th February 1813, sergeant 3^rd April 1814.

6.                  Pierre Denis Thomas, born 12^th December 1781. Stood 1.78 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 9^th July 1807. Promoted corporal 24^th February 1813, sergeant 3^rd April 1814

Corporals.

1.                  Francois Dufornier, born 14^th September 1776. Admitted to the regiment 1^st May 1812, promoted corporal 31^st December 1814.

2.                  Georges Egger, born 9^th June 1781. Stood 1.67 meters tall.. Admitted to the regiment 1803, promoted corporal 3^rd April 1814. Deserted 5^th July 1815

3.                  Alexandre Morel, born 1781. Stood 1.78 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1801, promoted corporal 1^st March 1813. Wounded and admitted to Paris Military  Hospital 29^th June 1815.

4.                  Jean Francois Ringer, born 17^th February 1779. Stood 1.81 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 19^th July 1807. Promoted corporal 31^st December 1813. Wounded and admitted to Paris Military Hospital 23^rd June 1815.

5.                   Joseph Rozier, born 29^th September 1793, stood 1.82 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1^st April 1814, promoted corporal 31^st December 1814

6.                  Andre Veron, born 1795, stood 1.82 meters tall. Admitted 15^th December 1813 from 1^st Guards of Honour. Promoted corporal 31^st December 1814.

Troopers.

1.                  Antoine Barjolin, born 19^th February 1792. Admitted to the regiment 6^th April 1813

2.                  Francois Carl, born 8^th May 1787, stood 1.76 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 7^th February 1814.

3.                  Mathieu Havard, He was born on 17^th August 1782 in the Netherlands. He had served with the Grenadiers à Cheval from 1813 and had been dismissed from the regiment as being none French on 7^th August 1814, with the rank of corporal. He was re-admitted to the regiment on 3^rd May 1815 as trooper in 9^th company. He deserted with arms, baggage and horse on 16^th July 1815.

4.                  Louis Thomas Morin, born 26^th December 1765, stood 1.79 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1805.

Trumpeters.

1.              Cecile Maxim Damay was born in Paris on 7^th May 1796. Admitted to the Grenadiers a Cheval as a cadet trumpeter on 2^nd December 1811. Promoted to trumpeter on 8^th February 1813 in the 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval of the Imperial Guard. Deserted 3^rd July 1814 and was re-admitted on 14^th April 1815, as trumpeter in 9^th company, part of the nascent 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval. He deserted the depot on 10^th July 1815.

2.                  Antoine Abel Pavie, born 19^th May 1770, stood 1.81 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 24^th January 1814.

Farriers.

1.                  Francois Boufanais, born 3^rd September 1767,  stood 1.64 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 11^th June 1812, deserted 7^th June 1814, re-admitted 9^th May 1815, deserted 17^th July 1815.

The Cadre of 10^th company which formed part of 5^th squadron were:[10]

Sergeant-Majors:

1.                  Jean Baptiste Delbart. Born 23^rd April 1793, stood 1.77 meters tall. He was the son of Joseph Delbart and Jeanne Clement. Entered the 58^th regiment of Line Infantry 1^st January 1791, he passed to the 1^st regiment of Foot Artillery of the Line on 13^th January 1793. Admitted thence to the 5^th Hussars in 1800. Passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval 23^rd June 1806. Promotion followed quickly to corporal on 14^th July 1806. Awarded the legion of honour 28^th November 1813. Passed as sergeant into the 1^st regiment of Scouts of the Imperial Guard. From 1^st July to 21^st October 1814 he was in hospital in Danzig. Discharged from the 1^st regiment of Scouts on 15^th July 1814, he was accepted to the Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France on 24^th August 1814. Promoted to sergeant-major 21^st September 1814. He passed to 10^th company on 1^st April 1815 and was discharged from the regiment on 28^th November 1815.

Sergeants:

1.                  Davind Bunel, born 3^rd May 1780, stood 1.80 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 16^th October 1811, promoted corporal 21^st February 1813, sergeant 3^rd April 1814. Wounded 21^st June 1815.

2.                  Senerique Chantereaux, born 31^st August 1783. Stood 1.83 meters tall. He was the legitimate son of Jean Pierre Chantereaux and  Marie Clarie.  He stood 1.83 meters tall, had an oval face, high forehead, blue eyes, round chin and blonde hair and eyebrows. He was admitted to the 3rd Cuirassiers in 1804 and was promoted to corporal on 5^th June 1809. Not long after he was admitted to the Grenadiers a Cheval on 28^th October 1809. Promoted to corporal on 21^st February 1813 and to sergeant on 3^rd April 1814. He passed to the Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France on 23^rd July 1814, and was admitted to 10^th company Grenadiers a Cheval of the Imperial Guard with the rank of sergeant on 1^st April 1815. He was admitted to the Royal Guard on 26^th November 1815.

3.                  Jacques Daville, born 10^th October 1779. Stood 1.84 meters tall. Admitted to the 1^st Chassuers a Cheval on 8^th April 1793, he was passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval in 1802. promoted corporal in 1804 and sergeant on 17^th November 1808.Placed on half pay from 23^rd August 1814, he was admitted to the 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval on 7^th June 1815.

4.                  Nicholas Laverme, born 21^st November 1772. Stood 1.84 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1801, promoted corporal 1^st April 1806, sergeant 31^st December 1814.

5.                  Francois Maille, was born 28^th February 1781. Stood 1.82 meters tall.Admitted to the 4^th Chasseurs a Cheval in 1803, he was promoted to corporal the following year. Passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval on 25^th July 1807. following the Russian campaign he was promoted to corporal in the 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval of the Imperial Guard on 21^st February 1813. Awarded the legion of honour on 11^th April 1813. Promoted to sergeant on 3^rd April 1814. Admitted to the Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France on 23^rd July 1814. Admitted as sergeant in 10^th company 1^st April 1815, he was discharged on 28^th November 1815.

Corporal-quarter-master

1.                  Francois Firmin Guian, born 28^th September 1793, stood 1.76 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 28^th January 1813, passed to 1^st Eclaireurs 23^rd January 1814, placed on 1/2 pay 28^th April 1815, re-admitted to Grenadiers a Cheval 31^st May 1815.

Corporals:

1.                  Auguste Ansel, born 29^th May 1777, stood 1.76 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1^st April 1813, wounded at Hanau, wounded at Mery sur Seine. Promoted corporal 3^rd April 1814. Discharged 13^th April 1814, re-admitted 19^th May 1815.

2.                  Philippe Despristers, born 25^th October 1778, stood 1.83 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 8^th July 1807, promoted corporal 31^st December 1814.

3.                  Jean Baptiste Labarre, born 10^th August 1777. Stood 1.82 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 9^th July 1807. Promoted corporal 1^st September 1813.

4.                  Jacques Thomme. Born 1^st March 1773, stood 1.76 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1^st April 1813, promoted corporal  3^rd April 1814

Troopers:

1.                  Joseph Bender, born 11^th April 1792. Admitted to the regiment 30^th July 1808.

2.                  Jean Bordenasse, born 15^th April 1780, stood 1.76 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1^st April 1813.

3.                  Seraphin Joseph Daix, born 18^th October 1781. Stood 1.78 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 10^th October 1808

4.                  Pierre Fenin, born 8^th May 1774, stood 1.83 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 1803. Discharged 2^nd October 1815

5.                  Jean Francois Haysand, born 21^st March 1782. Stood 1.82 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 27^th April 1811. Deserted 16^th August 1815.

6.                  Louis Francois Lecomte, stood 1.81 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 2^nd May 1812, deserted 11^th April 1814, re-admitted 12^th May 1815.

7.                  Pierre Martin Leroux, born 11^th November 1783, stood 1.80 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 16^th May 1811

8.                  Jean Rastel, born 1771, stood 1.69 meters tall.Admitted to the 9^th Dragoons in 1794 as a farrier, he was admitted to the Grenadiers a Cheval as farrier in 1802. Placed in the Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France from 23^rd July 1814,  he passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval of the Kings Military Household on 7^th August 1814. He was recalled to the 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval on 8^th April 1815

Trumpeters.

1.                  Jean Alexis Piloux, born 28^th May 1802, stood 1.33 meters tall. Admitted as cadet trumpeter 7^th January 1814. Discharged 23^rd November 1814, re-admitted 1^st April 1815.

2.              Jean Gottfried Schwartz was born 1^st November 1777 at Flafenhofen near Strasbourg. Admitted to the 12^th Chasseurs a Cheval in 1794, he was promoted to corporal-trumpeter on 1^st November 1806. Admitted to the Grenadiers a Cheval 13^th April 1810. Promoted to corporal-trumpeter 21^st February 1813. Admitted to the Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France on 23^rd July 1814, he passed to the Grenadiers a Cheval of the Kings Military Household on 7^th August 1814. Admitted back to the Grenadiers a Cheval of the Imperial Guard as corporal-trumpeter in 5^th squadron, the nascent 2^nd regiment of Grenadiers a Cheval on 1^st April 1815. He deserted on 6^th July 1815 with baggage and horse.

Farriers

1.                  Ambroise Drugeon, born 16^th April 1790, stood 1.71 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 16^th February 1813, deserted 7^th September 1814, re-admitted 9^th May 1815, deserted 10^th July 1815.

2.                  Francois Eloi Romain. Born Metz 28^th June 1788. Stood 1.68 meters tall. Admitted to the regiment 20^th March 1812. Deserted 11^th July 1814, re-admitted 1^st May 1815. Deserted 8^th July 1815.

One of the second Grenadiers who joined the 1^st regiment, was Grenadier Jean Jacques Frantz, who was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour on 27^th February 1814. He had entered the 2^nd Grenadiers à Cheval as a conscript on 16^th May 1813. He passed to the Royal Corps of Cuirassiers of France on 23^rd July 1814, passed back to the Grenadiers à Cheval on 1^st April 1815 as a trooper in the Old Guard squadrons. He deserted on 16^th July 1815.[11]

  On the 28^th June 1815 the 2^nd  Grenadiers had in Paris, some 176 men, of which 97 men were in the barracks, 71 in the depot and 8 absent. 52 had disappeared, presumed deserted.[12]

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[1] SHDDT Xab 72 Napoléon to Drouot 30^th May 1815

[2]SHDDT Xab 72 Guyot to Drouot 8^th May 1815

[3]SHDDT Xab 72 Guyot to Drouot 8^th May 1815

[4]SHDDT YC20 137.

[5]SHDDT Xab 72 Guyot to Drouot 8^th May 1815

[6]SHDDT Xab 72 Guyot to Drouot 8^th May 1815

[7]Fieffe E (1859) Napoléon 1er et la Garde Imperiale Furne, Paris pp146-153

[8]SHDDT YC20 137.

[9]SHDDT YC20 137.

[10]SHDDT YC20 137.

[11]SHDDT YC20 137.

[12]SHDDT Xab 72 Situation Report 28^th June 1815