Once There Were Titans

by Kiley, Kevin F.

• ISBN13: 9781853677106
• ISBN10: 1853677108
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-05-01
• Publisher: Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal

Summary

This is a masterly study of generalship in Napoleons Grande Arme. Napoleon arguably had the greatest collection of military talent to ever serve one man working for him during the period 1800-15. The role of the Marshals of the Empire has been covered many times, and due credit is also given to them here; however, for the first time Kevin Kiley also examines in depth the contribution of the generals who never made that rank. Fifty-two general officers - some well known and some not - are examined using the battles they fought to illustrate just how valuable they were. From Marengo in 1800 to Ligny in 1815, both French victories and defeats are studied in meticulous detail, each chapter covering a battle fought and the generals who commanded them. Diverse source material has been consulted in the preparation of this volume, including after-action reports, memoirs and correspondence from officers including Senarmont, Eble, Drouot, Teste, Marmont, and Davout, as well as from lesser-known characters such as the artillerymen Boulart and Nol, and the Polish cavalryman Niegelewski, who led the final dash up the pass of Somosierra. Furthermore, those closest to Napoleon such as Fain and Marchand give their piece and provide invaluable information. Taken individually, this material paints a vivid picture of the Grande Arme and those who led it into fire. Taken as a whole, it provides an invaluable source and tells the remarkable story of the officers without whom Napoleon could never have achieved as much.

Author Biography

Kevin Kiley, a life-long student of the Napoleonic period and author of Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars, served for many years as an artillery officer and is currently a history teacher.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 17
Prologue	p. 27
Le Feu Sacre: Organisation and tactics of the Grande Armee	p. 32
Return, For God's Sake: The battle of Marengo, 1800	p. 73
The Emperor Makes War With Our Feet: The encirclement at Ulm, 1805	p. 95
Southern Sorrows: The battle of Maida, 1806	p. 105
The Combat Ends for Lack of Combatants: The battle of Auerstadt, 1806	p. 112
Let Us Go Among Them: The great cavalry charge at Eylau, 1807	p. 135
Let Not One Escape: The battle of Friedland, 1807	p. 145
The Whole Army Would Not Be Too Much: The battle of Essling, 1809	p. 156
Reap The Whirlwind: The battle of Albuera, 1811	p. 170
One Last River To Cross: The crossing of the Berezina, 1812	p. 178
March Or Die: The battle of Dresden, 1813	p. 202
Mud, Blood And Misery: The Campaign of 1814 - The battles of Vauchamps, Champeaubert and Montmirail	p. 211
Red Michael: The battles of Quatre Bras and Ligny, 1815	p. 221
Glory Costs Too Much: Prince Eugene and Marshal Suchet	p. 240
The Art of Command	p. 253
Epilogue: This Time There Were Too Many: Plancenoit, 1815	p. 260
The Last Reserve: The Imperial Guard, 1804-15	p. 263
Notes	p. 281
Bibliography	p. 301
Index	p. 313
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