VII. Corps 1812-13

[Friedrich August I.]

Hello,

it appears that I will add the French 32nd Division to my Saxon soldiers. Researching now for a time it is not easy to find informations of this Division. It joined in parts the depleted Saxon Corps from October 1812 until January 1813. What I need to know is what colour pattern would have been in use, the 1806 still or allready the 1812? Also the informations on its Artillery is somewhat hazy. There would have been at lest 6 companies attached including 2 batteries 12pdr . I find this most unlikely.

If you have any other sources than Nafziger I would be very grateful for any information you can come up with.

Best regards

Günter

[Ed Youngstrom]

Günter,

I have Bowden's book on the Grande Armee of 1813, which has considerable detail on the 32d.

15 August 1813
32d Division
1st Brigade
1,4/35th Legere (formerly 1st Mediterranean Regiment—penal or “refractaire”)
1,3,4/132nd Ligne (formerly Regiment L’Ile-de-Re—penal or “refractaire”)

2nd Brigade
1,4/36th Legere (formerly Regiment de Belle-Isle—penal or “refractaire”)
1,3,4/131st Ligne (formerly Regiment de Walcheren—penal or “refractaire”)

3rd Brigade
3,4/133rd Ligne (formerly 2nd Mediterranean Regiment—penal or “refractaire”)
2,3/Wurzburg Regiment

Artillery
13/8th Foot
12th/1st Foot
Each with 4 6pdr guns and 2 5.5 inch howitzers

Corps Artillery reserve was one company of Saxon 12pdrs with 4 guns and 2 howitzers.

Interestingly, Bowden rates the two Legere regiments as “Crack” and the Wurzburgers as “Elite.” The other infantry are “Veteran Line” and the foot artillery “Crack.” The ratings are from the “Empire” series of games.


Ed

[Friedrich August I.]

Thank You Ed,

According to some sources the 32nd Division was made up of what remains behind in the occupied german/prussian Territory and Penal units who tells something about "the rotten eggs put together in one basket"-Story containing POW's and deserters. With that in mind I would think that these units would never have gotten a colour not to say an eagle
Where Scott Bowden gots the info for a "crack"-status or even veterans remains hidden for me

Thanks anyway, if anyone has further info about the 32nd eventually in 1812 please feel free to post it here.

Cheers

Günter

[obriendavid]

Gunter, I remember reading before when I was researching the 1812 capaign that when this division joined the Austro-Saxon army they were ranked as the worst unit there due to being penal units. There were reports of high rates of looting and theft from this division against their allies as well as the Russian peasants, there was also supposed to be a high desertion rate as well so how anyone could rate these troops as Elite or Veteran is beyond me. Probably just another Francophile wargamer thinking the French were invincible.
Barry didn't write them by any chance?
Cheers
Dave

[Ed Youngstrom]

Found this about these units:

http://www.napoleon-series.org/cgi-bin/ ... d;id=26255

[Friedrich August I.]

Found this about these units:

http://www.napoleon-series.org/cgi-bin/ ... d;id=26255

Ed,

Very interesting IMO.
Maybe because of the mentioned battle Bowden has come to his conclusion about their high rating

Further reading must be done.

Thanks so far for your help

Günter