57e Ligne Regimental Staff 1809

Colonel Jean Louis Charriere's service record taken from
2YB321 57.Ligne 1808.1815. Bravely leading his regiment at the Battle of Thann, Colonel Charriere would distinguish himself at the Battles of Essling and Wagram later on in the campaign.

 

Tambour Major Guillaume Perpignan wearing the c.1805
uniform standing next to a young fusilier fifer

Tambour Major Guillaume Perpignan held the position of Tambour Major from 1793-1811! After being promoted to S.Lt in 1811, he would become Lt. Porte Aigle later in 1812. Standing at 1.84 cm (slightly over 6 feet tall!) Perpignan who was always at the head of the regiment, was an imposing figure on and off the field of battle. According to Rigo Le Plumet Plate 224, which depicts the 57e Ligne in 1799, he said Joseph Berger was the Tambour Major and born in 1768. However the only Joseph Berger on the rolls was born in 1778 and not shown as part of the Etat Major.

Chef de Musique Jean Brioude and his son Pierre Brioude whom enlisted in the regiment as volunteers in 1797. The elder Brioude would retire in August of 1809 and his son Pierre would transfer to the Foot Artillery of the Guard in August 1809.

Musician from the 57e Demi-brigade in 1798 by Herbert Knötel

57e Ligne Musicians in 1799-1800 wearing light blue, Chapeau Chinois (Jingling Johnny) and a drummer of the fusiliers in yellow by Rigo in his Le Plumet Plates

Chapeau Chinois (Jingling Johnny) and Musician c.1805

The evolution of musician uniforms had many changes from the red uniform and dark blue lapels and cuffs, white turnbacks, cuff flaps, and piped white in 1798, blue uniform and yellow lapels, turnbacks, cuffs, and piped white in c.1805, and lastly the blue uniform with light blue lapels, turnbacks, cuffs and cuff flaps with gold trim in c.1809. These uniforms could change based on the Colonel's wishes and the size of the band varied between regiments. Officially, the regiment was allowed 8 musicians including the chef de musique, but according to Rigo the regiment in 1798 had over 30 members! The different assortment of uniforms could be explained by the three different Colonels commanding the regiment during these 13 years. What seems to be clear is that the musician uniform from at least 1798-1810 was the blue uniform with light blue facing. When the drummers of the Grenadier, Fusilier, and Voltigeur companies switched to the light blue facings is unclear, but could have occurred during 1808 when the majority of regiment's battalions were located in Strasbourg.

Tambour Major, Musicien, and Caporal Tambour from Petit Soldats de Strasbourg, a painting of a musicien in the 1809 uniform from Petit Soldats de Strasbourg, and lastly a musician in 1809 painted by Henri Boisselier with a slightly different light blue over white plume.

Etat Major of the 57e Ligne 1809. This is the roster taken from 2YB646 57.Ligne depicting the officers who served on the regimental staff. As you can see some names are crossed off meaning they were promoted, retired, wounded, or in the worst case killed. The name above the crossed out name is the officer who filled the vacant position. We can see on the left Chef de Batallion Martiry Cazeneuv(46) retired from active with the battalions of war to head the depot battalion and his place was filled by Capt. Gleize promoted on 23 April 1809. Chef de Batallion Baillon and Girerd would command the 2nd and 3rd Battalion during the Battle of Thann, leaving the 4th Battalion at the depot minus their Grenadier and Voltigeur companies.

Final Thoughts

Some of the uniforms from 1809 are not depicted by sources, but we are given plenty of examples of the uniforms for the regiment in the pre-1809 time period. I decided based on the 1805 uniforms that the simple change from yellow lapels to light blue lapels for the Tambour Major and Caporal Tambour was certainly possible and an easy change. However, no sources are confirming this change, but we do know at least according to the controles de troupes, the regiment did have a Tambour Major and Caporal Tambour in 1809. If you are a die-hard Napoleonic fan and are unwilling to accept this change in uniform since it is not documented, I completely understand and you would be correct. However, if you are a painter of miniatures and like to add some extra figures to your table, in my opinion, the changing of the lapels for these two important figures is logical. The caporal tambour who led the combined drummers of the 2e Battalion in battle, would wear the uniform of a drummer of the battalions of war with caporal stripes and a smaller canne (cane or baton).  Whenever I can visit the SHD in France I will do my best to uncover as many uniform details as possible by looking at reviews, uniform storage returns, and any other information I can find. For time the being, I am satisfied with my research and glad I can at least shed light on the men who fought.

A site to visit: Soldats de Grande Armee

This is a great website for information on many famous regiments. My blog deals more with the men and uniforms, where Mr. Berjaud website is a thorough depiction of the whole history that encompasses a regiment. Very detailed website and he has helped me in my research many times through graciously exchanging information via email.

Main website

http://frederic.berjaud.free.fr/articles_en_ligne.htm

57e de Ligne History

http://frederic.berjaud.free.fr/057edeligne/57e_de_ligne.htm

Sources:

Petit Soldats de Strasbourg

Les uniformes du premier empire, by commandant bucquoy

Rigo Le Plumet Plate 224

2YB321 57.Ligne 1808.1815

2YB320 57.Ligne An X.1811

2YB646 57.Ligne

Uniforms edited by using plates from http://centjours.mont-saint-jean.com/

1e Batallion 57e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne 1809

 

     The fearless leader of the 1e Batallion 57e Ligne in 1809 was 34-year-old Chef de Battalion Jacques Brosset. Although, the least experience Chef de Battalion of his new regiment, Brosset was a seasoned veteran. Promoted to the rank of Chef de Batallion on 12 April 1807, he was a Captain of the hard fighting 14e Ligne. Our chef was well known for his bravery, as he was awarded the Legion d'honneur in 1804 and cited for his conduct at the head of the 14e Ligne Grenadiers during the crossing of the Wkra River in Poland on 24 December 1806. Leading his battalion during the early afternoon of the 19th, he was grievously wounded with a shot that went through his thigh but he refused to retire to have his wounds treated for over an hour. Brosset was unwilling to abandon his men until the enemy retreated from the field.  His gallantry and leadership of his battalion led to Brosset being award as an Officier de la Legion d'honneur on 23 April 1809. His wound would keep him out of the rest of the 1809 campaign, but his gallant leadership of the 1e Battalion contributed to the withdraw of the Austrian infantry on the Hausner Berg. His actions during the opening battle of the 1809 campaign must have impressed Marchel Davout considerably, as he was employed as his aide de camp on 4 June 1811.

Chef de Bataillon Brosset's nomination to Officer of the Legion d'honneur on April 23, 1809 for his actions at the Battle of Thann.

His citation on his service record reads as : At the Battle of Thann, April 19, 1809, he was hurt grievously with a shot through his thigh, he continued to command his battalion for another hour, he did not leave the battlefield without forcing the enemy to give up. ( The translator did not translate the last sentence correctly, so I could be wrong.)

    

     His younger brother Alexander Jacques Brosset was a Sergeant 1e Batallion /1e Company under the orders of the elder Brosset and would eventually serve along with him as an aide de camp to Marchel Davout in 1813. Looking at the quick rise of the younger Brosset, one could see that it helps to have a friendly face in high places. Alexander Jacques Brossert joined the 57e Ligne in 1808 and was quickly promoted caporal and then Sergeant on 1 April 1809 and Sergeant-Major on 26 August 1809. Less than three years later after joining the regiment as a volunteer, he was promoted to Sous-Lieutenant in the 128e Ligne on 25 May 1811. The 128e Ligne was one of the many regiments that made up the newly constructed 1e Corps under the orders of Marchel Davout, which our Chef de Battalion Jacques Brosset was part of the Marshals staff.

Etat nominatif from 1 March 1809 for the 57e Ligne 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Battalions of War
Unfortunately, I do not have in my possession the roster for the regiment in early April. The lack of information finding the officers who served during the battle just got a little harder, but still a fun challenge nonetheless!

    Lt. Adj. Maj. Gabriel Carrier shows up on the controles de troupes as well as the XB459 57. Ligne 1809 file from 1 March 1809 Etat nominatif, but he can not be found in Controles de Officiers in 2YB321 57.Linge 1808-1815. This is sadly not uncommon when searching multiple databases and reports from the period. However, has he was a long-serving NCO before being promoted to S.Lt in 1806, so I have placed him as the Adj. Maj. of the first battalion according to the 1 March 1809 Etat nominatif.

Painting of a 57e Ligne Capt. Adjutant Major and Sapeur from Commandant Bucquoy plates

Adj.Maj. Gabriel Carrie file from the controles de troupes. I have found his named spelled as Carrier and Carrie.

S.Lt. 1e Porte Aigle Jean Joseph Allios

2e Porte Aigle Jean Commes

3e Porte Aigle Andre Leobard

    S.Lt 1e Porte Aigle Jean-Joseph Allios, 2e Porte Aigle Jean Commes, and 3e Porte Aigle Andre Leobard were all volunteers of 1792. By the time of the battle in 1809, these three men could each claim almost 17 years of service! Both Commes and Leobard were promoted on 13 July 1808 from the 1st battalion fusilier companies. Oddly enough, for a battle as intense as the firefight between the 57e Ligne and the Austrians on the Hausner Berg, none were wounded. These veterans who protected the prized regimental flag, which was a sought after trophy for the enemy to get their hands on, somehow survived the campaign unscathed.

  Tué sur le champ d’honneur (killed on the field of honor)

 

    The countless dead and wounded of the thousands of battles and combats are unknown to many. Their life stories and last moments of life went to the grave with them. However, I find whenever I can track down one of the men killed at the Battle of Thann, I can shed light on the human cost of the battles. Putting a name and a description of these men is my way of honoring their sacrifice. Finding these men is a long, but well worth process to allow the reader to understand the human cost of war.

Conscript N.2969  26 year old Marie Jean Michel Mainfroy who was killed on 19 April 1809 at the Battle of Thann.

Sources:

2YB321 57.Ligne 1808.1815

XB459 57.Ligne 1809

Controles de Troupe GR 21 YC473 https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr

Base Leonore http://www2.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/leonore_fr?ACTION=NOUVEAU&USRNAME=nobody&USRPWD=4%24%2534P