The 105e Ligne is probably best known for losing its eagle at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. For those who might be interested, the wounded 1e Porte-Aigle Lt. Jean CHANTELAT, who lost the trophy to Captain Kennedy Clark and Corporal Stiles of the 1st Royal Dragoons, had served his whole career in the regiment dating back to 1794. By the time of our battle in April 1809, Sergent Chantelat already served six years in this grade and fought in the 1805, 1806, and 1807 campaigns with the Grande Arme. Withstanding this tarnish on their honour, the regiment by 1809, was a veteran unit that had fought in the famous battles of Iena (Jena), Eylau, Heilsberg, and Friedland. During the glory years of the 1e Empire the 105e Ligne was led by the gallant Colonel Pierre-Joseph Habert from 1802- February 18, 1808, with Colonel Pierre-Marie-Isidore de Blanmont (39) taking over the regiment on 28 March 1808 and skillfully leading it through the 1809 campaign. For his service and leadership of the 105e Ligne in the battles of 19-22 April, Colonel de Blanmont would be awarded the Commander of the Legion d'honneur on 23 April 1809 and Baron with an annuity of 4,000 francs. When researching our Colonel, one interesting thing that I noticed is that his name is constantly spelled differently, with the two most common spellings as de Blanmont and DeBlanmont. He signed the regimental papers as shown below with The Colonel of the 105e Regiment DeBlanmont.
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| The Colonel's signature |
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| Statue of General DeBlanmont |
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| Legion d'honneur papers dated 23 April 1809 |
From the situational report dated 10 April 1809 seen above, we know the regiment had 65 officers and 1,942 men present, two officers and eight men detached, and one officer and 203 men in the hospital with a total effective strength of 2,221. At the time of this report, the 105e Ligne was still not present with Saint-Hilaire's division, but instead at Magdeburg. The regiment would reach the division within the next few days but played a less glorious part in the battle than its sister regiment in the brigade, the 72e Ligne. However, even standing in reserve, the regiment suffered losses from long range cannon fire that killed eight soldiers and carried away the thigh of a sergent-major of the fusiliers. The majority of the regiment's losses came from musketry and amounted to two killed, eight mortally wounded, 78 wounded, and nine scratched off the rolls due to long absense in the hospital on 19 April 1809. These men probably should count as mortally wounded as eight of the nine men were wounded at the battle and never heard from again. There was also one prisoner of war, but there seems to be no mention how he was captured. Taking a look at one of the mortally wounded, Jean Michel Hilgen of the 1e Voltigeurs, died over two years later in Vitoria, Spain, on 10 August 1811, after a surgery was botched to extract a ball from his right arm he received at the battle in April 1809.
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| Situatonal Report dated 10 April 1809 III Corps |
The officer casualties for the day were one killed, one mortally wounded, and seven wounded. Even though the lowest from the four other regiments of the division, sadly, the former Colonel of the regiment Pierre-Joseph Habert, lost two of his brothers, Lieut. Honore (killed) and Capit. Jean-Isidore Habert (died of wounds on 25 June 1809). One can
only wonder if Capit. Jean-Isidore Habert rushed to see his dying
brother and received his mortal wound at the same spot. This is not the only tragedy the family faced as less than two years earlier, Jean-Pierre Habert, on 7 June 1807, died from wounds received at the Battle of Eylau. From the regiment's records, there seems to have been five Habert brothers who served at one time in the regiment, with at least two serving at the battle. The names of the brothers were Pierre-Joseph (Colonel), Henry (Chef de batallion), Jean-Isidore (Capitaine), and Lieuts. Jean-Pierre and Honore Habert. Losing three out of the five brothers was a harsh reality that many regiments faced during this era. Looking at the rolls, there is countless Habert's (the Habert brothers were from Avallon in the department of Yonne) that can be found from 1804-1809, with many dying from disease before ever fighting.
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| The 105e Ligne Habert brothers |
Two documents that show the rewards and promotions received by the regiment on 23 April 1809, give details into how the regiment performed during the days of 19-22 April. As seen below, Casimir Honoré Louis Lescaudey, a long-serving veteran battalion commander, was promoted to the regimental Major, replacing the former Major Pierre Coste, who had been promoted to Colonel of the 59e Ligne on 7 April 1809. The other two Chefs de batallion Louis René Rateua and Jean Francois Saltet were awarded the Officier de la Legion d'honneur. Unfortunately, Base Leonore only has one file, and the XB files have no papers detailing what feat of arms 1e Porte-Aigle Lt. Claude Théodore Boutellier did that earned him the title of Baron and 4,000 francs. Boutellier would rise to the ranks of Chef de batallion in the 105e Ligne. Unfortunately, I do not have enough information on Boutellier to give a definitive answer if he served in the 105e Ligne at the Battle of Waterloo. However, if he did, in a cruel twist of fate, he would have likely watched as the eagle he so bravely protected years earlier was taken away by the British.
Below are the names officers and soldiers of the 105e Ligne who were casualties at the Battle of Thann 19 April 1809.
105e Regiment d'infanterie Ligne
Officers: 1 KIA, 1 MW, 7 WIA
NCOs & Soldiers: 10 KIA, 8 MW, 79 WIA, 1 POW, 9 Scratched off rolls due to long absence in the hospital on 19 April 1809 (8 were wounded and never heard from)
S.Lieut. Honore Habert
Capit. Jean Isidore Habert: Died of wounds on 25 June 1809 in Augsburg hospital
2e Grenadiers Capit. Henry Maussion
Lieut. Jean Baptiste Leclerq
Lieut. Antoine Maillet: Shot in the left foot
Lieut. Pierre Silvestre De Mostolac: Shot in the superior part of the right leg
Lieut. Claude Francois Pichon: Shot in the right thigh
Lieut. Francois Daudier
NCOs & Soldiers
1e Grenadiers Sergent Louis Robois: Killed by a cannonball
1e Grenadiers Jospeh Leroy: Killed by a cannonball
1e Grenadiers Philippe Badere: Killed by a cannonball
2e Grenadiers Caporal Jean Francois Nail: Killed by a cannonball
2e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Sergent Nicolas Perin dit Crecy: Killed by a cannonball
2e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Caporal Francois Thenard: Killed by a cannonball
2e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Gilbert Joseph Lefebvre: Killed by a cannonball
2e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Jean Perrallt: Killed by a gunshot to the chest
2e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Jean Pierre Rabier: Killed by a cannonball
1e Voltigeurs Grelin Nicolas Colas: Killed on the field of honour 19 April 1809
1e Grenadiers Louis Reboulleau: Shot in the right leg and died of wounds in Jzesbourg hospital on 9 September 1809
2e Greandiers Pierre Marge: Died of wounds in Neuburg hospital on 29 April 1809
Fusilier Sergent Major Pierre Billard: Shot in the left arm and died of wounds in Strasbourg hospital on 16 June 1809
1e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Jean Gerard Christophe: Died of wounds in Kaisersheim hospital on 12 May 1809
1e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Jean Pierre Simon Gauchel: Shot in the right arm and died of wounds in Kaisersheim hospital on 5 June 1809
3e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Jean Joseph Delloye: Shot in the right knee and died from a cannonball to the head
1e Voltigeurs Sergent Major Charles Louis Legrand: Shot in the lower abdomen and died of wounds
1e Voltigeurs Jean Michel Hilgen: Shot in the right arm and died of the wound extraction in the Vitoria hospital on 10 August 1811
1e Voltigeurs Philippe Willems: Wounded by a gunshot and died of wounds
Wounded in Action:
1e Grenadiers Caporal Jacquel Divay: Shot in the thigh
1e Grenadiers Caporal Antoine Alexandre Bouvier: Shot in the right hand
1e Grenadiers Andre Theophile Dinocheau: Shot in the head
1e Grenadiers Pierre Boutel: Shot in the arm
1e Grenadiers Jean Francois Cleis: Shot in the thigh
1e Grenadiers Jean Fludige: Shot in the hand
1e Grenadiers Jean Baptiste Delaumonne: Shot in the right leg
1e Grenadiers Francois Besson: Shot in the left leg
1e Grenadiers Felix Francois Beauvais: Shot in the leg
1e Grenadiers Charles Benoisl Gaspard: Shot in the left leg
1e Grenadiers Barthelemy Rimbauly: Shot in the arm
2e Grenadiers Michel Moreau: Shot in the right hand
3e Grenadiers Francois Labreveux: Shot in the head
4e Grenadiers Jean Baptiste Liloz: Wounded 19 April 1809
4e Grenadiers Pierre Francois Lanberton: Shot in the arm
1e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Yves Denesse: Shot in the right arm
1e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Pierre Danger: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Jean Toussaint Miraull: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Pierre Francois Nadelin: Shot in the right thigh
1e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Jean Hue: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Hubert Emmanuel Mathieu: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Caporal Jean Baptiste Ligny: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Antoine Canivel: Shot in the right hand
1e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Francois Granger: Shot in the leg
1e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Pierre Gadas: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Pierre Bernard: Shot in the leg
1e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Mathieu Gemers: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
1e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Marie Joseph Plaissy: Shot in the leg
1e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Jean Romelfangen: Shot in the leg
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Sergent Calude Antoine Estache Meainie: Shot in the left foot
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Etienne Aubert: Shot in the thigh
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Francois Xavier Weiss: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Henry Drowen: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Pierre Guenol: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Pierre Blanvillain: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Michel Probecker: Shot in the right arm
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Jerome Bechenec: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
2e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Jacques Storck: Shot in the right foot
2e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Andre Broschard: Shot in the left foot
2e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Jean Michel Haffner: Shot in the head
2e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Georges Fuchs: Shot in the head
2e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Joseph Geerard: Shot in the left arm
2e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Etienne Aubert: Shot in the thigh
3e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Antoine Orzi: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809
3e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Pierre Louis Bernard: Shot in the leg
3e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Claude Besnard: Shot in the hand 3e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Fourrier Victor Florent Porrion: Shot in the right arm
3e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Louis Lambert: Shot in the right hand
3e Bat./ 4e Co. Fusilier Caporal Jean Francois Anquetil: Shot in the right knee
1e Voltigeurs Sergent Pierre Joseph Christiaenne: Shot in the thigh
1e Voltigeurs Jean Sulpice Morand: Shot in the head
1e Voltigeurs Joseph Mortier: Shot in the thigh
1e Voltigeurs Julien Forveille: Shot in the foot
1e Voltigeurs Louis Grias: Shot in the right hand
1e Voltigeurs Noel Caillol: Shot in the foot
1e Voltigeurs Pierre Busson: Shot in the left foot
2e Voltigeurs Jacques Chantome: Shot in the right arm
2e Voltigeurs Jacques Alienhoffen: Wounded by a gunshot
2e Voltigeurs Jacques Philippe Guillol: Shot in the head
2e Voltigeurs Leonard Carlaine: Shot in the right hand
2e Voltigeurs Guillaume Petard: Shot in the left arm
2e Voltigeurs Noel Blondeau: Shot in the left leg
2e Voltigeurs Pierre Cyprion Chauveau: Shot in the right foot
3e Voltigeurs Julien Jean Neveux: Shot in the right leg
4e Voltigeurs Caporal Bernard Gouriol: Shot in the shoulder
4e Voltigeurs Hermann Hotters: Shot in the left arm
4e Voltigeurs Jean Nicolas Chartier: Shot in the left leg
4e Voltigeurs Joseph Dhozdain: Shot in the right arm
4e Voltigeurs Louis Pequin: Shot on the arm
4e Voltigeurs Pierre Mayer: Shot in the leg
4e Voltigeurs Rene Boudouin: Shot in the foot
3e Bat./ 3e Co. Fusilier Michel Cherami: Returned 4 September 1809
3e Grenadiers Guillaume Brand: Written off October 28 1809
1e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Pierre Sabard: Wounded by a gunshot (Scratched off rolls 23 September 1809)
2e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Pierre Francois Deyden: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809 (Scratched off rolls 19 August 1809)
2e Bat./ 2e Co. Fusilier Charles Richard Frerel: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809 (Scratched off rolls 28 8ember 1809)
3e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Jean Pierre Haemers: Wounded by a shot 19 April 1809 (Scratched off rolls 25 December 1809)
3e Bat./ 1e Co. Fusilier Gregoire Vernaza: Shot in the body (Scratched off rolls 23 September 1809)
1e Voltigeurs Jean Metiou: Shot in the foot (Scratched off rolls 28 September1809)
1e Voltigeurs Henry Bruno Ermetcaby: Shot in the head (Scratched off rolls 28 September 1809)
1e Voltigeurs Francois Michel Compain: Shot in the left arm (Scratched off rolls 28 September1809)
- le 105e régiment d'infanterie de ligne, de 1796 à 1815 (free.fr)
- 1815 Porte Aigle Jean CHANTELAT Base Leonore
- XB527 105. Ligne 1809
- Tableaux,
par corps et par batailles, des officiers tués et blessés pendant les
guerres de l'Empire (1805-1815) / par A. Martinien,...
- 2C 506 3e Corps 1809
- Pierre-Joseph Habert
- Two portraits of General Habert
- Isidore de BLANMONT (1770-1846) (napoleon-monuments.eu)
- Cercle Généalogique de l'Eure (eure-genealogie.org) Statue of de Blanmont.
- Colone Colonel Pierre-Marie-Isidore de Blanmont
- Major Pierre Coste
- Chefs de batallion Casimir Honoré Louis Lescaudey Louis René Rateua and Jean Francois Saltet
- 1e Porte-Aigle Lt. Claude Théodore Boutellier
