Napoleon's Shield and Guardian: The Unconquerable General DaumesnilThis outstanding biography is the story of courage. It charts the career of a superbly brave cavalryman against the rise and fall of his imperial master. Pierre Daumesnil was a loyal follower of Napoleon during his rise and his fall. Enlisting as a private soldier in 1793, he was caught up in the tumult of the Napoleonic Wars, surviving campaign after campaign and emerging as a much-decorated general and Baron of the Empire. It was a meteoric rise but one earned through hard fighting, bravery and indefatigable courage. Daumesnil accompanied Napoleon as an officer of his chasseurs and his service record reflects his years of experience on the field of battle. Daumesnil joined the French Army as a private in 1793 and was serving in Napoleon's Guides in 1797. He served in Egypt in 1798, charged at Marengo in 1800, fought at Austerlitz and Eylau, campaigned in Spain and saw action in Wagram. Terribly wounded at that battle, losing a leg, Daumesnil became governor of the fortress of Vincennes. It was here that he played his most celebrated role in the wars of Napoleon by refusing to surrender the fortress to the Allies in 1814 and again in 1815. Daumesnil's life was an adventure and one which typifies the dash, color and verve of this astonishing period. This biography, by a leading author, will appeal to Napoleonic enthusiasts and those interested in the life and times of Napoleon's elite cavalrymen. |
Contents
Prefaces | 6 |
Chapter One A tumultuous youth | 15 |
Chapter Three A first glimpse of fame | 41 |
Copyright | |
22 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Napoleon's Shield and Guardian: The Unconquerable General Daumesnil Edward Ryann No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
action advance guard aide de camp Allied Alvintzi April Armée arms Army of Italy army's arrived artillery asked attack Augereau Austrian Banque de France Baron battalion battle battlefield Bessières blockade Blücher Bonaparte Bonaparte's bridge campaign cannon capitulation captured cavalry charge Chasseurs à cheval château of Vincennes chef d'escadron Colonel command commander-in-chief Corbineau corps Daumesnil Davout defense dragoons Dugommier Duke Emperor enemy escort Exelmans fire force fort of Vincennes France Garat garrison général de brigade général de division governor of Vincennes Grenadiers Guard cavalry Guyot honor horses Imperial infantry July killed king Lannes Larrey Légion d'honneur Léonie letter Louis Mamelukes March Maréchal Marshal Masséna military Minister Monsieur morning Murat Napoleon officers Paris Pérignon Périgueux Perpignan position Prince prisoners Puivert ranks received regiment replied Russian sent siege soldiers Soult Spain Spanish squadron staff surrender took Tourton troopers troops withdrawal wounded wrote young