After his return to France for health reasons, he courageously fought in the battles of Engen, Messkirch, Biberach, Marengo and Pozzolo. He nevertheless remained Captain for fourteen years. Having been wounded in Calabria under the orders of General Masséna, he was finally appointed Battalion Commander in 1807, and eighteen months later, Colonel on the battlefield of Wagram (5–6 July 1809). On 9 May 1811, Napoleon made him Knight of the Empire. During the campaign of Russia in 1812, he became chief of the general staff of Prince Eugène de Beauharnais, who noticed his conduct at the Battle of Borodino on September 7.