Guest Article | “The Bravest of The Brave” – Marshal Ney and “The Hundred Days” by Brian Williams | Mark Simner Guest Article | “The Bravest of The Brave” – Marshal Ney and “The Hundred Days” by Brian Williams Posted on by Mark Simner “My name is Michel Ney. I was born at Saarlouis on 10 January 1769.

I am the Duke of Elchingen, Prince of the Mosowa and Marshal of France, a Chevalier of the Order of St Louis, I wear the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour, also the decorations of the Iron Cross of Italy and the Order of Christ” (From the transcript of Ney’s court martial) He is the most celebrated and most tragic of Napoleon’s Marshals; Fearless, impetuous, hot tempered, dramatic; The barrel-coopers son who rose from the ranks to be a Marshal of France, a Duke and a Prince; A brilliant front line commander loved by his troops; Tall, magnificently built, red haired, Ney “The Bravest of the Brave” as Napoleon dubbed him or by the adoring rank and file simply “La Rougeaud” was a symbol for heroism and inspiring battlefield leadership in nearly 23 years of constant warfare from the “Cannonade of Valmy” to Waterloo until he finally faced his end not on the battlefield but as a condemned traitor in front of a firing squad of his fellow countrymen.

Michel Ney was born the second son of an old soldier who had made a living for himself as a barrel-cooper and blacksmith in the now German town of Saarlouis. He was apprenticed to a local lawyer and employed as a civil servant until in February 1787 Ney, aged 18, enlisted as a trooper in the crack “Regiment Colonel General of Hussars” in the army of King Louis XVI.

Ney’s father had opposed his enlistment as promotion in the royal army was limited for men of common birth no matter how talented; However his son’s only desire was to be a soldier and win glory for France on the battlefield; Glory that now most unfashionable of ideals was what Michel Ney desired from his first day of enlistment to his last day as a Marshal of France; Not promotion, medals, titles or estates but “La Gloire” for France Before the Revolution a grey haired Sergeant Major Ney would possibly have been commissioned a lieutenant on the eve of his retirement but the storming of the Bastille in 1789 began a process that would eventually change everything for France’s frustrated class of non-commissioned professional soldiers; Now promotion would no longer depend on birth but on merit and as the aristocratic officers emigrated their places in the new Republic’s volunteer armies were taken by the professionals of the old royal army who gained rapid promotion as Revolutionary France went to war. In September 1792 after his first battle at Valmy Ney, now a sergeant major, was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant.

He was to make his name as a dashing and aggressive cavalry commander in the glory days of the Republic when the troops of “The Army of the Sambre-et-Meuse” conquered the Low Countries and the left bank of the Rhine breaking the armies of the Austria and Prussia in battle after battle. By the end of 1794 Ney had risen to colonel. He had turned down a direct promotion to brigadier general telling his commander Kleber he lacked the experience but in 1796 Ney was ordered to accept his promotion. In 1799 Ney planned and led the raid to infiltrate and storm the Austrian fortress of Mannheim with complete success earning a promotion to General of Division later commanding the cavalry of General Moreau at the final battle of the First Republic at Hohenlinden. Ney had rocketed from trooper to general’s rank in five and a half years with a superb record as a cavalry leader, bold, energetic, audacious and unswerving in the pursuit of victory. Individually Ney had displayed not just courage, matched with an absolute imperviousness under fire, and tactical judgment but also an almost magical ability to inspire courage and endurance from his men.

In May 1801 Ney was summoned to meet the First Consol of France, Napoleon Bonaparte at the Tuileries palace. Napoleon although suspicious of Ney’s relationship with his rival republican generals Moreau and Kleber was conscious of Ney’s reputation as a fighting general and wanted him on his side as he sought to secure the loyalty of France’s armies; He appointed Ney his Inspector General of Cavalry and further strengthened his ties of loyalty via the boudoir. Josephine selected a suitable bride among her entourage-Aglae Louise Auguie and propelled Ney gently but firmly across her path. The resulting marriage was a happy one.

On May 19 1804, the day after Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor of France Ney was appointed Marshal of the Empire (one of the original 18 marshals) and appointed commander of VI Corps of the “Army of England” Ney trained VI Corps, extremely attentive and even indulgent to his troops, the men loved ““La Rougeaud” as they called him and he handled them superbly in the later battles communicating some of his intensity as they built one of the most notable combat records in what was now the Grande Armee Ney had earned his promotions on the battlefield with his natural judgement and skill in battle, in his evenings he would learn the higher principles of war and strategy from the Swiss mercenary soldier Jomini, the greatest theorist of war before Clausewitz. In the campaigns that followed Ney was to command his corps in a style that no amount of Jomini’s science could have taught him. At Elchingen (1805) Ney led the charge, under heavy fire to capture a vital bridge and the Austrian position behind it; cutting off General Mack from retreat and forcing his surrender at Ulm with 30,000 men.

When in 1808 Napoleon, creating a new aristocracy of the sword, distributed Dukedoms among the Marshals, Ney was created Duke of Elchingen. At Jena (1806) The battle was began prematurely by Ney jumping the gun, leading his advance troops hell for leather against the Prussian line before the bulk of his corps had moved up and before Soult and Lannes were in position on the flanks. Only Ney’s bravery, plus the luck of the devil and the unrolling of the main French attack brought him through without defeat and disgrace. At Eylau (1807) Ney force marched VI Corps through a blizzard arriving on the battlefield in time to force a Russian withdraw and save Napoleon from an almost certain defeat. At Friedland (1807) Ney led the main attack on the Russian right flank.

Napoleon’s chief of staff Berthier later wrote “You can form no idea of the brilliant courage of Ney-It resembles only the time of chivalry” Napoleon was heard to exclaim as he observed Ney in action “That man is a lion!” Ney’s courage and energy, his faculty of inspiring it in others, his rapid grasp of the possibilities of the moment amid the confusion of battle, his instinct for swift decision and aggression in attack made him one of Napoleon’s best corps commanders but he was not a great general in the sense of being fitted to independently plan and conduct the co-ordinated movements of armies in a campaign. Ney lacked the breadth of vision and wisdom, the calm temperament to be a strategist; He was a fighter not a thinker, at his best when armed forces came to the ultimate test of battle. Ney’s decisiveness often amounted to impetuosity. He was inclined to make decisions too quickly, too independently. Ney was one of those men excited by battle action. His legendary style of personal leadership would too often blind him to events away from his immediate vision; Yet staying clear from the thick of battle was counter to Ney’s nature and talents, directing and leading troops into battle was what he did best.

To excel, as a commander, Ney needed a guiding hand to set his objective so he could drive towards it with his speed, energy and aggression; that guiding hand was Napoleon Bonaparte. All his life Ney had a reverence for martial valour and a passionate belief in military glory. He followed a code that balanced ferocity in battle with a devotion to duty, gallantry and honour. A true soldier of France was brave and not did fear death on the battlefield. He had no “Death Wish” except when everything he held dear was lost at the closing moments at Waterloo. At a time when men were steeled against pity by revolution and war there was no cruelty or thirst for blood in Ney.

During the “The Terror” he saved royalist prisoners including priests from execution earning the grudging compliment from a very aware People’s Representative Gillet “Ney knows how to spare the blood of his countrymen” adding “For France’s soldiers to display a common humanity is no bad thing” Ney’s record as a Marshal was free of the looting and blatant corruption that so tainted the reputations of his peers notably Soult and Massena; Indeed in 1810 Ney would receive a letter of thanks from Wellington for his honourable treatment of British prisoners and wounded in Spain with Lord Liverpool praising Ney’s “humanity and nobility of conduct” Ney was very sensitive of the dignity due to his rank and jealous of his reputation as a soldier. In his relations with his other marshals Ney could be a difficult colleague with eruptions of temper when he felt slighted or ill supported particularly with the vainglorious buffoon if cavalry leader of genius Murat.

In Spain, Ney rebelled against the corruption and sloth of his superior Massena, his insubordination resulted in being relieved of command and ordered back to France (Napoleon would make his own judgement by soon after sacking Massena) In Russia Ney would accuse Davout and Victor of abandoning his men; The cold, hard Davout “The Iron Marshal” would later apologise to Ney and after Waterloo seek to save him from Bourbon vengeance; Victor would vote for Ney’s execution. But it was in Russia during the disastrous invasion 1812 that Ney was to make an immortal place in military history. Although wounded at Smolensk, Ney remained in command to lead the grand assault on the entrenched Russian centre at the horrific bloodbath that was Borodino, wearing his full dress uniform and riding a white charger. After capturing the redoubts with a final desperate assault Ney demanded the Imperial Guard be sent in to seal the victory but Napoleon hesitated to commit his only reserve earning a celebrated outburst from Ney. For his courage and leadership that day Ney received from Napoleon the title of “Prince of the Moskowa”.

Napoleon waited in Moscow expecting the Czar to make peace but when he failed to do so he was obliged to retreat. On 13 October 1812 the first snow began and in 1 November 1812 Ney was given command of the rear guard…..and so began the episode that gave him an immortal place in the Napoleonic legend; A classic demonstration of how much the force of one man’s personality and will can accomplish in the face of impossible conditions. Ney had 6,000 troops (Out of an original 35,000 in his III Corps) when he first commanded the rearguard and barely 300 when it ended. In the agonising cold with men dropping and dying in the snow all around him, Ney would fight countless delaying actions, marching over 500 miles in 42 consecutive days to cover the retreat of the Grand Army. Napoleon after receiving a report that Ney had been cut off from the main body at Krasnoi and should be considered lost commented “He will attempt the impossible and lose his life in some desperate attack.

I would give 330 million in gold to save him!” At Krasnoi a Russian officer had approached Ney’s camp through a dense fog to offer terms of surrender informing him that he was now surrounded by 30,000 men; Ney reportedly laughed “Surrender?! A Marshal of France ? Not me! My sword will get me out of this!” and ordered a bayonet charge by his 3,000 men through the Russian lines using the fog as cover. Afterwards when the encircling Russian armies forced him to order a retreat eastwards to Smolensk few of the survivors obeyed him, content to await capture, Ney simply announced “Very well. I will go back to Smolensk alone!” and set off through the snow; the men got up and followed him leaving their campfires behind to deceive the Russians. A survivor of the rearguard later wrote “The presence of Marshal Ney was enough to reassure us. Without knowing what he intended to do or what he wanted to do, we knew he would do something.

His confidence in himself was equal to his courage” As the rearguard approached the river Dnieper a young soldier was heard to ask his Marshal “What are you going to do?” “Get to the other side of the Dnieper” “Where is the road to it?” “We shall find it” “What if it is not frozen?” “It will be” Napoleon’s response to the news of Ney’s rejoining with the main body immortalised him “What a soldier! The army of France is full of brave men but Michel Ney is truly the bravest of the brave!” Ney had rejoined Napoleon in time for the crossing of the Beresina. When Oudinot was wounded his troops lost heart falling back and endangering the western bridgehead, Ney forced his way over the bridge and seized command reforming the lines and leading a desperate counter attack, driving back the Russians, buying time for the main body to cross over before the bridges collapsed.

Ney had saved the army but despite his efforts he was unable to save the thousands of stragglers left stranded for the sabres and lances of the Cossacks with an estimated 20,000 men, woman and children left slaughtered in the snow or drowned in the icy waters of the Beresina. After the crossing Napoleon abandoned the Grand Army to return to Paris giving command to Murat who out of his depth panicked and rode off to safety. With the army now a leaderless rabble Ney without orders placed himself as its rearguard, gathering to him a small body of volunteers to hold the Russians back and guide the many stragglers to safety. By the time Ney reached the Kovono Bridge crossing out of Russia, this last rearguard had dwindled to a few dozen men. Ney again rallied the last French stragglers, fighting hand to hand to hold back the pursuing Cossacks. Only when all his men had safely crossed the bridge did Ney calmly walk across under fire as the last French soldier on Russian soil. Believed to be dead Ney announced himself thus to a disbelieving General Dumas “What you don’t recognise me?

I am Marshal Ney, the rear guard of the Grande Armee. I have fired the last shot on the bridge of Kovno. I have thrown the last musket into the Niemen. I have made my way here across a hundred fields of snow. Also I’m damnably hungry! Get someone to bring me a bowl of soup!” Ney’s command of the rearguard was undoubtedly the most brilliant episode in his career. Exact figures are unknown as to how many of out of the original 600,000 strong Grand Army got out of Russia but every man who did, including Napoleon owed his freedom and his life to Ney’s will, calm courage, ready resource and initiative, above all his innate power of inspirational leadership. It is no exaggeration that the Russian campaign raised Ney to the status of a superman among France’s soldiers as the “La Rougeaud” who had saved the Grand Army from complete annihilation. Despite his ordeal Ney was again in the thick of the action during the campaign of 1813 fighting at the battles of Weissenfels, Lutzen, and Leipzig, where he suffered wounds.

When the combined Allied armies forced Napoleon back into France itself in 1814, Ney was sent from one threatened front to another fighting a series of desperate delaying actions with dwindling forces of raw conscripts, mere boys that he kept in rank with the sheer force of his presence and reputation. The self possessed coolness, humour and courage of the old Ney had been replaced with an barely restrained hysteria; Increasingly depressed and disenchanted with Napoleon, for like France herself, he was worn out from endless war; Russia had taken an enormous toll upon him mentally as he told Aglae “I feel tired. My wound is hurting but most of all I feel tired. More tired than I have ever felt in my life” Always hot tempered it is likely that Ney’s swings between rage and depression were resulting from the effects of 22 years of constant warfare and an experience in Russia which would have put a less robust man in hospital with nervous exhaustion; What in the First World War was called “Shell Shock” and in the Second “Battle Fatigue”. In modern times it is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Added to this was Ney’s faith in Napoleon had been broken; He felt continued resistance was hopeless and that he had to make a choice between Napoleon and France: Shortly after the fall of Paris, on March 31 1814 at Fontainebleau, Ney, as the spokesman for his fellow marshals, approached Napoleon, informed him that future resistance was hopeless and demanded that he abdicate for the good of France. Angrily Napoleon told him he would fight on adding “The army will obey me!” Ney replied calmly “No Sire; The army will obey its generals!” Ney’s relationship with Napoleon was complex; unlike many of his peers he was never wholly Napoleon’s creation. Ney had risen in campaigns that Napoleon had never commanded and had established the legendary fame of his battlefield leadership long before their meeting in Paris. To Ney, Napoleon was the greatest general of the age and a leader who represented the “La Gloire” of France; His emotional attachment to Napoleon was deep but it had increasingly been mixed with disillusionment.

Napoleon in his turn valued Ney as an indomitable attacking general who inspired troops in the field like no other of his Marshals (Lannes was the nearest however Napoleon never had the close relationship with Ney that he had enjoyed with Lannes) but he also doubted his ability to command at a strategic level. Napoleon saw Ney as a literal minded man of action with no interest in title hunting or financial rewards only in adding to his stock of “La Gloire” sensitive to his rank and his reputation as a brave and successful soldier of France and possessing no political ambition or insight whatsoever. He would never forgive or forget what he saw as Ney’s betrayal or later actions during the hundred days. The abdication of Napoleon saw the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in the shape of the grossly obese but amiable Louis XVIII. When he landed in Calais on 26th April 1815 Louis proclaimed that he wished to bury the troubles of the past and unite all Frenchman under the restored royalty of France in the common aim of restoring peace and prosperity.

Had he returned alone there might have been some prospect of achieving this; But he had brought with him a host of exiles intent on restoring France to its pre 1789 state and it was thanks to them that Napoleon was able within the year to make another bid for power. Louis expressed a generous admiration for Ney’s prowess as a soldier and his long service for France; Ney’s rank of Marshal of the Empire was confirmed with a slight variation. He was now “Marshal of France and Lieutenant General of the King” His military titles of nobility “The Dukedom of Elchingen” and “Princedom of the Moskowa” were recognized and Ney was placed on the list of the “Peers of France” who formed the upper house under the new constitution. But the old aristocracy of France, the Princes, Dukes and Marquesses of the emigration were in no mood to welcome the new nobility of the Revolutionary Empire they detested, regarding the military peerage of Napoleon’s creation as a set of brutish and common upstarts.

There were whispered jests and veiled insults in the royal court of the Tuileries directed at the barrel coopers son and jumped up hussar who called himself a prince and his “Madame Ney” Honoured though he was by Louis Ney was hurt deeply by the insults put on him by the returned émigrés and the treatment of his wife by Royalist Princesses and Duchesses enraged him. In one celebrated incident after hearing that Agale had been reduced to tears by the snubs of the Duchess of Angouleme, the surviving daughter of Louis XVI, Ney marched into the Tuileries and confronted the noblewoman and her circle giving them a demonstration of barrack room language worthy of a former Sergeant Major of Hussars.

The polite version reported in the salons of Paris was “I and others were fighting for France while you were sipping tea in English gardens!” The less polite version involved Ney’s views on the manners and ancestry of the Duchess and various gilded courtiers ending with “You don’t seem to know what the name of Ney means but one of these days I will show you!” Ney was frustrated, depressed and isolated; a figure despised both by Bourbons and by die hard supporters of Napoleon, with many observers reporting his frequent fits of irrational irritability and outbursts at Napoleon, the feebleness of Louis, the dishonour of the army and the snubs of the Bourbon court. He withdrew from court life entirely and retired to his country house in Coudreaux in October of 1814. All the evidence suggests Ney was content to stay aloof from politics and intrigues and enjoy peaceful retirement and family life. On March 6th 1815 Ney was summoned by Marshal Soult, now the King’s minister of war to Paris and was informed of the news that Napoleon had escaped from Elba and had landed in France with a 1,000 men.

Ney was then taken to meet the King and given command of the forces sent to intercept Napoleon at Besancon. Louis made an appeal to Ney’s patriotism and vanity of being France’s most famed soldier “What we most desire is that France has no civil war, shall be allowed to develop in peace and contentment…..I appeal to you Marshal to use all your great abilities and your popularity with my soldiers to end this rash enterprise and prevent a recurrence of bloody strife” Ney became excited and replied to this appeal with the outburst that was to damn him “Sire you are right. France must not have another civil war. Bonaparte’s enterprise is sheer madness.

I am leaving at once for Besancon and if need be I will bring him back to Paris in an iron cage!” Louis; startled at Ney’s outburst murmured after he had left “I did not ask him to say all that!” Receiving reports of mass defections among the army Ney took command of a 3,000 strong force of disgruntled troops and marched as far as the Inn of The Golden Apple at Lons-Le-Saulnier and there two men in civilian clothes visited him in his room (Ney refused at his trial to disclose their identities) They were officers of the Imperial Guard and they brought a message scrawled on a sheet of paper “Meet me at Chalons. I shall receive you as I did after the Moskowa” and it was signed with a single letter “N” Ney spent a sleepless night, struggling desperately with his loyalty to France, his loyalty to Louis and his loyalty to Napoleon. It never occurred to him to do what scores of officers were doing all around him and resign his command.

Ney simply said afterwards “I was in a storm and I lost my head” Next morning looking wild and haggard Ney paraded his men and started to read a proclamation he had written in the night. He was only allowed to read the first nine words “The cause of the Bourbons is lost for ever” before being drowned out in a thundering “Vive I’Empereur!” That night he gave a dinner party to his officers and sat like a ghost at the feast. On March 14th he joined Napoleon. Ney’s meeting with Napoleon had been fateful; He had presented him with a document demanding that the returning emperor govern France with the interest of the French people at heart; Napoleon had barely glanced at the document before crumpling it in his hand and passing it to an aide murmuring “This fine fellow Ney is going mad” before telling him with crashing condescension “Really cousin you are too fine a soldier to be worrying your head about politics and statesmanship.

We must get on to Paris!” The impact of Ney’s defection was decisive; On March 19th 1815 in the dead of night King Louis XVIII, the Royal Princes and the Court bolted for the Belgium frontier. That same night Napoleon entered Paris and Ney was ordered to make an inspection tour of France’s military posts in the east…….. Ney returned to Paris in April to a frozen reception from Napoleon; Ney had served his purpose but he had never forgiven Fontainbleau and now had he heard all about the “Iron Cage” telling Ney in their short meeting the remark was “Foolishness; Unworthy of a soldier” Others had warned Napoleon that Ney was an oath breaker and not to be trusted and everything about how Ney was treated suggests that he shared their feelings. The hero of the Moskowa and the retreat from Russia was persona no grata with Napoleon, invited to but cold shouldered at official functions, excluded from any role in military planning and as hopes of peace vanished and as a new coalition began to mobilize against France he was offered no command as Napoleon gathered his forces. Ney’s state of mind at this point can only be guessed at.

For a man who wore his honour as heavily as Ney did the Bonapartist jibes of turncoat and oath breaker must have cut very deep. And Napoleon continued to rub them in. On 6th June 1815 after a brief meeting with the new minister of war Davout Ney had a chance encounter with the emperor “Here you are! I was thinking you must have emigrated!” “Perhaps I should have done before this” replied Ney and Napoleon passed by without another word. Ney so fearless in battle was wholly out of his depth in politics. He had broken his sworn oath to Louis only to spare France the trauma of civil war and his reward was not to be trusted by the emperor, his career ending in what seemed very close to disgrace; Ney had no illusion that if Napoleon fell from power and the Bourbons returned that he was a dead man.

On 11th June 1815 Ney at Courdreaux received a recall to active duty from Davout and also a message from Napoleon “Send for Marshal Ney and tell him that if he wishes to be present for the first battles, he ought to be at Avesnes on the 14th” Ney could have sat on his hands or feigned illness instead he packed his bags and headed north to war. Napoleon’s sudden decision to recall Ney after snubbing him for months can be explained for two reasons. He was desperately short of experienced battle commanders with marshals such as Oudinot declining to serve him, others staying loyal to Louis like Victor and Marmont or awaiting events by claiming ill health like Augereau and Massena. Berthier, his genius chief of staff had fallen out of a window to be replaced by Soult. He needed Davout to hold Paris. He had assembled 150,000 troops to face the Allied onslaught but he needed leaders and Ney, whatever his feelings about him, was one of his best at the head of the storming columns.

Secondly was Ney himself; his reputation as a soldier was worth divisions “Le Rougeaud” enjoyed immense popularity among the ordinary French soldier and Napoleon needed Ney’s unmatched ability to inspire and rally faltering men. On 11th June Ney met up with Napoleon who entertained him at dinner but told him nothing about his proposed strategy or the nature of Ney’s role in the campaign. On 15th June 1815 Ney was summoned to meet Napoleon outside Charleroi and had barely dismounted from his horse when Napoleon told him “Bonjour Ney, I want you to take of I and II Corps. I am also giving you the Light Cavalry of the Imperial Guard-but don’t use it without my orders. Tomorrow will be joined by Kellerman’s cuirassiers. Go and drive the enemy back along the Brussels road!” Napoleon had Ney command of the Left Wing of the Army of the North-50,000 troops and 72 cannon. Yet he had put Ney at tremendous disadvantage. Ney knew nothing of Napoleon’s strategy for the campaign. Ney knew nothing about his commanders. Ney knew nothing about their units. Ney had no time for proper reconnaissance.

Ney had no staff to advise him or assist him in planning and organization. Ney was given an open ended order and left to make his own interpretation of it. Napoleon’s strange and casual appointment of Ney to such a critical command at the last minute before the campaign opened was inexcusable even more so his subsequent dismissal from his exile of Ney during the campaign as “Knowing as much of my plans as the last joined drummer boy” At Quatre Bras Ney facing Wellington for the first time since Spain commanded with an uneasy mix of caution, indecision and flashes of the impetuous Ney of old. His performance wasn’t helped by Soult’s incompetence as a chief of staff in relaying Napoleon’s intentions. If Ney had attacked with all his strength early in the day he would beaten the Prince of Orange and rolled up Wellington’s army as it marched towards to support him. Instead unsure of what he was facing he held back from launching a massed assault. As the day wore on and strength of Wellington’s position increased Ney under pressure, already with two horses shot from under him, in a wild outburst of temper ordered D’Erlon’s I Corps back from its march to support Napoleon’s battle with the Prussians at Ligny.

D’Erlon’s corps arrived too late to play any part. Ney’s counter order was blamed by Napoleon for depriving him of a decisive victory but the overall failure was a combination of blunders among the French high command. At Waterloo Napoleon after making the general dispositions left command of the battle to Ney giving him little guidance during the day; Ney directed D’Erlon’s corps on its assault against Wellington’s centre but it was thrown back. Ney led the assault on the farmhouse at La Haye Sainte but was repulsed. Then he observed what he took to be a retreat by troops at Wellington’s centre and decided to go into the kill with cavalry……… Waving his sword Ney ordered Milhaud’s brigade of cuirassiers to follow him, by accident or by direct order from Milhaud the Light Cavalry of the Imperial Guard followed also. Thus, 2,800 cuirassiers, breastplates shining, went forward their heavy horses making the ground tremble, followed by 2,000 lancers and chasseurs-almost 5,000 men and horses.

Trotting, trotting in almost unending lines, plumes flying, sabres drawn, they waited for the order to charge. Finally Ney raised his sword high and went into the gallop, the mass following him in magnificent array. Over the crest of the ridge they went straight into fire from British cannon and then came up against British infantry formed in squares, delivering devastating fire. The cavalry charged and veered around the squares, hardly any penetrating the squares. The squadrons withdrew in disorder. Ney’s mistake was not ordering the charge; he had seen an opportunity, seized it and could have succeeded. Rather it was by leading it himself, not observing and bringing up infantry and artillery support to break the squares. Also he appears to have totally lost control of himself, a frenzied rage brought on by fatigue and frustration. As Ney rallied and reformed the survivors, Napoleon ordered in Kellerman’s cavalry corps of 3,400 heavy and light cavalry and the Guard cavalry. It is likely that Napoleon wanted to repeat Murat’s massed charge at Eylau that had broken the Russian centre though later he blamed Ney for throwing away the cavalry for no purpose. Ney led some 8,000 horsemen in another charge.

Again the charge met artillery fire, then the squares and again it failed. Ney, still possessed with the madness of battle, rallied the mass again and led it forward in another charge, his red hair visible to his men as he screamed encouragement. Six times Ney led the charges of Europe’s finest cavalry against the British squares, he had four horses shot from under him, British and French witnesses saw him after the final charge, his uniform blackened, his epaulettes shot away, repeatedly striking a British cannon with his sword. After the failure of the cavalry attacks Ney, apparently cooling down, returned his attention to the farmhouse of La Haye Sainte leading a storming column of infantry backed with cannon to take it after savage hand-to-hand fighting. It was at La Haye Sainte that Ney snapped his sword against a British bayonet. Under close fire or in the thick of the hand to hand fighting Ney was a marked man but seemed invulnerable, escaping bullet, ball, bayonet and sword rallying his troops with the magic of his presence, the boom of his baritone voice and his imperturbable courage, continuing to wave the stub of his sword as he galloped across the battlefield.

Finally Napoleon committed his Old Guard in a final effort to break Wellington’s centre. At 1900 hours Ney mounted on his last horse of the day still holding his broken sword led 11 battalions of the Old Guard forward. The opening British volley brought down Ney’s horse and now on foot Ney desperately tried to keep the Guard together as musket volleys and cannon fire tore down its ranks. Finally the Guard broke and with it the whole French line. There are many reported glimpses of Ney in these closing moments of Waterloo. Mostly of him trying to rally the fugitives, turning around a retreating brigade to make one last attack and when that failed moving on to the last squares of the Old Guard to make a final stand and fought until they too broke. D’Erlon saw Ney standing alone holding up his broken sword and shouting “Come and see how a Marshal of France dies on the battlefield!” adding “If they catch us D’Erlon you and I will be hanged!” The final glimpse of Ney, Marshal of France, Prince of the Moskowa and Duke of Elchingen was him limping down the road south until offered a horse by a Polish lancer.

He was the last senior officer of Napoleon’s Army of the North to leave the field. Apparently those French soldiers who saw him cheered “Long Live Ney!” There is no doubt that Ney wanted to die a soldier’s death on the battlefield of Waterloo but death didn’t want him that day and the Bourbons wanted vengeance………. 1000+ images about Marshal Michel Ney (did he really die in France?) on Pinterest | Napoleon, Prince and Sam houston Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Marshal Michel Ney (did he really die in France?) In the decades following his death, historians have tried to settle the mystery once and for all. Disappointingly, samples of the two Neys’ handwriting have failed to show similarities and the two occasions that his body was exhumed, in 1887 and again in 1936, no conclusive proof emerged. To this day, the true identity of Peter Stuart Ney remains one of the greatest mysteries of North Carolina 126 Pins420 Followers Marshal Ney: The Bravest of the Brave: Amazon.co.uk: A.H. Atteridge: 9781844152834: Books By Aussie Reader on 30 Oct.

2009 Format: Paperback "The Bravest of the Brave, Michel Ney: Marshal of France, Duke of Elchingen, Prince of the Moskowa 1769-1815" by Andrew Hilliard Atteridge is a rare gem of a book. First published in 1914 this book follows the military career of one of Napoleon's greatest Marshals, `The Bravest of the Brave' - Marshal Ney. Ney was best known for his gallant actions during the 1812 retreat from Moscow where he commanded the rearguard and helped save the remnants of the Grand Armee. This book covers that and more, from his service in the French Revolutionary Armies fighting in Germany till his final action at Waterloo. The reader can follow Ney leading his troops throughout all of Napoleon's major campaigns and battles, including Ulm and Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau and Friedland. The account of his trial and execution is well told and very touching. Michel Ney comes across as a brave, generous and honest man who did his utmost for his country during nearly twenty-five years of almost constant combat.

He was also a loving husband and father with a dedicated wife and a number of children who also made their mark in history. This is a good book and most people who delight in reading about this period of history should enjoy this account. I would also recommend this author's biography of another Napoleonic marshal; "Marshal Murat: King of Naples" which is another spellbinding account of great battles and interesting times. Napoleon's Marshals: A Rogue's Gallery - Historum - History Forums Napoleon's Marshals: A Rogue's Gallery User Name Need help with the website? Contact Us anytime. War and Military History War and Military History Forum - Warfare, Tactics, and Military Technology over the centuries Page 1 of 6 ï¿½ Essayist of the Year ï¿½ Blog Entries: 22 Napoleon's Marshals: A Rogue's Gallery So I thought as I trudge through my big project for the Peninsular War, I might introduce some of my favourite figures throughout history: Napoleon and his Marshals. The position of Marshal of France was an ancient one, awarded to military personnel of noted achievement and given a Marshal's Baton as a symbol of their office.

During the First French Empire of Napoleon I, there were 26 Marshals of the Empire. I think reviewing the myriad of fascinating personas who bore the title of Marshal would be quite interesting, where they began, and how they fared during the Bourbon Restoration. Michel Ney I thought I might start off with one of the more well known and well respected Marshals of Napoleon (and personally one of my favourites). Born the son of a cooper, in 1769 on the 10th of January in the town of Saarlouis (now in Germany), Michel Ney seemed destined to a quiet life, becoming a notary after attending university. However, the man who would be referred to by Napoleon himself as "the bravest of the brave" was bored easily with the life of bureaucracy, and in 1787 joined the Colonel-General Hussar Regiment. With his innate bravery and skill quickly appreciated, Ney rose up the non-commissioned ranks quite quickly, and was commissioned in 1792. Transferring from the Army of the North to the Sambre-et-Meuse in 1794, and was promoted to general de brigade in 1796.

The next year, Ney fought in the Battle of Neuwied, where he displayed his soldier's skill and was able to turn the Austrians from the field with a well-timed flank, however he was captured after being unhorsed. A month later he was exchanged for an Austrian general and resumed his climb up the ranks. Serving the Empire From 1797 till 1804, Ney saw much action and received several wounds for his courageous and daring attacks on the enemy. His talent was recognized by Napoleon who drew up a list of eighteen Marshals of the Empire, with Michel Ney delighted his name was included. With the War of the Third Coalition beginning in 1805, Ney assumed command of the VI Corps, performing admirably at the Battle of Elchingen and late in the year capturing the city of Innsbruck from the Austrian commander, Archduke John. Due to his exemplary record in Napoleon's service, he was created the Duke of Elchingen in1808.

Ordered to Spain in 1809, he continued his streak of victories, routing the English under Sir Robert Wilson and taking part in the Invasion of Portugal the following year, where he captured the city in roughly three months due to the tough Spanish defenders of the city. After his success he then besieged the town of Almeida, where a lucky cannon shot managed to ignite the ammunition magazine, causing an enormous explosion that garnered 900 casualties, 600 of whom died outright. Beating the British at Coa, he then tasted defeat at the Battle of Bussaco. When Marshal Massena was unable to take the highly defensible Lines of Torres Vedras (massive earthworks designed by Wellington to block Massena's advancement into Portugal), Massena was forced to retreat, with Ney commanding the Rear Guard. During the Retreat from the Lines of Torres Vedras, Ney was able to deceive Wellington by making it seem that Ney was actually advancing on the lines, giving Massena a great advantage in time and distance. He then managed to inflict calculated defeats to the British at Pombal, Redinha, Casal Novo and Foz d'Aronce as the army retreated.

Re: Napoleon's Marshals: A Rogue's Gallery Russia Napoleon drew up his plans to invade Russia in 1812, Ney receiving the III Corps to command. Marching across the Dnieper River, the Grande Armï¿½e engaged the Russians at Smolensk where he was wounded in the neck, put of commission until the Battle of Borodino. During the butchery of Borodino, Ney led a charge to retake valuable positions, combining later with Marshal Davout to position his artillery that caught the Russians under General Barclay in a blistering crossfire that the Russian General described as a "walk into Hell". Despite the best efforts of Ney, Davout and other commanders, Borodino was at best a Pyrrhic victory for Napoleon, having lost up to 35,000 men from an Army he desperately needed to keep together. With the "victory" Moscow was open to Napoleon, but due to the Russian's unorthodox abandonment of the city, the taking of Moscow was a hollow achievement. Napoleon had to leave Russia.

As the French Army retreated, Marshal Ney displayed great personal bravery and skill, rallying the tired, mutinous ragged veterans of the Armee again and again to face off the Russians. Ney seen in front, was cut off from the main army at one point, him and his men fighting bravely through the deadly cold to rejoin Napoleon, who dubbed him there as "the bravest of the brave". Defending at Beresina, he fought valiantly until the rest of the army crossed the bridge out of the Russian Empire, finally crossing himself to become the last man to leave Russia in the French Army. Last edited by Pedro; March 4th, 2010 at 11:44 AM. Reason: resized pic 1815: Napoleon’s Bravest Marshal – Michel Ney | History.info 1815: Napoleon’s Bravest Marshal – Michel Ney Photo Credit To Story Highlights historical event: Even among marshals, Ney stood out because Napoleon gave him high noble titles. He was proclaimed Duke of Elchingen (French: Duc d’Elchingen) and later the Prince of the Moscow (Prince de la Moskowa) as well.

Marshal Michel Ney was one of Napoleon’s closest associates. Napoleon declared him marshal in 1804, simultaneously with the declaration of the French Empire. On that occasion, the first 18 French generals were promoted to the highest rank (French: Maréchal d’Empire). Later, Napoleon promoted another 8 marshals, so that their total number was 26 (coincidentally, Hitler had exactly the same number of marshals). Even among marshals, Ney stood out because Napoleon gave him high noble titles. So he was proclaimed Duke of Elchingen (French: Duc d’Elchingen) and later the Prince of the Moscow (Prince de la Moskowa). We should mention that Prince was the highest noble title in the French Empire. Napoleon called Ney “the bravest of the brave”. Marshal Ney supported Napoleon even in his final attempt to take power, after Bonaparte’s return from Elba. In the final Battle of Waterloo, Marshal Ney commanded the large part of Napoleon’s army. Allegedly, during the battle, five horses on which Ney rode were killed one after the other. At the end, the French failed to win.

Napoleon was taken prisoner by the British to Saint Helena, and Ney was imprisoned in Paris and was tried. Marshal Ney was found guilty of treason of the French Bourbon dynasty (because he had sided with Napoleon). It was determined that he will be executed by firing squad. On this day the sentence was carried out ​​in Paris, near the famous “Jardin du Luxembourg” park. Ney refused to wear a blindfold and asked the right to give the order to fire, which was allowed. He reportedly said to the firing squad: “Soldiers, when I give the command to fire, fire straight at my heart. Wait for the order. It will be my last to you. I protest against my condemnation. I have fought a hundred battles for France, and not one against her … Soldiers, fire!” Facebook Comments 4 Soldiers of Humble Background Who Helped Make Napoleon Great - Page 2 of 2 4 Soldiers of Humble Background Who Helped Make Napoleon Great Michel Ney Michel Ney, Marshall of the French Empire, Duc of Elchingen, Prince of Moscow The most famous of Napoleon’s Marshals, Michel Ney came from a military background, his father Pierre having fought in the Seven Years War.

Now a master barrel-maker, Pierre Ney ensured that his son received an education, leading Michel to work as a notary and then an industrial overseer. Dissatisfied with a career in bureaucracy, Ney joined the army in 1787 and was made an officer in 1792, having distinguished himself in several battles. He personally led cavalry charges and was wounded at Winterthur in 1799. Ney is perhaps best remembered for his success during retreats. Fighting the British in the Iberian Peninsula, he fought a series of rearguard actions during the retreat from Torres Vedras. Commanding III Corps in the 1812 invasion of Russia, he once again led the rearguard during a retreat, fighting his way back to the main army after his contingent was cut off. He held the vital bridge at Kovno, helping the army escape. Napoleon nicknamed him “the bravest of the brave” for his actions while others lauded him as “the last Frenchman on Russian soil”. As the Empire collapsed before her many enemies, Ney was among those who urged Napoleon to resign, and for this, he retained his rank under the restored monarchy.

But he found himself looked down upon by the Bourbon court because of his humble origins, and so defected to Napoleon on his return in the Hundred Days of 1815. Arrested after Waterloo, he was tried and executed on 7 December. A man of distinction to the last, he refused a blindfold and gave the firing squad the order to shoot him. Nicolas Oudinot Marshal Nicolas Oudinot The son of a brewer, Nicolas Oudinot was the only one of nine siblings to survive childhood. He spent three years in the army in the 1780s, retiring as a sergeant, and returned to service in 1792 to defend the republic. Elected lieutenant-colonel of a volunteer regiment, he distinguished himself defending a small fort on the Vosges and was transferred to the regular army. Oudinot’s fearless approach to warfare led him to be injured 34 times in battle as he rose through the ranks. Though not one of the initial group of men made Marshals by Napoleon in 1804, he was promoted to that rank in 1809 thanks to his courage at the Battle of Wagram.

Kept in place by the restored Bourbons, Oudinot did not return to Napoleon’s side in 1815, and so continued to command until 1823. Unlike many 19th century generals, he knew his limitations, never claiming to be a great overall commander. But he was an excellent divisional commander, an inspiring leader, and an example to officers of the following generation. All images: Wikipedia Amazon.co.uk:Customer Reviews: Marshal Ney: The Bravest of the Brave Format: Paperback "The Bravest of the Brave, Michel Ney: Marshal of France, Duke of Elchingen, Prince of the Moskowa 1769-1815" by Andrew Hilliard Atteridge is a rare gem of a book. First published in 1914 this book follows the military career of one of Napoleon's greatest Marshals, `The Bravest of the Brave' - Marshal Ney. Ney was best known for his gallant actions during the 1812 retreat from Moscow where he commanded the rearguard and helped save the remnants of the Grand Armee.

This book covers that and more, from his service in the French Revolutionary Armies fighting in Germany till his final action at Waterloo. The reader can follow Ney leading his troops throughout all of Napoleon's major campaigns and battles, including Ulm and Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau and Friedland. The account of his trial and execution is well told and very touching. Michel Ney comes across as a brave, generous and honest man who did his utmost for his country during nearly twenty-five years of almost constant combat. He was also a loving husband and father with a dedicated wife and a number of children who also made their mark in history. This is a good book and most people who delight in reading about this period of history should enjoy this account. I would also recommend this author's biography of another Napoleonic marshal; "Marshal Murat: King of Naples" which is another spellbinding account of great battles and interesting times. 0Comment | 10 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse Please write at least one word You must purchase at least one item from Amazon to post a comment A problem occurred while submitting your comment. Please try again later.

Showing 0 of 0 comments Sort by: Format: Paperback | Verified Purchase For anyone interested in the Napoleonic period especially the warfare side this is a good read. However being written in a quite old style, as the book is more then 100 years old it deals mostly with details and facts about Ney's military and political career from what few sources there are. This is not an intimate portrait of the man, his desires, emotions, family life, none of that. Though without a doubt just from imagining what the man accomplished and what situations he ended up in there is no doubt that Ney earned his subtitle, the bravest of the brave. Marshal Ney - Bravest Of The Brave by Andrew Hilliard Atteridge on iBooks This book is available for download with iBooks on your Mac or iOS device, and with iTunes on your computer. Books can be read with iBooks on your Mac or iOS device. Description This ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. Few of Napoleon’s Marshals have been involved in such controversy as the son of a cooper from Sarrelouis, Michel Ney.

His reputation has been argued over fiercely by military historians, Bonapartists, revisionists and romantics for almost two centuries since his untimely demise at the hands of his own countrymen in the gardens of the Luxembourg. This volume paints a sympathetic picture of Marshal Ney, drawing on the memoirs of his subordinates and Général Bonnal’s Vie Militaire du Maréchal Ney to combine into the best single volume biography yet published in English. Atteridge writes concisely but vividly, and does not shy away with the controversies that have dogged Ney’s reputation, whilst providing a clear framework of the events. The details are accompanied by numerous maps, including excellent details on the often overlooked Battle of Hohenlinden in 1800 which secured the French Republic. From the early days of the French Republic, Ney fought fiercely and with much skill, through to the dark days of the retreat from Russia in 1812 in which he saved the remnants of the vast army Napoleon led to their destruction. His actions in the Hundred Days, for which he lost his life in a trial whose outcome was predetermined, are analyzed clearly and he deserved a better lot than he received for his efforts.

Ney was a pivotal figure in an era of giants and Atteridge’s book does him the justice his brave and valorous character demands. Highly recommended. Atteridge’s book forms a companion to his other single volume biography of Marshal Murat and his work on the varied personalities on Napoleon’s Brothers. Text taken, whole and complete, from the 1912 edition, published in London by Metheun and Co. Ltd. Original - 468 pages. Author- Andrew Hilliard Atteridge (1844–1912) Linked TOC and 8 Illustrations and 8 maps. Seller: Isolation Network, Inc. (INgrooves a.k.a. INscribe) Print Length: 357 Pages Language: English Requirements: To view this book, you must have an iOS device with iBooks 1.3.1 or later and iOS 4.3.3 or later, or a Mac with iBooks 1.0 or later and OS X 10.9 or later. Customer Ratings Marshal Michel Ney - Napoleonic Wars Biography Updated August 29, 2016.

Michel Ney - Early Life: Born in Saarlouis, France on January 10, 1769, Michel Ney was the son of master barrel cooper Pierre Ney and his wife Margarethe. Due to Saarlouis' location in Lorraine, Ney was raised bilingual and was fluent in both French and German. Coming of age, he received his education at the Collège des Augustins and became a notary in his hometown. After a brief stint as an overseer of mines, he ended his career as a civil servant and enlisted in the Colonel-General Hussar Regiment in 1787. Proving himself a gifted soldier, Ney swiftly moved through the non-commissioned ranks. Michel Ney - Wars of the French Revolution: With the beginning of the French Revolution , Ney's regiment was assigned to the Army of the North. In September 1792, he was present at the French victory at Valmy and was commissioned as an officer the next month. The following year he served at the Battle of Neerwinden and was wounded at the siege of Mainz.

Transferring to the Sambre-et-Meuse in June 1794, Ney's talents were quickly recognized and he continued to advance in rank, reaching général de brigade in August 1796. With this promotion came command of the French cavalry on the German front. In April 1797, Ney led the cavalry at the Battle of Neuwied. Charging a body of Austrian lancers that were attempting to seize French artillery, Ney's men found themselves counterattacked by enemy cavalry. In the fighting that ensued, Ney was unhorsed and taken prisoner. He remained a prisoner of war for a month until being exchanged in May. Returning to active service, Ney participated in the capture of Mannheim later that year. Two years later he was promoted to géneral de division in March 1799. Commanding the cavalry in Switzerland and along the Danube, Ney was wounded in the wrist and thigh at Winterthur. Recovering from his wounds, he joined General Jean Moreau's Army of the Rhine and took part in the victory at the Battle of Hohenlinden on December 3, 1800.

In 1802, he was assigned to command French troops in Switzerland and oversaw French diplomacy in the region. On August 5 of that year, Ney returned to France to marry Aglaé Louise Auguié. The couple would be married for the remainder of Ney's life and would have four sons. Michel Ney - Napoleonic Wars: With the rise of Napoleon, Ney's career accelerated as he was appointed one of the first eighteen Marshals of the Empire on May 19, 1804. Assuming command of the VI Corps of the La Grand Armée the following year, Ney defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Elchingen that October. Pressing into the Tyrol, he captured Innsbruck a month later. During the 1806 campaign, Ney's VI Corps took part in the Battle of Jena on October 14, and then moved to occupy Erfurt and capture Magdeburg. As winter set in, the fighting continued and Ney played a key role in rescuing the French army at the Battle of Eylau on February 8, 1807.

Pressing on, Ney participated in the Battle of Güttstadt and commanded the right wing of the army during Napoleon's decisive triumph against the Russians at Friedland on June 14. For his exemplary service, Napoleon created him Duke of Elchingen on June 6, 1808. Shortly thereafter, Ney and his corps were dispatched to Spain. After two years on the Iberian Peninsula, he was ordered to aid in the invasion of Portugal. After capturing Ciudad Rodrigo and Coa, he was defeated at the Battle of Buçaco. Working with Marshal André Masséna, Ney and the French flanked the British position and continued their advance until they were turned back at the Lines of Torres Vedras. Unable to penetrate the allied defenses, Masséna ordered a retreat. During the withdrawal, Ney was removed from command for insubordination. Returning to France, Ney was given command of the III Corps of the La Grand Armée for the 1812 invasion of Russia. In August of that year, he was wounded in the neck leading his men at the Battle of Smolensk.

As the French drove further into Russia, Ney commanded his men in the central section of the French lines at the Battle of Borodino on September 7, 1812. With the collapse of the invasion later that year, Ney was assigned to command the French rearguard as Napoleon retreated back to France. Cut off from the main body of the army, Ney's men were able to fight their way through and rejoin their comrades. For this action he was dubbed "the bravest of the brave" by Napoleon. After taking part in the Battle of Berezina, Ney helped hold the bridge at Kovno and reputedly was the last French soldier to leave Russian soil. In reward for his service in Russia, he was given the title Prince of the Moskowa on March 25, 1813. As the War of the Sixth Coalition raged, Ney took part in the victories at Lützen and Bautzen . That fall he was present when French troops were defeated at the Battles of Dennewitz and Leipzig. With the French Empire collapsing, Ney aided in defending France through early 1814, but became the spokesman for the Marshal's revolt in April and encouraged Napoleon to abdicate.

With the defeat of Napoleon and restoration of Louis XVIII, Ney was promoted and made a peer for his role in the revolt. Michel Ney - The Hundred Days & Death: Ney's loyalty to the new regime was quickly tested in 1815, with Napoleon's return to France from Elba. Swearing allegiance to the king, he began assembling forces to counter Napoleon and pledged to bring the former emperor back to Paris in an iron cage. Aware of Ney's plans, Napoleon sent him a letter encouraging him to rejoin his old commander. This Ney did on March 18, when he joined Napoleon at Auxerre Three months later, Ney was made the commander of the left wing of the new Army of the North. In this role, he defeated the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Quatre Bras on June 16, 1815. Two days later, Ney played a key role at the Battle of Waterloo . His most famous order during the decisive battle was to send forward the French cavalry against the allied lines. Surging forward, they were unable to break the squares formed by the British infantry and were forced to retreat. Following the defeat at Waterloo, Ney was hunted down arrested.

Taken into custody on August 3, he was tried for treason that December by the Chamber of Peers. Found guilty, he was executed by firing squad near the Luxembourg Garden on December 7, 1815. During his execution, Ney refused to wear a blindfold and insisted upon giving the order to fire himself. His final words were reportedly: "Soldiers, when I give the command to fire, fire straight at my heart. Wait for the order. It will be my last to you. I protest against my condemnation. I have fought a hundred battles for France, and not one against her... Soldiers Fire!” Selected Sources

Question: Which of his marshals did Napoleon call 'the bravest of the brave'?
Answer: Ney