(2021) VILNIUS 1812, Ghost of Napoleon's Grand Armee
Now published but officially launched on 1 June 2021, £35
https://kentrotman.co.uk/newbooks/vilnius-1812-ghosts-of-napoleons-grande-armee-through-their-artifacts/
160pp., 4to, 500 colour illustrations including 281 artefacts, 16 maps, 70 paintings, 22 photos., 43 uniforms, 70 uniform details & 43 tables. 2021. In 2008 my good friend Paul Richardson did an excellent brief study based on the discovery of the Vilnius massed graves of the victims of the retreat from Moscow. I am delighted to now publish for Paul and Stephen this vastly updated version. The collaboration of these two authors now results in a detailed exploration of the anthropology, buttons, uniform fragments, shakos, personal items that have survived with comparisons in many cases to the original artefacts. Also discussed in a survey of the campaign are the contribution of disease, lack of medical provision, nutrition and weather to the demise of the army. The research involved in this book is giving a greater understanding to the fate of the army and a companion volume is in preparation to explore the themes in more detail.
CONTENTS
PART I: STORY OF THE BONES 7
CHAPTER 1: DISCOVERY OF A MASS GRAVE 7-8
CHAPTER 2: STORM CLOUDS GATHER 9-14
Poland and Lithuania; The Continental System; Napoleon’s Preparations for War; Region of Operation
CHAPTER 3: RUSSIAN WEATHER IN 1812: 15-18
CHAPTER 4: THE HUMAN REMAINS 19
The Excavation; Anthropology; Origin and Diet of the Soldiers; Dental Analysis; Evidence of Trench Fever and Typhus; Conclusions
CHAPTER 5: MEDICAL 27
French Service de Sante [Medical Services]; Imperial Guard Medical Services; Officiers de Sante (Health Officers); Compagnies de Soldats d’Ambulance; Sickness; Lice and Typhus; Failure of the Medical Provision; Evacuation of the Wounded and Sick from Moscow; Hospitals in Vilnius
PART II: THE ARTIFACTS 39
CHAPTER 6: HEADWEAR 40
French Shakos; French Shako Plates; Plumes; Baden Hussar Shako; Czapska; Bearskins and Calpacs; Bicorn (Chapeau); Raupenhelm; Metal Helmets; Forage Caps.
CHAPTER 7: UNIFORMS 51
Textiles; Infantry Uniforms; Dress (Tenue); M1804 Coat (habit); Officer’s Uniforms; M1812 Bardin Coatee (habit-veste); Cavalry Uniforms; Ulan uniform; Hussar style uniform.
Buttons; Gorget; Epaulettes.
Legwear; Breeches; Gaiters; Footwear; Shoes; Boots
CHAPTER 8: EQUIPMENT 73
Cartridge Boxes (Giberne); Knapsack; Belts; Horse Harness
CHAPTER 9: IMPROVISED WINTER UNIFORM 78
CHAPTER 10: PERSONAL ARTIFACTS 80
PART III: CAMPAIGN HISTORY 83
CHAPTER 11: LIBERATION OF LITHUANIA 83
Russian Response; 24 June 1812 – Crossing the River Niemen; 28 June 1812 – Vilnius
CHAPTER 12: DUCHY OF LITHUANIA ARMY 94
Lithuanian Infantry; 18e-23e (Lithuanian) Ligne; Lithuanian Chasseurs à Piedl National Guard; Lithuanian Cavalry; 17e-20e Lithuanian Ulans; 21e Chasseurs à Cheval; Lithuanian Gendarmerie à Cheval; Horse Artillery
CHAPTER 13: VILNIUS TO MOSCOW 100
16 July-16 Aug – The Road to Smolensk; 17-18 Aug 1812 – Battle of Smolensk; Russian Reinforcements; 5-7 Sept 1812 – The Pyrrhic Victory of Borodino
CHAPTER 14: MOSCOW (14 SEPT-18 OCT 1812) 106
CHAPTER 15: RETREAT FROM MOSCOW 109
23 Oct 1812 – Blowing up the Kremlin; 24 October 1812 – Battle of Maloyaroslavets; 25 Oct-3 Nov 1812 – Desert of sand and cinders; 4 November 1812 – The First Snow; 8 Nov 1812 – Smolensk; 16-18 Nov 1812 – Krasnoi; 10-22 Nov 1812 – Provisional Cavalry Corps
CHAPTER 16: THE BEREZINA 116
19-23 Nov 1812 – Orscha to the Berezina; 23 Nov-8 Dec 1812 – Escadron Sacre;
25-29 Nov 1812 – Bridging the Berezina; Pontoniers; Corps Impériale du Génie; Mineurs Bns; Ingénieurs Géographes; Train du Génie; Italian Engineers; Marins de la Garde; Sappers of the Imperial Guard; French Navy; Ouvriers Militaires (Naval Artificers); Naval Artillery
CHAPTER 17: THE BEREZINA TO VILNIUS 131
30 Nov-4 Dec 1812 – Ney’s Rearguard; 3-5 Dec 1812 – Victor’s Rearguard; 5 December 1812 – Napoleon Abandons his Army; 5-8 December – Rearguard of 34e (Loison) Division 133
CHAPTER 18: VILNIUS 137
6 December 1812 – Napoleon arrives; 7 December 1812 – Café Lichtenstein; 8 December 1812 – Vilnius; 9 December 1812 – Vilnius; 10 December 1812 – Departure from Vilnius; 11 December 1812 – The Russians enter Vilnius
CHAPTER 19: FROM VILNIUS TO KOVNO 150
CHAPTER 20: NAPOLEON’S MISCALCULATIONS 152
Napoleon’s political errors; Napoleon’s Ego; Napoleon’s poor choice of men; Poor reconnaissance; Confused administration and faulty staff structure
CHAPTER 21: EPITAPH 157
REFERENCES
Memoires; Scientific Papers
