General Daumesnil

Pierre Daumesnil rose from a private soldier to being an officer in one of the most famous units of Napoleon's army, to being a general in France's army and a Baron of the Empire, receiving twenty wounds during his career.  Daumesnil's career demonstrates the truth of the old adage that in the French army every soldier carried a Marshal's baton in his knapsack.

To the casual student of the Napoleonic era, the name of General Daumesnil is probably not well known, While the names Davout, Ney, and Murat, or maybe Marbot, Rapp or Junot are better known, by 1815, the name Daumesnil was deservedly famous.  Daumesnil's service in the armies of the Revolution and Empire were as brilliant in their way as any of the others. Napoleon's good luck charm, severely wounded at Wagram, twice successfully holding the fortress of Vincennes against France's enemies, Daumesnil's story is that of the era.

Born in the Dordogne, the youngest son of a shopkeeper, Daumesnil fled, at the age of seventeen, to join the army after having killed a man in a duel. The Revolution having led to France being at war with almost the whole of Europe, Daumesnil joined the cavalry of this brother in the Armée des Pyrénées Orientales as a common trooper.  Fortunately Daumesnil found himself in the same squadron as a young lieutenant Bessières.  With the Treaty of Basle putting an end to the war with Spain, Daumesnil had another lucky break for his career.  He was transferred to Italy, an arena much more conducive to glory. 

Specifics of trooper Daumesnil's personal actions in the Armée des Pyrénées Orientales and in the Armée d'Italie are necessarily sparse. Ryan therefore briefly summarizes these campaigns, sketching out actions which Daumesnil may have participated in. Daumesnil's career was obviously successful enough to warrant his entering Napoleon's Guides in June 1797 and advancing to corporal.  Four months later Daumesnil was made a sergeant.  At one battle Daumesnil presented two Austrian flags he had personally captured to Gen. Bonaparte.  At the bridge of Arcola, Daumesnil was one of those who had rescued Bonaparte.

With the successful conclusion of the campaign in Italy, Daumesnil followed Bonaparte to Egypt.  During the siege of St. Jean de Acre Daumesnil again had occasion to save his commanding general's life, throwing himself between Bonaparte and a shell that had landed at his feet.  Perhaps it was Daumesnil's bravery on this occasion that determined Bonaparte to include Daumesnil in the select party with whom Napoleon returned to France.

Back in France Daumesnil's Guide unit was incorporated into the Consular Guard.  Having again demonstrated his bravery at Marengo Daumesnil was promoted to lieutenant at the close of the campaign and in 1804 Captain Daumesnil was rewarded with the Legion of Honor. In the next campaign, where Daumesnil rescued Napoleon's aide-de-camp Jean Rapp, Daumesnil was promoted to chef d'escadron. Daumesnil had become, according to Bessières, Napoleon's good luck charm.

Following the signing of the peace at Tilsit, Daumesnil's squadron of Chasseurs of the Guard was given the honor of carrying the news to Paris, making a trip of 930 miles in just 36 days, arriving just in time for the Emperor's birthday.  In 1809 Daumesnil and his Chasseurs were ordered to the Peninsula. Once again Daumesnil found himself in the eye of history.  He was in the party that freed Godoy from his imprisonment and was later in the street-fighting in Madrid on Dos Mayo, commanding the Mameluks who avenged the murders of the French invalids.  Daumesnil had two horses killed under him and was shot in the thigh during the fighting.

After Aspern-Essling Daumesnil, now 32, was promoted to major in the Chasseurs of the Guard, commanding one regiment.  Napoleon preferred his "lucky charm' to command his service squadron of chasseurs on days of battle. At Wagram Daumesnil's luck ran out and he received the last of his twenty wounds (in his sixteen years of service).  Daumesnil lost his leg, putting to an end his cavalry career, but earning him the title of baron.

Having at last the free time to put his personal life in order, Daumesnil in 1812 married the young daughter of Baron Garat, Director General of the Banque de France.  At the beginning of that same year Napoleon wrote to Bessières about promoting the invalided Daumesnil and finding him a position in command of the fortress of Vincennes, a position which was to insure Daumesnil's inclusion in the Valhalla of the Empire.  Vincennes at this time was not only one of the fortresses ringing Paris, but also a state prison and a state arsenal.

In 1814, with the Allies marching into Paris, Daumesnil gallantly  held out at Vincennes threatening to blow up the arsenal along with its besiegers, until at last turning the unsurrendered fortress over to the new government.  Despite (or perhaps because of) having held out, Daumesnil was briefly retained in command at Vincennes.  The Bourbons were soon regretting their decision and Daumesnil was "kicked upstairs" to remove him from the sensitive command.

The return of Napoleon meant the return of Daumesnil to the governorship of  Vincennes.  Once again the Allies took Paris and once again Daumesnil held out, not capitulating until he could turn the fort over to the French government.  The Bourbons this time rewarded Daumesnil with retirement. 

Out of favor and under suspicion, Daumesnil spent the next fifteen years on a meager pension.  The revolution of 1830 put Daumesnil back in command of Vincennes, where once again Daumesnil defended the fortress against siege, this time from the angry Parisian mob after the blood of the former Bourbon ministers held in the state prison.  Two years later Daumesnil died in the cholera epidemic, still at Vincennes.