Napoleon’s Imperial Headquarters (2)

APOLEON'S IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS (2) ON CAMPAIGN This early portrait by Riesener, 1806, of an adjutantcommandant of the Imperial Guard in full dress, illustrates the richly goldembroidered buttonhole loops of those staff officers with the status of field officers of the line. The coat was dark blue with, by regulation, scarlet collar and cuffs, although dark blue facings were also seen. This officer's pair of heavy bullion epaulettes identify his rank as the equivalent of colonel; the aiguillettes indicate service with the Imperial Guard, and his buttons would show a crowned eagle. (Courtesy Musee de l'Emperi/former Brunon Collection, Salon de Provence, France) INTRODUCTION HE FIRST PART of this study discussed and illustrated the composition, organization and functions of the various departments and offices of Napoleon's Imperial Headquarters - the Grand Quartier General Imperial. This comprised his Military and Civil Households, and the separate Army General Headquarters - Grand Btat Major General- presided over for much of the duration of the Empire by Marshal Berthier, 1 Napoleon's 'Major-General' or Chief of the General Staff. This second part describes the reduced staff which accompanied Napoleon in 1814 and 1815; and describes the practical experience of the Emperor's headquarters in the field. We have chosen to do this principally through the example of the 1815 Waterloo campaign, but with backreferences to compare various aspects with earlier stages of the Empire. We also present some further details of the layout of the Emperor's tented camps in the field, which will be new to most English-speaking readers; and illustrate a further selection of the uniforms worn around the Imperial Headquarters. T * * * The daily routines followed by Napoleon when on campaign are only sparsely covered in the best known contemporary memoirs written about his life and career. However, some members of his immediate entourage did leave us glimpses of how he travelled, lived, ate and conducted his daily life in the field - among them, his valets Constant, Marchand, Roustam and Ali; his Grand Equerry, Gen Caulaincourt; and Gen Guyot, the commander of the Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard. The popular engravings printed during or after his reign leave us with one physical image of the Emperor above all - that of a stocky figure, deep in thought, wearing a plain grey overcoat and small chapeau. The familiarity of this image is not surprising, since at some periods of his reign he spent more time on campaign with his armies than he did in Paris. For example, in 1805 he spent more than six months away from his capital; in 1807, 1808 and 1809, eight months; in 1812, seven and a half months; and in 1813, more than six months. 1 See Elite 115, Napoleon's Imperial Headquarters (1): Organization & Personnel - where explanations of the functions of the various officials of the Households and General Staff, mentioned below in this text, will also be f