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Dispatch 30 (Patreon)

Published:
2024-12-15 00:18:04
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Here is the thirtieth patrons-only Dispatch. Topics include: Norwegian ski troops on the Scandinavian front, mercenaries in the Napoleonic era, and the fate of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas.

Don't forget to leave any questions for the next dispatch below. And once again: thank you for your support!


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Comments

Alex Di Gregorio

Thank you for the amazing job that you are doing! As an avid lisnter from Australia, are you able to talk about Napoleon's instrest in the new colony or perhaps any role Australia might have played during the Napoleonic era? Again thank you for the high quality content and G'day from Down Under

Roman

I recall hearing about many land marches during the Napoleonic wars - but was river transport used as well? Were European rivers suitable for transporting armies back and forth, similar to how the Mississippi and it's tributaries were in the American civil war?

Nathan Bennett

Where did you get the name of your podcast?

Андрій Комосій

Thank you for your hard work. It’s a real pleasure to listen to your podcast. And I have a question for you. How did Napoleon treat the Jews? There was a lot of controversy at the time, so I wonder if he treated the Jews in any special way.

Andrew Tulloch

Great episode. I had no idea about ski troops. It sounds like they would be great for skirmish wargaming.

John McCormick

Hugely enjoyed this episode …I find myself eager to follow up on the story of the canteen women. Thank you for introducing us to this remarkable class of people

MacGregorr

Your discussion of European mercenaries hit close to home for me as that's what my ancestors were up to in the podcast timeline ! From my family's research, it seems the men were part of a semi-feudal, semi-contractual local band that fought for the Austrian army basically any time there was conflict in Western Europe from the late 17th to early 19th century - despite living in the Sundgau county of eastern France, meaning waging war against their home country more often than not. I've often wondered what made them any different than rebels - I guess it's the fact that fealty to Paris in peactime never bothered them. They kind of reminds me of the Sicilian mafia - men trained in arms that shirk their duties to the central authorities but to amass priviledge & riches for themselves, not fight for a cause.

MacGregorr
>>158353783

As far as we know, they never faced repercussion for fighting in the Emperor's army. I suppose Ancien Régime society, with its Royal Walloon or Flemish Batallions in the French army, was clear-eyed enough to let that kind of activity go on. There may have been some pageantry or sense of masculine duty for them in still honouring the call to arms for the House of Habsburg-Lorraine (despite France having swallowed the region long ago). The local culture surely fostered that kind of thing - it was a poor and underdevelopped area, remote, massively depopulated and resettled by veterans after the Thirty Years War and deeply tied to Switzerland, which was notable for its mercenaries. Anyway, their band seems to drop from the records at some point in Napoleon's reign (perhaps under pressure from better & more centralised policing, perhaps becoming obsolete to newer generations in the age of French nationalism and the levée en masse).

Scott Miller

I'm curious about gambling in the armies of Europe at this time. What were the games of choice?

Smooth Shrek

What was Napoleon’s favourite Pokemon?

JP Lien

This was my favorite dispatch yet. My 4x tipp oldefar fought at Toverud, although in a regular infantry regiment so presumably not on skis. I had read a bit about it before but didn't understand the context of the battle as part of the larger conflict.

Ivar Häger
>>158372616

There was a earlier episode where he discusses that, I just don’t remember which :(

Ivar Häger

Just for fun, which person from the great socialist revolutions do you think is the most similar as a character to Napoleon? Personally I would say Mao just because of his personality and place as a great military commander. But maybe Trotsky is more similar as a exiled military commander that spread socialism to other countries with force. It would be fun to hear what you think of this maybe stupid question.

baroque'n'roll

I knew about the Norwegian ski troops from playing Napoleon total war haha, important research source

Adam Bonser

I think you’re right: nationalism, centralised bureaucracy and more effective militias finally finished off a long tradition of mercenary bands that had once been the cornerstone of the armies of European monarchs. It went both ways, with Germans nominally under the Holy Roman Emperors and (more obviously) the Swiss often having a long and enduring tradition of fighting for the French kings. But my favourite examples of a Frenchman fighting for the Hapsburgs has got to Prince Eugene of Savoy. Originally rejected for French service. Yeah, not the best decision….

Christoher Argo

Another tremendous dispatch! Listen to all episodes three or four times. You have mentioned the Bonaparte Girls being involved in affairs, Know this was a different time socially but it seems Napoleon did not excuse these romances. Thanks for everything! “…wait and hope.” Merry Christmas!

Max Michaeler

Hey man, I've loved every episode you've published up until now. I was wondering if you were gonna do an episode on the Tyrolean Rebellion and Andreas Hofer? As a listener from those areas, he's a folk hero to us.

ageofnapoleon
>>158578642

Thanks! I plan on covering Hofer and the Tyrolean Rebellion in the main episodes. I haven't yet decided when I'll fit them in, but almost certainly in the coming year

Nick

As Napoleon's campaigns progressed, replacement troops filling vacancies in regiments was more and more common. What would the training pipeline in the French army look like for a new junior officer, who joined the military and went on to replace an officer vacancy after a major battle like Wagram?

Chris Tarantino

Love all your content! This is way back in the narrative, but Pope Francis just approved the canonization of the Martyrs of Compeiègne, some nuns killed in the terror. Can you talk about them a little? And if thats not enough for a full question, maybe something on how victims of the terror were remembered in the Empire?

Trevor Elkins

You mentioned lady Nestor Stanhope last dispatch and piqued my interest and inspired my to buy a book on her life, Star of the Morning. I appreciate the way you take time to explore the stories that exist on the fringe of the main narrative, however briefly. Tousaint Louverture being the best example. These extraordinary lives often get overlooked in books and other media about the Napoleonic era, so I really appreciate you taking the time to explore the these adjacent characters. Merry Christmas, etc!

Tom Harrison

Welcomed the background story of Alexander Dumas’ father.

Xane Jardineiro

Your vernacular is very militaristic. I noticed it when you referred to skis as “equipment being issued.” After that I noticed that you tend to always use the correct military vocabulary when referring to the military. For me this comes naturally because I am in the military but I’d like to hear more about how you came by this way of speaking. Regardless, I believe it’s this attention to detail that makes your podcast so engaging. Well done!

Carla

This was so fascinating thank you so much. I do have a question and I've been trying to look into myself, I have always been interested in Fouche and the secret police during Napoleon's reign, I would like to know are their any prominent spies that we know worked for fouche or is it simply going to a mystery forever

James Zapf

I've heard a somewhat vague story about an American Navy captain named McNeill from another podcast. During the first Barbary war, he and his ship visited the port of Toulon. He was said to have done some "weird stuff," and also lied to a port officer about where his ship had been, violating quarantine rules and nearly causing a major diplomatic incident when the lie was discovered. Have you come across any French sources detailing McNeill's time in Toulon? I'm unsure of the exact year.

baroque'n'roll

something I wondered about reading military history in general - with soldiers belonging to all of a company, battalion, regiment, division, etc (and national variants), which do they most identify with? Has this changed over history? Maybe a little broad

Wes

Have listen to all 120 episodes and just started with Dispatchs, so sorry if this question has been covered. My question relates to artillery at the time. It seems difficult to believe it was so devastating to infantry in long range without exploding on impact. Understand grapeshot doing damage at short range but firing large cannon balls at high speed seems limited in its impact on a large but spaced out formation of advancing men. If you covered this aspect previously in some detail, please let me know where go. I was very surprised you spoke of an account of a young soldier who refused to retreat from his post after sinking a British vessel with a 500lb ball. How in the day would they ever be able to load and fire accurately such a large and heavy projectile? Did I hear you right?

Liam Smith

What did Napoleon wear in his day-to day when not commanding a military force? Did he wear his uniform while governing from Paris?

malamore

My question relates to the multi ethnic composition of the Habsburg empire & military. I've read a few books covering the post Napoleonic to First World War era which describe how this was problematic. I'm curious to know what evidence there is of nationalist/independence movements within the Habsburg Empire at this time [as discussed in later periods in AJP Taylor's 'Habsburg Monarchy']. Also if there was unquestioning loyalty to the Habsburgs, and if so why [as depicled in Joseph Roth's Radetsky March}. Finally, was there internal emnity between ethnic groups within the military [as depicted in The Good soldier Svjek}. Keep up the great work! thanks!

Daan Veldhuyzen van Zanten

I've got a question relating to the consumption of alcohol on Napoleonic battlefields: You've mentioned several times that heavy drinking during battles was very common and even encouraged for morale purposes. It seems however that for officers (especially the high ranking ones) and for certain types of units such as cavalry, alcohol use would be especially detrimental to their performance. Therefore I'd like to ask whether drinking during battle was frowned upon or perhaps forbidden in certain types of army units or above a certain rank, or whether it occurred al throughout the army

Matthew Sadauckas

Hi! I've got a question about French naval training. You mentioned that part of the English navy's skill was due to intensive drill and practice. It seems like that is also key to the success of the Grand Armee, too. Why didn't Napoleon direct the French navy to train as hard as the French army did, such as at the camp at Boulogne? Thank you, I love the show!

bierring jens

Hi! Love your show and thank you for calling med " un vrai bougre". I am french speaking and though no frenchman. I do hope you get credit from the french allthough you are not one of theirs! I would to ask you about a fascinating sidestory to your amazing tale of the Battle of Haiti. It is about General Thomas Alexandre Davy-Dumas de la Pailleterie, who was a illustrious general. He won amazing victories for the revolution and for Napoleon. but he was taken prisonner in Calabria and since his release never resumed his carreer because he was black. Like Toussaint, being black became no go. I would be grateful, if you could research a bit in his story. It is hartbreaking and he died young of cancer and apparently it has inspired his son Alexandre Dumas to write about the ill fate of Edmond Dantes, the count of Monte Christo. Many Thanks from a true veteran! Jens

Lawrence Vernetti

While researching aspects of Napoleon’s life (a topic sparked by your podcast!), I came across images of his last horse, Le Vizir, and his dog (whose name was not mentioned in the captions). This led me to wonder about the fate of many of Napoleon’s personal belongings—his uniforms, swords, pistols, and other items. As an aside, what weapons did Napoleon carry into battle or keep on him regularly? Also, are any of his personal effects, as well as his other horses or pets, preserved in museums or collections around the world today? I remember you mentioning that Napoleon had a portable library box with miniature versions of his favorite books that traveled with him during his campaigns. Does that box still exist? I know you discussed Napoleon's watch, noting that its whereabouts are unknown, but what about other personal possessions of his? Finally, on the topic of his possessions, was Napoleon so reviled after his abdication and death that these personal items were deliberately destroyed, rather than preserved? BTW, I can't remember the last time I got so much enjoyment for just $2 a month.

Elias Braun

How well-informed were the French about the geography and topography in enemy countries? During the first campaigns, did Napoleon bring specialists with him to map the terrain and have an advantage for the future? How good were the combatant nations' own maps of their territory?

Deane
>>160338605

I think it was a bit more than training. The skill to sail a ship took years of experience and many of the most experienced aristocratic leaders in the French navy left after the revolution or were persecuted out. So the entire navy was led by inexperienced admirals. The British were a true sea faring nation with huge experience. This is what gave them the edge. I think he spoke about this in one of the earlier episodes

Matthew Sadauckas
>>160338605

Yeah, I remember that, but I also remember him saying that another part of what made the English navy so good was that they were drilling constantly while anticipating a battle near Trafalgar and thus had higher rates of fire and other advantages. Given that the French navy leadership had been decimated following the exodus of nobles after the revolution, I figured it would extensive drilling would be an obvious imperative.

Jeff Gillooly

In episode 121 The Red Danube you talk about the Sappers in the Napoleonic regime. The “engineers” of the Grand Armee. At one point they are trying to chop down a gate under intense fire to get into a city, then they are building bridges being constantly destroyed by the Austrians on the Danube. Is there a chance for a dispatch about these men? Who are they? How did they get into this service and what is their training and background?

Jeff Gillooly

I am fascinated by the story of urban warfare in the Battle of Aspern. Is this the literal transition of 19th century urban battles leading into 20th century warfare? What we saw in WW1 and especially WW2? Door to door, building to building combat seems different than what has happened in previous Napoleonic battles.

Mason Lipman

Sorry if this has been asked/answered before but what will happen with the podcast once you reach the end of Napoleon's story? Do you plan to continue telling the story of other figures/events that happened during the period that didnt get to be covered very thoroughly? Or will there be a new project altogether. Obviously, no rush! The pacing of this show is one of my favorite things about it. Also, thank you for your hard work on the show, this podcast gets me through my work shifts as im sure it does for many others.

Arne Kleinert

yeaaahhh hannover mentioned!!! That’s where I‘m from! It might interest you that Hannover has a huge square simply called „Waterloo“ with a very high column that is often used for events like public viewings. The nearby subway station is also called Waterloo and it it one of the most frequented ones as it’s where you have to get off to get to our football stadium. There is even a Hannover 96 fan chant that opens with the line (translated): „We drive our Cabrio to Waterloo…“ The adjacent Waterloo beer garden is immensely popular and it’s logo sports our beloved emperor looking fresh and relaxed.

Cuil Rathain

Maybe most armies don’t use skis because they’re expensive, cumbersome, require poles, probably helmets and goggles of some kind, and slings for all equipment. they are for two scenarios: moving downhill and cross country quickly, the latter with great effort in a certain kind of snow. People would have to be TAUGHT HOW TO SKI requiring SNOW and TIME. So now expenses have sky rocketed, it will take at least one winter or alpine trip to train, all to hopefully do this before the enemy has the upper hand, only to get there and hope you’re not fighting uphill