23 articles · 0.8K karma · 2 friends · active 14 hours, 30 minutes ago
"War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner.” Cormac McCarthy
General LaSalle was a legendary figure, considered the finest light cavalry commander of his day.
Known for his daring and audacity, as were so many of Napoleon's commanders, he is quoted as saying that "any hussar who is not dead by [...]
Appointed by Napoleon as commander of all French forces in Egypt, Kleber was stabbed to death by a student in Cairo in 1800.
Another one of Napoleon's stalwarts . . .
Amusing story related by Adam Zamoyski in his book 1812 about the invasion of Russia.
The Russians refrained from engaging with the French and withdrew deeper and deeper into the countryside.
The [...]
Nicknamed "La Tempete", or "The Tempest", by his fellow soldiers, Junot was fearsome in combat, single-handedly dispatching 6 enemy soldiers by the sword in one engagement.
Unfortunately, he also suffered from advanced [...]
Apparently, these guys were under Napoleon's personal control, and "jealously husbanded" by him, according to Adam Zamosky in his book on the Russian campaign -- 1812 -- which I highly recommend.
BTW, the parallels between the [...]
I was working on this a while ago; got stuck; and put it away.
Started working on it again recently; got it to a presentable point; and "voila."
Regarded as Napoleon's finest general in the art of defensive warfare and the equal of the Emperor himself in that area of endeavor. He is mentioned in Joseph Conrad's short story "The Duel" (as well as Ridley Scott's film [...]
