The Duellists
Fact or Fiction?

The Real Gabriel Feraud

by Mark Ashley, UK

Francois Fournier was without doubt one of Napoleon's finest Soldiers. A first rate light cavalryman, but because he and Napoleon did not like each other perhaps he did not get the recognition he deserved. He was a controversial and complex character, and extremely volatile with a flash temper. Francois was the eldest of four sons born to Jean Fournier and his wife Marie-Anne Borne, proprietors of a small inn in Sarlat called "Le Tapis Vert" Sarlat was a small town in the Dordogne region of France with about 9,000 inhabitants. Francois was born on the 6th September 1773, he had three brothers and two sisters. His youngest brother Joseph was a Sous Lieutenant with the 12eme Cuirassiers who was killed at Leipzig in 1813. His next brother Nicolas-Francois, but was for some reason known as Alphonse, went on to become Colonel of the 5eme Hussars. He like Francois remained a bachelor and died in Paris on the 29th March 1848. From an early age Francois showed himself to be a leader not only of his brothers and sisters, but also of all the other children in the neighbourhood too. Fournier proved to be an intelligent and brilliant scholar, so much so that he was asked by the Bishop of Sarlatt to study with the monks of Gourdon. He stayed with them for about six years but apart from singing, the church held no appeal for him. Whilst he was with the monks his father died and he found himself as head of the household. He obtained employment as a clerk to the bailiff of the local court within in a year he was the chief clerk. He was not settled however and was only really happy when in the company of one or other of the local girls with whom he soon developed a reputation. He did not content himself with just single and unattached females either, he became the central point of more than one scandal. Still unsettled, at the age of 17 he decided to go to Paris. Whilst at one of the many staging post a squadron of cavalry arrived, he at once decided that it was the life of the soldier that he was seeking He first enlisted in the Garde Constitutionelle du Roi but quickly resigned fearing that membership of a royal regiment during those turbulent times may place his life in danger for a cause he had little interest in. Instead in 1792 he took a commission as a sous lieutenant in the 9eme regiment of dragoons under General Anne-Pierre Montesquiou- Fezensac. However he was cashiered for fraudulent accounts and absence without leave in 1794,but was reinstated the next year. In 1797 he impressed Augereau the future Marshall so much that he was appointed as an aide. They also became life long friends while serving in Italy together. He then went on to command a unit of guides in Germany (1797-1798), and in 1800 saw some service with the army of reserve (Strasbourg?) In 1802 he was arrested for being suspected in complicity in a plot against Napoleon but was freed after three weeks .In 1805 He was t posted to the West Indies, he sailed there aboard Villeneuve's fleet but did not land. In 1806 he was posted to the Army of Naples but nothing is known to me of his exploits there. In 1807 he became chief of staff to the legendary Antoine-Charles LaSalle who became one of the few great friends he had, Fournier's love for carousing and drunkenness found a great soul mate in LaSalle they were to remain friends up to LaSalle death . He fought bravely at Eylau earning the Emperors pleasure, then displeasure. Murat had been given the order by the Emperor to lead the cavalry reserve on that epic charge but Prince Murat drew Napoleon's attention to a Russian artillery position which was laying down a murderous fire across the snowy wastes, that Murat was to charge over, Fournier, who was mounted on his horse nearby overheard the conversation and asked for permission to attack the gun position, with his own squadrons which formed part of LaSalle's division. Murat thought he was mad, but gave him the order any way. Fournier led his 600 men directly at the guns (now there was a man who would ride straight at anything?) putting the Russian artillerymen to the sabre, he suffered surprisingly few casualties within his own ranks. That foolhardy but brave action enabled Murat then to lead the 80 squadrons on that charge across the bloodied snows of the Eylau battlefield. Later that evening Napoleon went to congratulate Fournier on his success only to receive the young Colonels scathing and uncomplimentary remarks about the Emperor's brother in law Prince Murat. At Friedland in the June of that year, Fournier, having lead his men in three attacks during the afternoon, was ordered to undertake two highly dangerous missions behind the enemy lines. He was again successful and it was after these exploits that Napoleon referred to Fournier as "ce diable de Fournier" ("that demon Fournier") he was promoted to General of brigade in that month. A story I read involves a General Fournier at this time in Breslau. Although our man was here about at the same time I have no firm evidence it was he but it certainly has his hallmark of drunken carousing. It centres on an end of year dinner given by a French Dragoon Colonel named Lamothe: It was attended by some of the city's most charming Prussian and Polish ladies. Also present was a number of dashing cavalry officers including Auguste de Colbert, a great deal of champagne had been drunk, as desert was about to be served a dragoon orderly, arrived with a document which required General Fournier's signature, who was one of Lamothe's guest. "Right, my lad," said Fournier, who apparently was in an generous mood, 'Ill give you one that you won't rub out in a hurry. Stand at the end of the room there and hold it up for me, if your not afraid" "Afraid general? I don't know the word," the dragoon assured him. He then walked to the end of the room, and turned to face Fournier holding up the document with a steady hand. Fournier's host provided him with a pistol, he took careful aim at his target, and fired. He put a neat hole through it; then to everyone's approval and delight, he declared that the dragoon's conduct had earned him a forty-franc reward. The dragoon remained in situ, continuing to hold out the document at arm's length. "If you'd like to add your initial, General, he said rather hopefully, I'm ready for it." Fournier added a bottle of wine to the 40-franc reward as well. In the September of 1808, he was commanding the 2eme brigade which comprised of the 15eme and 22eme regiments of dragoons in General Lorge`s 5eme division in the army of Spain, Fournier is then posted to Spain. He was made a Baron of the Empire that same year (In the film Feraud is posted to Spain after 1806, it does not give a specific date.) In Spain he was to increase his reputation as a good soldier, his brigade was transferred to Ney's IV Corps. However it has to be said that Ney did not like Fournier, he considered him a coward and referred to him as such on at least one occasion. This hardly seems to apply to a soldier such as Fournier who loved to be in the thick of battle and appeared to fear nothing or no one. Opinion seems to believe that perhaps Ney was referring to Fournier's love of duelling and as many of his opponents stood little chance he believed him to be something of a bully, there seems little other explanation of this charge. In May of that year Ney left Fournier in command of three infantry battalions and the 15th dragoons at Lugo - (accounts differ as whether they were Hussars or Dragoons, or whether there were two Battalions or three of infantry). Defence of this town was imperative for if it was lost both Ney's IV Corps and Soult's II Corps would have been isolated. On the 18th of May it was reported that the Spanish General Mahy was approaching the town with an army of 15,000 plus men, over the next few days the Spanish made several attacks on the town which were all repulsed. Mahy then invited Fournier to surrender to the overwhelming odds of more than ten to one, Fournier refused and four days later Mahy was obliged to lift the siege and run, at the approach of Soult's II Corps. Fournier's men were reported to have wept with joy on being reunited with their comrades. Fournier received much credit for his stout defence of Lugo. At the battle of Fuentes de Onoro, Fournier's brigade was once more in the thick of it, covering itself in glory, just as at Eylau his men were led straight forward at the charge and broke through two squares of infantry formed by Crauford's brigade while the Dragoons dispersed the third. His reputation for rabble rousing had followed him to Spain and the nuns in the convent of Zamora were nervous, if not frightened when he appeared in the congregation one day. However, he surprised them all with his fine singing (it would appear his reputation for musical talent and a fine tenor voice had not followed him,) he then dumbfounded them by leaving a sum of money for charity. There was another similar incident when he sang in the cathedral in Salamanca. After various appointments he fell seriously ill in 1811,but was sufficiently recovered to command Victor's cavalry division in Russia (1812). He fought at Smolensk and became General of division in November before the Berezina. Fournier arrived at the Berezina with his division, the strength of that division is given by Austin in his trilogy entitled "1812"as 7,800.Victors job was to hold of Wittgenstein troops to allow the army to cross the Berezina. Fournier's men had no allusions as to the grim reality of their task and an eyewitness recalls on seeing Fournier's men `flinging` themselves repeatedly at far superior numbers. Fournier led his decimated squadrons on six charges against the Russian grenadiers and held Wittgenstein right wing in check. When Partonneaux's division surrendered he took two of Fournier's squadrons with him this together with casualties reduced Fournier's division to only 800 Sabres.By the time it was Fournier's turn to cross, his division was reduced to only 200 sabres, such was the attrition rate. In order to cross the Berezina Fournier's men were forced to cut their way through the crowd, Fournier for his part had a horse killed under him and took a serious wound to his left leg. The wound later turned gangrenous and the surgeons were contemplating amputation but Fournier was strongly opposed to this. Fortunately for him, the alternative treatment was successful, the leg was saved and he was in due course sent home to convalesce. In 1813 he fought at Gross-Beeren and Leipzig, but was arrested after displeasing the Emperor. Reinstated in May 1814.Fournier viewed the first abdication with some regret, not because he was sad to see the fall of the Emperor but because it signalled the end of his own career and the excitement that went with it. He served the Bourbons in various capacities but refused to rally to the Emperor during the Hundred days, preferring to follow the King into exile. After the defeat of Waterloo he was given a succession of military post, first as inspector General of Infantry and then cavalry. Relationship with the Emperor In a scene in the film during the Hundred days Gabriel Feraud raises his glass and says with much feeling "To the emperor good luck to him and good luck to those that love him", however, this sadly is far from the truth, his relationship with the Emperor was stormy to say the least. It began in Chivasso in May 1800 when Napoleon reviewed the army and actually congratulated Fournier on his bravery and leadership. Later that day Napoleon addressed all his officers who cheered him, all except one – Fournier, when Napoleon questioned Fourniers silence, the young soldier made the first of what was to be many sarcastic comments. Napoleon made a reply that caused Fournier to move for his sabre! But he was restrained by his fellow officers. Thus began the long running bitterness between Napoleon and the brilliant but unruly and audaciously outspoken young soldier. Another example of this volatile relationship occurred in Paris in May 1802. Napoleon as the first consul attended the opera and as he took his seat in the theatre, the audience rose to salute him, - all except one Fournier, who remained seated .all through the first act. Fournier interrupted and generally made a nuisance of himself but no one dared confront him fearing his reputation as a duellist. In the interval, however he was arrested and founded himself in the temple prison once again, perhaps this attitude was fostered in his earlier days when he was friends with the celebrated traitor Jean-Victor Moreau, and other anti Bonapartist Generals. Physique and Character He had developed into a fine figure of a man, approximately 5'10" tall, well built with a powerful upper body, broad shoulders, a slim waist and well formed muscular legs. His hair was jet black short and curly, his eyes were bright blue. He had a handsome well-defined face and a determined chin. His whole bearing was proud and imposing. Fournier was without doubt a very difficult man to control, during his career he had many brushes with authority and was arrested on several occasions on a variety of charges including brawling, conspiracy, debts being absent from his unit consorting with an enemy, and extortion. He found himself in prison on many occasions. His character was extremely volatile and his flash temper coupled with his outspoken and insubordinate comments were to lead him into many difficult situations. He was also a master of all arms and developed a passion for provoking duels with just about anyone, his reputation for which soon spread throughout the Army. Fournier never married although he was never short of female company. He had numerous affairs with many beautiful women all over Europe, whether they were married to some one else or not including other Generals wives. Fournier would often charm and entertain them with his beautiful singing. Decorations Given his unhappy relationship with the Emperor it is no surprise that he was not showered with decorations and awards and that his name does not even appear on Arc de Triomphe. He had to wait a long time before he was awarded the legion of honour and it was not until 1826 when Charles X raised him to Grand Officer. Napoleon did however, create him first a Baron and then count of the Empire. Louis XVIII created him a Chevalier de Saint Louis in August 1814 and in March 1819 permitted him to add Sarlovese to his name. The King originally wanted to add Lugo in recognition of his feats in that town in 1808 but Fournier preferred Sarlovese after a medieval hero of the Sarlat district. Given his stormy relationship with the Emperor, it is perhaps no surprise that his name is not to be found on the The Final Years Fournier only received a pension of 4,000 francs; he did not receive any other financial gifts from Napoleon. However he must have come into money because of the fact that he brought at least two properties in Sarlat and is said to have lived out his retirement in relative comfort. In July 1820 Fournier returned to Sarlat and his health began to fail, although Charles X did send him on a mission to England for the purpose of obtaining horses for his coronation. On 21stJanuary 1827, the General died suddenly in Paris at the age of 53, his body was taken back to Sarlat and laid in the cathedral where the population came to pay their last respects. He was given a lavish funeral on the 8th February and finally laid to rest in the cemetery. In 1859 the people of Sarlat erected a stone pyramid to his memory over the grave which may be seen today. Conclusion As to the identity of D'Hubert I have been unable to find out anything other than his real name was Dupont. General Treillard was a real person his name features in many orders of battle of this period. As to the hinted at friendship between Fournier and Marbot I can find no evidence of this at all. There was a Captain Fournier who he was friendly with but he was originally a surgeon who had tended his father, then turned to the sabre but was killed at Austerlitz. The cause of the duels I don't know but I tend to believe Conrad, in that I think the reason for them was obscure and like the film suggests in the end they did not know themselves what the cause was, but fought, merely for the sake of it. However it would be nice to find out how many and what type. Even now whenever I enter a bookshop I make my way to the history section, selecting any book on the Napoleonic wars that I haven't seen before. Open it to the index and scan down the index looking for anything to do with Fournier, Dupont or Duellist in an effort to find any more information, perhaps this legacy of the story will always stay with me. Bibliography J.R Elting `Swords around the Throne` J.R Elting `Military Life under Napoleon` D Johnson `Napoleons cavalry and its leaders` Commandant H. Lachouque `Napoleons War in Spain` P. Britten Austin `1812 Napoleons invasion of Russia` D Chandler `Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars` P. Vabret Le Generale Comte Fournier-Sarlovse J.D Delpech La Borie Le General Fournier Sarlovese And a very special thanks to Terry J Senior's web site a truly mine of information on Napoleon's Generals well worth a visit. Its part of the First Empire web site I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. The Duellists Part 1: Fact or Fiction? Part 2 [FE59] Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #58 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com