Exelmans' career as a cavalry officer owes itself largely to his service under marshal Murat from 1801-1805. During the Ulm campaign, Exelmans demonstrated great initiative and courage, leading a charge of the 9th Dragoons that broke an Austrian square, took its colors, and captured over 2,000 prisoners. This caught the Emperor's eye.

In 1806, he served as a cavalry brigade commander in Davout's famous III Corps, where he served nobly in the incredible victory at Auerstadt.

Exelmans' career took a bad turn in Spain, where he was captured and sent to England, but he escaped back to France in 1811. In 1812, he replaced the wounded Pajol as commander of the 2nd Light Cavalry Division. Exelmans helped the French Imperial Guard in opening up the escape route at Krasnoe.

In 1813, he had the misfortune to be at the rout at Katzbach (along with Gerard, whose infantry corps was mauled). His cavalry command was severely beaten by the Prussian and Russian horsemen. This was another occasion where he missed finding a large body of the enemy by not vigorously conducting a reconnaissance. However, in the scale of the disaster the French faced in 1813, Exelmans' failures went unnoticed by the Emperor.

In 1814, Exelmans' loyal service--where he served as commander of the Third and later the Second Guard cavalry Divisions--placed him among Napoleon's more esteemed cavalry commanders.

In 1815, his appointment as cavalry corps commander clearly placed him one step beyond his limited capabilities. His failure to press and pin down Thielemann on the 17th left Grouchy and Napoleon completely ignorant of Prussian intentions.

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Copyright 1995 by Emperor's Press.