Morning. The sound of an awakening camp. Soldats shake off the cool night air, pull their kit together and prepare to fall in. Hardy souls, already dressed, poke the fire and look to the sky. If the weather cooperates, perhaps there will be some action today. Activity in the British camp indicates many are already under arms. Veterans of the American Wars, inured to campaign, they have finished what passes for breakfast. Orders are shouted, drums beat.

The sights and sounds of the long distant past? Yes. The recent past too. For the first time in North America the aigle rose above the Imperial bayonets. On 24 and 25 May, members of Brigade Napoleon, a French Napoleonic re-enactment society, gathered in eastern Pennsylvania. After several years of research and countless hours of sewing, assembling, fitting and drilling, units portraying the Grande Armee assembled to re-enact the tactical action of Napoleon's time.

Forty uniformed men and women representing soldiers of the 7e Hussards, the 21e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne, the Regiment Irlandais, and the Guardia Reale Italiano took the first step toward bringing the pomp and pageantry of this exciting period to America. Joined by over 100 British troops, it was an impressive, if not grand, performance. As it was a first-time event, there were some difficulties but nothing that the enthusiasm of the participants could not overcome.

The plan for the event was to encompass two days. Saturday was to be spent drilling with some minor tactical skirmishing, while Sunday was to be a traditional European-style field maneuver with line vs. line, cavalry vs. cavalry, and cavalry vs. infantry in square.

Saturday began with a rehearsal as the British infantry formed in square at the top of a rise. Ten mounted troopers formed line and attempted to charge several times. They were met by impressive volleys and finally forced to retire. It was exciting to see them in action, even though there were several pauses in the attack to dress ranks and reform. The spectacle was a clear lesson of the difficulties of organizing a cavalry attack. Next, all of the units assembled in a hollow square facing each other to be addressed by their officers. Some good-natured epithets were hurled at the enemy with appropriate ripostes, then a parade back to camp and preparation for the day's action.

The tactical skirmish took the form of a sophisticated game of capture-the-flag. The British and French units formed up in a large, dense wood, each side separated by a small road. The plan was to advance to contact, engage the enemy where present, and collect small ribbons at key strategic points.

It was in this tactical that the experience of the British light infantry shone. Although re-enactors, it was evident that troops and their officers had practiced skirmish techniques. They consistently pinned down isolated parties of French and maneuvered to outflank them.

Large Photo Collage (slow 124K)

The French, for their part, displayed many individual acts of valor, culminating in the surprise and capture of the only artillery piece -- which had deployed too close to the wood.

Unfortunately, the weather became disagreeable during the night and rain fell without letup throughout the second day. With no real prospect of action, many of the troops who had traveled considerable distances decided to pack up and get a start on the road home. The brave souls remaining ignored the wet and drilled. For the few Sunday spectators, the hussars performed some maneuvers and took the opportunity to work the horses one last time.

The member units of Brigade Napoleon are already planning a larger event with public access for 1998. If you are interested in participating, as a unit, a soldier, a civilian or a sutler, or if you would like information about the upcoming event, or the Brigade itself, send a SASE to: Brigade Napoleon, 18914 Walnut Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546 USA. Or you may contact the Brigade by e-mail at: napoleon@brigadepub.com. Visit the Brigade Napoleon web site at: www.brigadepub.com/napoleon.html to read more and see color photos of the event and the member units.