By David Chandler

All Napoleonic Wargamers are familiaror should be-with David Chandler's The Campaigns of Napoleon (1966). A tad more recently (1979) he came out with his Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars. It is now in paperback for $12.99.

It contains entries on all the things you know, the things you knew about but didn't know, and the things you never even knew about. It is a great resource for research on battles, terms, and personalities. I use it as a bathroom reader. Thus, every time I ascend the throne in the library, I can Improve my knowledge. What follows are a few snippets from the book that may interest you. Asterisks refer to other citations.

"Fabvier, Colonel Etienne (fl 1814).

During the series of actions In the vicinity of Laon* in March 1814, Colonel 

Fabvier played a material part in averting the total rout of Marmont's VI Corps as it fled toward the narrow Festieux Defile*, hotly pursued by Yorck* and Kleist* at the head of part of Blucher's* army. Hearing the din escalating to his rear as he marched westward to find the main French army, Fabvier gallantly countermarched his 1,000 Infantry and two cannon, and managed to take Kleist in flank and drive him off the Rheims road. This feat of arms enabled the greater part of Marmont's men to rally and continue their retreat in some semblance of good order."

"Festieux Defile, action of, 10 March 1814.

During the battle of Laon*, Marmont* made a very belated entry into the field and was seriously routed by Blucher's army. As Marmont's men fled, a strong force of Prussian cavalry spurred ahead and tried to seize the Festleux Defile In the rear of Marmont. Had they succeeded, the VI Corps would have been doomed, but the heroic escort of a French convoyjust 125 men of the Old Guard-managed to fight off the horsemen and kept the vital road toward Rheims open. This feat of arms, together with that of Fabvier* a short distance to the north, indubitably saved Marmont."

"Foures, Mme. Pauline (1781-1869).

Born Pauline Bellisle in Carcassone, "Bellitote" later married Lieutenant Foures of the 22"d Regiment of Chasseurs and managed to accompany the Army of the Orient to Egypt. The pretty blonde caught Bonaparte's eye, and an affair developed. Her husband soon found out and objected, whereupon his wife divorced him and continued from 1798 to 1799 as the general's chief mistress, called "Cleopatra" by the envious troops.

She was not included in the party Bonaparte brought back from Egypt; aided by Kleber, * she secured a passage on an American vessel, but this was intercepted by the Royal Navy and she was returned to Egypt. In 1800 she managed to reach France and remarried. In 1811 she reputedly met Napoleon at a masked ball, and he awarded her a pension of 60,000 francs--but only for one year. She settled in the town of Craponne, where she scandalized the inhabitants by openly smoking a pipe. In 1816 she divorced her second husband and set off fro Brazil with a former officer of the Imperial Guard. There she established a lucrative business in precious woods which kept her busy until 1837, when she settled In Paris in an apartment full of monkeys and parrots. She wrote two mediocre novels and lived until her late 80's, vivacious to the last. She ranks high among Napoleon's mistresses."

"Golymin, action of, 26 December 1806.

As Napoleon swept deep into Poland, the 26th December saw two notable battles. At Pultusk,* Marshal Lannes* fought General Bennigsen,* while 12 miles to the northwest Murat,* Augereau,* and eventually Davout* with all of 38,000 Frenchmen, took on the 18,000 Russian troops of General Gallllzin.* Gallitzin was holding a good defensive position surrounded (except from the north) by woods and marshes, and he was aided by General Doctorov* (although not his full division) In a classic defensive action. Murat attacked Gallitzin's cavalry rear guard about 10:00 AM, and as Augereau's VII Corps Infantry marched up, the Prince sent in first Heudelet's* and then Desjardins' divisions against the extemporized Russian position, and deployed his two cavalry divisions against the Gallitzin's meager horsemen. The Russians fought with the greatest gallantry and skill but were everywhere forced to give ground by weight of numbers after Davout's III Corps had appeared on the scene. The main Russian force then retired into a large wood, which Morand* cleared with difficulty. As they retired, Rapp* charged with dragoons in an attempt to cut their line of retreat up the Makov road, but the impetuous imperial aide-de-camp rode into a trap. He found himself opposed by Russian infantry up to their waists in the marshes, and lost many troopers to their fire besides being wounded himself

At nightfall the action ended, and overnight Gallitzin made good his retreat to Makov along a single road, almost completely surrounded by the French forces. He lost some 800 men-the French, it is thought, lost about the same. But against such long odds Gallitzin's achievement had been notable. Although he alone had been in a position to use artillery, the French had overestimated his strength at all of 50,000 men. The indecisive nature of this battle, together with that of Pultusk, persuaded Napoleon to send his men into winter quarters. They would not rest undisturbed: a month away was Eylau."

Obviously, Colonel Fabvier, Bellitote, General Gallitzin, and the 125 Old Guard convoy escorts all made their die rolls. Read Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars, and sop up the flotsam and jetsam of the Napoleonic Wars.