II Corps (Grande Armée)

II Corps
II Corps
Active	1805–1807; 1812–1814; 1815
Country	First French Empire
Branch	French Imperial Army
Size	Corps
Engagements	War of the Third Coalition; Russian Campaign; War of the Sixth Coalition; War of the Seventh Coalition
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Jean-Baptiste Bessières; Jean Lannes; Auguste de Marmont; Nicolas Oudinot; Claude Victor-Perrin; Honoré Charles Reille; Jean Reynier; Jean-de-Dieu Soult

The II Corps of the Grande Armée was a French military unit that existed during the Napoleonic Wars.

Campaigns

At its formation in 1805, General Auguste de Marmont was appointed commander of the II Corps.

Batavian Division, commanding officer Général de Division Count Jean-Baptiste Dumonceau^[1]

1st Batavian Dragoon Regiment (2 Squadrons)
1st Batavian Hussar Regiment (2 Squadrons)
1st & 2nd Battalions, 1st Batavian Regiment
1st & 2nd Battalions, 2nd Batavian Regiment
1st & 2nd Battalions, 6th Batavian Regiment
1st & 2nd Battalions, Waldeck Regiment
1st Battalion, 1st Batavian Light Regiment
2nd Battalion, 2nd Batavian Light Regiment
1st Foot Artillery

War of the Third Coalition

The corps participated in the Ulm campaign before advancing southeast to serve as a flank guard. Still under Marmont, the troops then served as the garrison of the Illyrian Provinces until 1809 when they became the Army of Dalmatia and later XI Corps.

War of the Fifth Coalition

Meanwhile, a parallel II Corps was created in 1809 to fight against Austria. The formation was led first by Marshal Nicolas Oudinot, then by Marshal Jean Lannes who was fatally wounded at Aspern-Essling. Oudinot then took over II Corps again and won his marshal's baton at Wagram in July 1809.

Order of battle, 1809

Order of battle in 1809 during the Peninsular War^[2]

Commanding General, Maréchal Jean-de-Dieu Soult

Corps Artillery
- 1^er, 10^éme Compagnies du {3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
- 6^éme Compagnie du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
- 1^er, 3^éme, et 4^éme Compagnies du 6^éme (part) Bataillon du Train
- 9^éme Artisan Compagnie d'Artillerie
1st Division, commanded by Général de Division Pierre Hugues Victoire Merle
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Bataillons du 15^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Bataillons du 4^éme Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Bataillons du 36^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Bataillons du 2^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
- Divisional Artillery
  - 15^éme Compagnie du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - (detachment) 1^er Compagnie du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - 2^éme Escadron du Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
  - 5^éme Compagnie du 6^éme (part) Bataillon du Train
  - (detachment) Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
2nd Division, commanded by Général de Division Julien Augustin Joseph Mermet
- 1st Brigade
  - Bataillon du Paris
  - 1^er Batiallon du 2^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 2^éme Bataillon du 3^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 3^éme Bataillon du 4^éme Régiment d'Infantertie de Ligne
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Bataillons du 31^éme Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Bataillons du 47^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Bataillons du 122^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (from 1st and 2nd Reserve Legions)
- Divisional Artillery
  - 15^e and 20^éme Compagnies du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - 3^e and 5^e Compagnies du 6^éme (part) Bataillon du Train
3rd Division, commanded by Général de Division Jean-Pierre-François, Comte Bonet
- 1st Brigade
  - 119^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed in Spain)
  - 120^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (formed in Spain)
- Divisional Artillery
  - 7^éme Compagnie du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval
  - 20^éme Compagnie du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - (detachment) Train d'Artillerie de la Garde Imperiale
4th Division, commanded by Général de Division Henri François Delaborde
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Bataillons du 70^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Bataillons du 86^éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
- 2nd Brigade
  - 4^éme Bataillon du 15^éme Régiment d'Infanterie Légère
- Divisional Artillery
  - 8^éme Compagnie du 3^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - Staff, 1^er, 5^e, and 6^e Compagnies du 11^éme Principle Train d'Artillerie
1st Cavalry Division, commanded by Général de Division Armand Lebrun de La Houssaye
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Escadrons du 17^éme Régiment de Dragons
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Escadrons du 27^éme Régiment de Dragons
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Escadrons du 18^éme Régiment de Dragons
  - 1^er, 2^e, and 3^e Escadrons du 19^éme Régiment de Dragons
2nd Cavalry Division, commanded by Général de Division Jean Thomas Guillaume Lorge
- 1st Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Escadrons du 13^éme Régiment de Dragons
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Escadrons du 22^éme Régiment de Dragons
- 2nd Brigade
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Escadrons du 15^éme Régiment de Dragons
  - 1^er, 2^e, 3^e, and 4^e Escadrons du 25^éme Régiment de Dragons
- Divisional Artillery
  - 4^éme Compagnie du 6^éme Régiment d'Artillerie à Pied
  - 9^éme Principle Bataillon Train

Russian campaign

Still commanded by Oudinot, the corps took part in the invasion of Russia in 1812, at which point its size was roughly 40,000 men.

6th Division (Legrand)

Joseph Jean-Baptiste Albert Brigade
- 26th Light Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
Moreau Brigade
- 56th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
Nicolas Joseph Maison Brigade
- 19th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
Pamplona Brigade
- 128th Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions)
- 3rd Portuguese Regiment (2 battalions)

8th Division Jean-Antoine Verdier

Raymond-Vivies Brigade
- 11th Light Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
- 2nd Line Infantry Regiment (5 battalions)
Pouget Brigade
- 37th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
- 124th Line Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)

9th Division (Swiss) Pierre Hugues Victoire Merle

François Pierre Joseph Amey Brigade
- 4th Swiss Regiment (3 battalions)
- 3rd Provisional Croatian Regiment (2 battalions)
Condras Brigade
- 1st Swiss Regiment (2 battalions)
- 2nd Swiss Regiment (3 battalions)
Coustard Brigade
- 3rd Swiss Regiment (3 battalions)
- 123rd Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)

Corps Cavalry

Bertrand Pierre Castex Brigade
- 23rd Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
- 24th Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
Jean-Baptiste Juvénal Corbineau Brigade
- 7th Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
- 20th Chasseurs-à-Cheval Regiment (4 squadrons)
- 8th Chevau-Légers-Lanciers (4 squadrons)

Sources: Les effectifs de la Grande-armée pour la campagne de Russe de 1812 - Paris 1913 Adjutant's Call of the Military Historical Society Vol. III - U.S.A.

War of the Sixth Coalition

The II Corps was reorganized in Germany in 1813, with Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin appointed to lead it.

War of The Seventh Coalition

The corps was headed by General Honoré Charles Reille in 1815 and took part in the Battle of Waterloo.

References

^ George Nafziger, Batavian Division French II Corps 29 November 1805, United States Army Combined Arms Center
^ George Nafziger, French II Corps 15 January 1809, United States Army Combined Arms Center.

[1] George Nafziger, Batavian Division French II Corps 29 November 1805, United States Army Combined Arms Center

[2] George Nafziger, French II Corps 15 January 1809, United States Army Combined Arms Center.

[1]

[2]

v t e Corps of the Grande Armée
Regular	I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Cavalry	Reserve I II III IV V VI