This is my version of the 22nd Demi Brigade, 1796 to 1800 with a little history included.
This regiment was created in 1776 from the 2e and 4e Bataillons Regiment de Guyenne. In 1791 it was re designated the 22e Regiment d'Infanterie. As the Revolution continued the regiment was re designated the 2e demi-brigade de bataille in 1793 from the following units: 2e bataillon, 11e Regiment d'Infanterie bataillon, Volontaires de Martigues, and the 2e bataillon Volontaires de Marseille
During the Revolutionary War years being depicted, this unit was led by the venerable Nicolas-Joseph Schreiber. Born in 1752 to a military family (father was a sergeant in the Swiss Regiment Salis-Samade). He entered the service as a drummer at age nine and later joined as a private in 1765. He was later promoted to sergeant in 1781.
The outbreak of the Revolution saw him command a battalion of volunteers in the Army of the Rhine from 1792 to 1795. Chef-de Brigade in 1795 of the 202e demi-brigade de bataille where he was wounded. In June 1797 he became the Chef de Brigade of the 22e demi-brade d'Infanterie, and led it with distinction (wounded again in 1800 at the battle of Casteggio) and was reassigned in 1803 to the Army of the Coast. In 1805 when he was promoted to General-de Brigade. Schreiber had a full military career: Officer of the Legion d'Honneur in 1804 and eventually made a Baron of the Empire in 1813. Schreiber would survive the war and die in 1833.
As the primary focus of this unit is to fight the Italian Campaign that culminates with the Battle of Marengo, some background on its role in this campaign.
Watrin's Division - Lannes's Corps:
6th Light Demi Brigade
22nd Demi Brigade
28th Demi Brigade
40th Demi Brigade
Assigned to Watrin's Division of Lanne's corps it became part of the French advance guard. On May 16, 1800, this advanced guard crossed the Great St. Bernard Pass and defeated Austrian forces located at St. Remy, Aosta and Chatillon on May 18th. Advancing further, the 22nd participated in an assault on the fortified town of Ivrea on May 24th. Attacking the town on two sides, the French eventually drove the Austrian forces South 10 miles along a stronger defensive position. Lanne's force pursued and attacked again the following day in what became known as the Battle of Romano Chiusella.
Lacking artillery, Lanne's with two divisions faced a combined, but spread out, Austrian force of twenty two cavalry squadrons and eight battalions along a strong river position. Lannes began with a frontal assault across the bridge led by the 6th light demi brigade. This attack stalled and the Austrians launched their own counter attack which sent the 6th light demi brigade in retreat. Lanne's next plan was to send the 22nd and 40th demi-brigades to cross the river upstream, while the 6th light demi brigade crossed the bridge to the east and the 28th demi-brigade attacked the bridge. This plan eventually caused the Austrian line to buckle. A counter attack by Austrian cavalry broke the 6th light demi brigade and the 28th demi brigades, but the arrival of the 22nd and the 40th demi-brigades along with Boudet's division decided the issue and the Austrians retreated.
The 22nd continued is march towards Milan under Lannes, but had difficulty seizing Pavia until June 3rd. After which it crossed the Po river and began marching towards the Austrian main line of communication. This line of march eventually led to the little village of Casteggio. This village was defended by small Austrian force led by O'Reilly which was comprised of six infantry battalions and four cavalry squadrons, but had additional Austrian forces nearby to reinforce it if attacked.
The battle began on June 9th with the 6th light demi-brigade leading the attack. The 22nd was quickly fed into the battle with its fellow units only to discover that they were facing a superior force. The 22nd and the rest of its brigade fought for five hours. Twice they seized Casteggio but were drive out. With Lannes' command nearing the breaking point, French reinforcements from Victor's corps along with some of the Consular Guard artillery arrived. This fresh French force quickly charged the center of the Austrian position and eventually defeated the Austrian forces, nearly wiping out the Reisky Regiment.
A realistic assessment of the casualties were around 3000 french losses (French claim 600) while the Austrians lose 659 KIA, 1445 Wounded, and 2171 captured. The next battle for the 22nd would be the Battle of Marengo on the 14th of June.
The battle of Marengo started as a surprise Austrian attack against the main French army. For the 22nd, it was deployed with Lannes's corps on the French right flank. Lanne's directed Watrin's division (22nd included) to drive back the Austrian force led by Bellegarde. By 11;30 am the Austrians continued to feed more troops in against Watrin's division, eventually forcing Bonaparte to send Monnier's division and the Consular Guard to help hold that portion of the line.
Around 12:30 pm Lannes moved the rest of his force to face a new Austrian threat. Austrian advances to occupy the Barbotta farm were soon repulsed and the Austrians driven out by an attack of the 22nd demi-brigade. This provided only a temporary relief to the ever growing Austrian attack.
A third Austrian attack finally made progress by seizing a key village and attempting to turn Lannes's right flank. In response to this Lanes moved a battalion of the 22nd demi brigade to form a new right flank, while using other units to protect hold off Austrian dragoons further to the north-east. This move, however, created a gap in the French lines which the Austrians quickly exploited. This put Lannes's command in a position to be almost surrounded. By 1:30 Watrin's brigade broke under pressure, but were quickly rallied by Watrin. With mounting pressure on French left causing a withdrawal, Lanne's troops were forced to mirror the movement. By 2:30pm, the French line had retreated over 3 km and Marengo was abandoned to the Austrians.
The battle of Marengo would end positively for the French with the timely arrival of Desaix's Division (little anti climatic but only focused on the 22nd). The 22nd and the rest of Watrin's brigade would be spectators after their heroic struggle. Their performance would earn them a battle honor.
The regiments battle record would include:
1792: Valmy, Comines, Pont-Rouge and Warneton
1793: Hondschoote1794: Coutrai, Lantosque, Saorgio and Roccavione
1799: Alkmaer and Castricum
1800: Granchamp, Romano, Marengo and Goito
1806: Hamelin, Stralsund, Heilsberg and Friedland
1810: Astorga
1812: Castrillo-Guarena and Salamanca
1813: San-Sebastien
1813: Lutzen, Bautzen, Katzbach, Leipzig and Hanau
1814: Montmirail, Vauchamps, Gue-a-Tresmes, Craonne, Fere-Champenoise
1815: Ligny, Wavre and Namur
Battle Honors:
Hondschoote 1793, Marengo 1800 and Lutzen 1813
These figures are Baccus 6mm. The central command stand with Chef de Battalion Nicolas-Joseph Schreiber has a typical command stand snipped up into pieces. The flags are from War Flag (http://www.warflag.com/flags/select.shtml).
This is the first of Watrin's division with the 6th Light Demi-Brigade up next.
Sources:
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_marengo.html
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