129:
206:
194:
32:
309:
246:
The French had much the advantage of us in these petty warfares, for I have frequently seen their light troops mounted behind their dragoons, so that when they came to a favourable place to make an attack, these fellows dismounted quite fresh, and our light troops who had been always marching, had to
229:
Like the grenadiers, this company would frequently be detached from the battalion to perform specialised light infantry tasks—operating in loose formation, forming the skirmish line and screening the battalion from the enemy. The formation instruction for voltigeurs gave no indication where they were
251:
With the reorganization of 1807 the voltigeur company was enlarged to 121 men. When the battalion was formed up in line formation, the voltigeurs took their place on the left of the line, the second most prestigious position. The top position, the right, was occupied by the battalion's
431:
of his uncle. This included a
Voltigeur Brigade of two regiments, expanded to two brigades by 1857. Drawn from experienced men with good records in the line infantry, the Voltigeur regiments of the Imperial Guard served with distinction in the Crimean and Italian campaigns. In the
233:
Although the original concept of skirmishers using cavalry to transport them during battle quickly proved unworkable in any large scale, voltigeurs did on occasion ride with French dragoons to battle, as recalled by a
British officer on the harrowing retreat of
275:
companies. The hastily reformed regiments of 1813, numbering up to 19, were not up to the same standard as the elite units of the
Voltigeurs before the Russian campaign. Despite this, the Voltigeurs of the Guard performed admirably in the 1813–1814 campaigns.
320:
corps of
Chasseurs formed the Tirailleurs-Chasseurs and Conscrit-Chasseurs regiments, part of the Young Guard. In 1811, these units were renamed Voltigeurs, forming the 1–4th regiments. The Voltigeurs of the Guard, along with their sister regiments the
225:
was ordered to create one company of ninety of the best shots who would serve as elite skirmishers. The voltigeurs were skilled at sharpshooting and received specific training in marksmanship, using cover and taking the initiative.
267:
after bearing the brunt of cavalry charges. After this period, the quality of the French voltigeurs declined as the new units lacked the experience and training to set them apart from their "non-elite" compatriots in the regular
450:
Several
Napoleonic French allies based their battalion formation on that of the French and had voltigeur companies in their battalions. The allies using the French battalion system included the following:
436:
of 1870 they saw only limited action before the surrender of the main imperial field army at Metz. The surviving depot companies of the
Voltigeur regiments were then incorporated into the provisional
284:
The uniform was made of a blue coat with yellow collar and cuffs piped red, red and green epaulettes with a yellow crescent, and yellow bugle horns on the turnbacks. From 1804, they wore
169:(, English: "vaulters") were named after their originally conceived mode of operation: although they were foot soldiers, on the battlefield they were intended to jump onto the
949:
527:. Like its French counterpart, the American voltigeur was composed of light infantry trained to fight either in conventional formations or spread out into skirmish lines.
954:
351:
flanking attack. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Young Guard, reinforced by some battalions of Old Guard
Grenadiers, held the town until the defeat of the
292:
hats with green pompoms and a yellow brush. By 1807, all
Voltigeurs had a shako which could be plain black, and have a yellow top or bottom band, or have yellow
959:
128:
520:
366:
of the
Bourbon kings, the surviving regiments of Voltigeurs, along with the remnants of the entire Imperial Guard, were disbanded.
821:"Historical register and dictionary of the United States Army : from its organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903"
608:
96:
68:
843:
803:
778:
745:
720:
695:
661:
636:
235:
205:
115:
539:
is a mounted reconnaissance unit. Its A and B Squadrons have a voltigeurs platoon for dismounted reconnaissance.
911:
Imperial bayonets: tactics of the
Napoleonic Battery, Battalion, and Brigade as found in contemporary regulations
296:, green cords, and an all-green plume or a green plume with a yellow tip. Line voltigeurs had white trousers and
75:
359:
53:
964:
481:
428:
82:
317:
573:
396:
193:
49:
406:
385:
64:
536:
260:
506:
173:
of cavalry horses to advance more quickly. This proved unworkable and they were trained to be elite
524:
401:
391:
42:
609:"French Infantry : Uniforms : Organization : Weapons : Infanterie française"
263:. One account described how they were decimated by the combined forces of Russian artillery and
770:
500:
152:
762:
944:
456:
155:
8:
820:
548:
433:
343:
the Voltigeurs, along with the Tirailleurs, conducted a tenacious defence of the town of
919:
568:
475:
468:
363:
340:
334:
293:
89:
939:
839:
799:
774:
763:
741:
716:
691:
657:
632:
493:
487:
437:
239:
158:. They replaced the second company of fusiliers in each existing infantry battalion.
20:
19:
This article is about the French military unit. For the Thoroughbred racehorse, see
836:
Fighting Elites: A History of U.S. Special Forces: A History of U.S. Special Forces
388:(some examples of the 'Fusil de Marine', or naval version, may have also been used)
137:
462:
558:
182:
578:
563:
269:
218:
411:
933:
348:
333:
regiments), provided the skirmish screen for the Chasseurs and Grenadiers of
214:
170:
424:
352:
884:
With eagles to glory: Napoleon and his German allies in the 1809 campaign
322:
583:
344:
264:
174:
512:
253:
222:
198:
31:
823:. Washington : Govt. Print. Off. – via Internet Archive.
553:
308:
272:
209:
Cornet in imperial livery and officer of the line voltigeurs (1812)
148:
185:'s basic building blocks, the line and light infantry battalions.
289:
133:
297:
285:
796:
French Army 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War 2 Republican Troops
312:
A French Voltigeur porte-fanion of the Young Guard c. 1811
819:
Heitman, Francis B. (Francis Bernard) (August 10, 1903).
765:
French Army 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War 1 Imperial Troops
355:
attack on the allied centre caused the army to collapse.
300:, while light voltigeurs had blue trousers and lapels.
259:
The French voltigeurs suffered huge losses during the
188:
950:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1815
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
378:(issued to officers, sergeants and quartermasters)
955:Military units and formations established in 1804
931:
899:
890:
875:Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armée
735:
685:
651:
631:. South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword. p. 166.
247:oppose them; still we managed to beat them off.
921:Reminiscences of my Military Life 1795 to 1818
369:
715:. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 39.
519:In addition, the United States organized a "
838:. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. p. 33.
713:French Guardsman vs Russian Jaeger: 1812–14
833:
445:
303:
177:, but they retained their original name.
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
908:
521:Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen
307:
204:
192:
127:
960:Military units and formations of France
917:
818:
230:supposed to stand in the battle line.
932:
872:
710:
626:
863:
793:
760:
881:
622:
620:
618:
201:(left) and voltigeur (right) c. 1808
54:adding citations to reliable sources
25:
893:Napoleon's Imperial Guard, Volume 2
376:Carabine de Versailles An XII rifle
13:
868:. London: Arms & Armour Press.
189:Line and light infantry voltigeurs
14:
976:
798:. Bloomsbury USA. pp. 8–10.
615:
523:" (1847–1848) for service in the
900:Haythornthwaite, Philip (1983).
891:Haythornthwaite, Philip (1985).
736:Hawthornthwaite, Philip (1983).
686:Hawthornthwaite, Philip (1983).
652:Hawthornthwaite, Philip (1983).
418:
30:
924:. Winchester: Warren & Son.
856:
827:
812:
181:formed an integral part of the
132:French voltigeurs crossing the
41:needs additional citations for
787:
754:
740:. Bloomsbury USA. p. 13.
729:
704:
679:
676:Lt. Col. Charles Stevens, 1878
670:
645:
601:
16:French military skirmish units
1:
794:Shann, Stephen (1991-07-25).
761:Shann, Stephen (1991-04-25).
690:. Bloomsbury USA. p. 5.
656:. Bloomsbury USA. p. 4.
589:
530:
392:Model 1717 Charleville musket
913:. Barnsley: Greenhill Books.
904:. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
895:. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
886:. Barnsley: Greenhill Books.
629:Napoleon's Infantry Handbook
161:
7:
877:. Cambridge: Da Capo Press.
769:. Bloomsbury USA. pp.
542:
370:Weapons and known equipment
10:
981:
442:of the Republican forces.
279:
18:
918:Stevens, Charles (1878).
909:Nafziger, George (1996).
902:Napoleon's Light Infantry
834:Fredriksen, John (2012).
738:Napoleon's Light Infantry
711:Spring, Laurence (2013).
688:Napoleon's Light Infantry
654:Napoleon's Light Infantry
537:Jagers te Paard Battalion
384:– Dragoon version of the
151:units created in 1804 by
594:
574:Les Voltigeurs de Québec
864:Blond, Georges (1997).
446:In French-allied states
407:Pistolet modèle An XIII
304:Voltigeurs of the Guard
627:Crowdy, Terry (2015).
507:Kingdom of WĂĽrttemberg
360:abdication of Napoleon
327:Tirailleurs-Grenadiers
313:
249:
210:
202:
140:
873:Elting, John (1997).
501:Kingdom of Westphalia
402:Pistolet modèle An IX
335:Napoleon's Old Guard.
311:
261:1812 Russian campaign
244:
238:'s army prior to the
213:In 1804, each French
208:
197:French line infantry
196:
147:were French military
131:
965:Obsolete occupations
525:Mexican–American War
457:Grand Duchy of Baden
316:In 1809, the French
50:improve this article
882:Gill, John (1992).
549:Canadian Voltigeurs
434:Franco-Prussian War
414:(Second Empire era)
331:Conscrit-Grenadiers
476:Kingdom of Holland
469:Kingdom of Bavaria
439:regiments de march
386:Charleville musket
364:Second Restoration
341:Battle of Waterloo
314:
211:
203:
141:
494:Kingdom of Saxony
488:Kingdom of Naples
397:Musket Model 1816
240:Battle of Corunna
126:
125:
118:
100:
21:Voltigeur (horse)
972:
925:
914:
905:
896:
887:
878:
869:
850:
849:
831:
825:
824:
816:
810:
809:
791:
785:
784:
768:
758:
752:
751:
733:
727:
726:
708:
702:
701:
683:
677:
674:
668:
667:
649:
643:
642:
624:
613:
612:
605:
569:Jäger (military)
482:Kingdom of Italy
347:against a major
318:Imperial Guard's
138:battle of Wagram
121:
114:
110:
107:
101:
99:
58:
34:
26:
980:
979:
975:
974:
973:
971:
970:
969:
930:
929:
928:
866:La Grande Armée
859:
854:
853:
846:
832:
828:
817:
813:
806:
792:
788:
781:
759:
755:
748:
734:
730:
723:
709:
705:
698:
684:
680:
675:
671:
664:
650:
646:
639:
625:
616:
607:
606:
602:
597:
592:
545:
533:
463:Duchy of Warsaw
448:
421:
382:Fusil de Dragon
372:
306:
288:, but some had
282:
191:
164:
122:
111:
105:
102:
59:
57:
47:
35:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
978:
968:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
927:
926:
915:
906:
897:
888:
879:
870:
860:
858:
855:
852:
851:
844:
826:
811:
804:
786:
779:
753:
746:
728:
721:
703:
696:
678:
669:
662:
644:
637:
614:
599:
598:
596:
593:
591:
588:
587:
586:
581:
579:Light infantry
576:
571:
566:
564:Grenz infantry
561:
556:
551:
544:
541:
532:
529:
517:
516:
511:Several minor
509:
503:
497:
490:
484:
478:
472:
465:
459:
447:
444:
429:Imperial Guard
427:recreated the
420:
417:
416:
415:
409:
404:
399:
394:
389:
379:
371:
368:
325:(formerly the
305:
302:
281:
278:
270:light infantry
219:Light (Légère)
190:
187:
163:
160:
124:
123:
38:
36:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
977:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
937:
935:
923:
922:
916:
912:
907:
903:
898:
894:
889:
885:
880:
876:
871:
867:
862:
861:
847:
845:9781598848106
841:
837:
830:
822:
815:
807:
805:1-85532-135-1
801:
797:
790:
782:
780:1-85532-121-1
776:
772:
767:
766:
757:
749:
747:0-85045-521-9
743:
739:
732:
724:
722:9781472806116
718:
714:
707:
699:
697:0-85045-521-9
693:
689:
682:
673:
665:
663:0-85045-521-9
659:
655:
648:
640:
638:9781783462957
634:
630:
623:
621:
619:
610:
604:
600:
585:
582:
580:
577:
575:
572:
570:
567:
565:
562:
560:
557:
555:
552:
550:
547:
546:
540:
538:
528:
526:
522:
514:
510:
508:
504:
502:
498:
495:
491:
489:
485:
483:
479:
477:
473:
470:
466:
464:
460:
458:
454:
453:
452:
443:
441:
440:
435:
430:
426:
419:Second Empire
413:
410:
408:
405:
403:
400:
398:
395:
393:
390:
387:
383:
380:
377:
374:
373:
367:
365:
361:
356:
354:
350:
346:
342:
337:
336:
332:
328:
324:
319:
310:
301:
299:
295:
291:
287:
277:
274:
271:
266:
262:
257:
255:
248:
243:
241:
237:
231:
227:
224:
220:
216:
207:
200:
195:
186:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
159:
157:
154:
150:
146:
139:
135:
130:
120:
117:
109:
106:February 2013
98:
95:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67: –
66:
62:
61:Find sources:
55:
51:
45:
44:
39:This article
37:
33:
28:
27:
22:
920:
910:
901:
892:
883:
874:
865:
857:Bibliography
835:
829:
814:
795:
789:
764:
756:
737:
731:
712:
706:
687:
681:
672:
653:
647:
628:
603:
559:Grande Armée
534:
518:
496:(after 1809)
471:(after 1810)
449:
438:
425:Napoleon III
422:
381:
375:
357:
353:Middle Guard
338:
330:
326:
315:
283:
258:
250:
245:
232:
228:
215:Line (Ligne)
212:
183:Grande Armée
178:
166:
165:
144:
142:
112:
103:
93:
86:
79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
945:French Army
412:Minié rifle
339:During the
323:Tirailleurs
265:cuirassiers
175:skirmishers
136:before the
65:"Voltigeur"
934:Categories
590:References
584:Skirmisher
531:In Belgium
358:After the
345:Plancenoit
236:John Moore
179:Voltigeurs
167:Voltigeurs
156:Napoleon I
145:voltigeurs
76:newspapers
513:Rheinbund
256:company.
254:grenadier
223:battalion
221:infantry
199:grenadier
162:Etymology
940:Infantry
554:Chasseur
543:See also
423:In 1854
362:and the
349:Prussian
294:chevrons
273:chasseur
149:skirmish
290:bicorne
280:Uniform
153:Emperor
90:scholar
842:
802:
777:
744:
719:
694:
660:
635:
515:states
298:lapels
286:shakos
134:Danube
92:
85:
78:
71:
63:
773:–10.
595:Notes
171:croup
97:JSTOR
83:books
840:ISBN
800:ISBN
775:ISBN
742:ISBN
717:ISBN
692:ISBN
658:ISBN
633:ISBN
535:The
505:The
499:The
492:The
486:The
480:The
474:The
467:The
461:The
455:The
329:and
217:and
143:The
69:news
52:by
936::
617:^
242:.
848:.
808:.
783:.
771:8
750:.
725:.
700:.
666:.
641:.
611:.
119:)
113:(
108:)
104:(
94:·
87:·
80:·
73:·
46:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
