Published Articles & Papers by Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (JCHAS), 2017
Thomas Brown, born at Castlehaven, County Cork, in 1786 was the young master of a British merchan... more Thomas Brown, born at Castlehaven, County Cork, in 1786 was the young master of a British merchantman captured by the French warship l'Orest. In a POW depot with a fellow prisoner he applied to join the Irish Legion, going on the serve in the French army until the 1840s.
First published in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (JCHAS) Volume 122 (2017) 17-31
The declaration of Napoleon's Minister for War, Henry Clarke, Duc de Feltre, that La Légion Irla... more The declaration of Napoleon's Minister for War, Henry Clarke, Duc de Feltre, that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, but several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republican.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
Published in Franco-Irish Military Connections 1590-1945, David Murphy and Nathalie Genet-Rouffiac eds. (Dublin, 2009) 189-219
The Voltigeur or Light Company of the Irish Regiment (le Régiment irlandais) 2nd Battalion in The... more The Voltigeur or Light Company of the Irish Regiment (le Régiment irlandais) 2nd Battalion in The French Armée de Portugal stormed the breach at Astorga during the Peninsular War of 1808 to 1814 The commander, John Allen, a Dublin woolen draper, former United Irishman and rebel, had been an associate of Robert Emmet and had escaped the manhunt that followed the failed rebellion. The article explores the career of Allen and the part played by the Irish in the British and French armies of the epoch. Illustrations include the uniforms and banners of the Irish Legion/Regiment, and French engineers plans of the city of Astorga
Jeremiah Dowling was born in County Carlow in 1780 and served in the Royal Navy as a seaman after... more Jeremiah Dowling was born in County Carlow in 1780 and served in the Royal Navy as a seaman after which he immigrated to France where volunteered for la Legion Irlandaise, then forming at Morlaix (Finistere). Rising to captain and participating in many campaigns, he served until the disbandment of that corps in 1815. He later served in la Legion Royale Etrangere, which became la Legion/le Regiment de Hohenlohe. In 1831, this corps metamorphosed into la Legion Etrangere, the illustrious French Foreign Legion, Dowling transferring to the 54th Ligne, having been raised to lieutenant colonel (chef de battalion). He was, however, retired in that year after an incident with a French general. In 1816, Dowling married Lucie Lahanier at Avesnes-sur-Helpe (Nord). He died in 1844.
Abstract:
Joseph Parrott was the son of Englishman William Parrott of Nottingham, a landscape gar... more Abstract:
Joseph Parrott was the son of Englishman William Parrott of Nottingham, a landscape gardener, and Winifred Ware of Rathcoffey, County Kildare, aunt of Hugh Ware, who became second in command of the north Kildare rebels in 1798 and spent three years in Kilmainham Gaol. When he was exiled in 1802, Parrott accompanied him and both joined the newly formed Irish Legion in 1803. Though a reluctant soldier who declared he wanted to practice his former profession of mechanical engineering, attempting to resign three times, by 1815, he had become the most highly decorated officer in the regiment. After the war, he set up an enterprise, but returned to the army when that failed, and was given the command of a fort in eastern France.
Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
Published in The Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol. 10 Part 4. 2014-2015. Editor: Prof Raymond Gillespie (N.U.I.M)
Ref: In the Shadow of the Steeple, Number 12 (2015) 139-170
Ref: In the Shadow of the Steeple, Number 10 (2009)
A father and son who served as officers in the Irish Legion of Napoleon (1803-15)
Born in Rathcoffey, County Kildare, in 1776, Hugh Ware was a land surveyor by profession, his wor... more Born in Rathcoffey, County Kildare, in 1776, Hugh Ware was a land surveyor by profession, his work bringing him into contact with some of the radicals of North Kildare, including landowners such as Archibald Hamilton Rowan of Rathcoffey Castle, and artisans such as Michael Quigley. He was a leading member of the Society of United Irishmen in the barony and deputy commander of the north Kildare rebel army in 1798. Among other leaders, military and civilian, his surrender was demanded by the government, and, after a successful military campaign, he surrendered alongside William Aylmer. Imprisoned for four years, he was exiled in France in 1802, and joined the Irish Legion, in which he led a very successful military career, becoming the regiment's last commander in 1815.
Ware was an exceptional individual who won the admiration of the Kildare rebels, the officers and soldiers of the Irish Legion, the French military hierarchy and even Napoleon. As the final commander, his even handedness was remarkable, and it was probably due to him that the unit stayed out of the conflict during the 100 Days. However, he was a Bonapartist at heart, and was never recalled to the army after the Second Restoration. His colonelcy, stripped from him by the Bourbons, was restored by Louis Phiippe in 1832.
An officer of outstanding courage, he led the regiment in two assaults on the Heights of Wolfsberg in 1813, was wounded several times during the campaign, and had three horses killed under him. Having saved the Imperial Eagle in the Bober disaster, he led the debris of the regiment the 900 km back to its base.
La Légion Irlandaise: Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
First published in Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society (JKAS) Volume XX, (Part 2) 2010-11, 99-141, Edited by Prof. Raymond Gillespie, Department of History, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
In his memoirs, Miles Byrne writes that Second-Lieutenant Louis Thuillier died as a result of a f... more In his memoirs, Miles Byrne writes that Second-Lieutenant Louis Thuillier died as a result of a fall from the ramparts of Montreuil-sur-Mer on 11 July 1815. However, documents archived at Vincennes and the Departmental Archives of Pas-de-Calais give a date three months earlier. Should such a discrepancy provoke caution in our reading of the Byrne Memoirs?
Wellington's Peninsular Army was as much as 40% Irish, especially in the infantry and artillery. ... more Wellington's Peninsular Army was as much as 40% Irish, especially in the infantry and artillery. The troops were mainly Catholic, and the officers mainly Protestant (Anglican) , with a steadily increasing proportion of Catholics.
Wellington's infantry consisted of up to 40% Irish recruits and their presence is well documented... more Wellington's infantry consisted of up to 40% Irish recruits and their presence is well documented in memoirs such as Grattan and Bell and historical accounts such as Oman, all of whom appear to agree that the Irish exploited humor to their advantage to boost morale and deal with the hardships of war. Officers often exploit the humour of their Irish troops to ease tension and help lead their men. Memoirists, in their turn, appear to exploit accounts of Irish humor to improve sales of their books. Accounts are often embellished, and modifications work in favor of the Irish who are seen as morale builders, ready to deal with any hardships.
First published in: Journal of the Society of Army Historical Research (JSAHR), Spring 2007, Volume Eighty-Five Number 341, 62-75
Articles & Papers Awaiting Publication by Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This article was due for publication in 2017, but I withdrew it as a result of what I considered... more This article was due for publication in 2017, but I withdrew it as a result of what I considered to be the unreasonable demands of the editor..
A copy of Draft 2 is now available in Drafts, and comments would be welcome in Sessions.
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Draft Articles & Papers by Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
The Irish Legion was formed in 1803 as a leading element in Napoleon’s planned invasion of Irelan... more The Irish Legion was formed in 1803 as a leading element in Napoleon’s planned invasion of Ireland, but, when it became clear that this venture was no longer feasible, the corps was deployed in Napoleon’s campaigns. After the First Restoration of the Bourbons in 1814, concerned that their corps would be disbanded, the officers of all nationalities declared their loyalty to King Louis 18th (1 January 1815). The return of Napoleon confused matters, and, though the unit remained inactive, all ranks swore allegiance to the Emperor, but several officers, none of them native Irish, defected to the King. After the Second Restoration, a royal decree amalgamated all regiments étrangers into la Légion royale étrangere (29 September 1815).
Two documents and the officers who signed them are studied, as are three contemporary nominal rolls, which help to elucidate matters. All documents are archived at the Service historique de la Défense, Château de Vincennes.
Theobald Wolfe Tone: Irish patriot, sham general?
The issue appears simple, even trivial, on the... more Theobald Wolfe Tone: Irish patriot, sham general?
The issue appears simple, even trivial, on the face of it, but this research has taken an inordinate amount of time, beginning with a search for confirmation of Irish Legion commander Bernard MacSheehy’s promotion in the French army in Egypt in 1800 to adjudant-général from chef de bataillon, or lieutenant colonel of infantry.
The fact that the confirmation of MacSheehy was as an adjudant-commandant raised question why the change had been made, on the erroneous assumption that the rank of adjudant-commandant was somehow inferior to that of adjudant-général, as the titles might imply.
The Vincennes dossier of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the most famous Irishman to hold the rank of adjudant-général in the French army, throws no light on the matter, but the answer can be found in French military regulations from 1790 to 1803. Between Tone’s appointment and MacSheehy’s provisional promotion, the rank of adjudant-général had been replaced by that of adjudant-commandant, at which level MacSheehy was confirmed in 1800.
What does emerge is the fact that Tone, as an adjudant-général, was one of many, and not the incumbent of the unique office of Adjutant-General, as in the British army of the epoch. Furthermore, the rank of adjudant-général-chef de brigade was not a general rank (officiers généraux) but the equivalent of colonel (officiers-superieurs) serving on the staff of a division or an entire army, both of which would contain several adjudants-généraux.
Parading in his uniform, as he describes himself, Tone might have believed he held a general rank, but whether he intended to mislead is not clear. Commentators, however, for lack of adequate research, appear to have assumed that Tone held a higher rank than that to which he was entitled.
This is my first attempt at editing a published and well-known work. At present one volume only o... more This is my first attempt at editing a published and well-known work. At present one volume only out of three has been worked on, and much work needs to be done.
However, I hereby submit my work so far it to the scrutiny of my peers, who, I hope will have some opinions offer.
Byrne’s career in the French army can be traced through the military archives at Service Historique de la Défense, Vincennes (SHD) and other archives. Volume 1, which describe Byrne’s early life and his part in the rebellions in of 1798 and 1803, up to his escape to France, is far more difficult and much of the information is very hard to corroborate.
Many issues to which I refer in footnotes, biographical details etc, I hope to expand in my biography of Byrne: Soldier of Misfortune, A Military Biography of Miles Byrne, which is in the late stages of development.
Author: Miles Byrne Editor: Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Durée de service par officier à la Légion irlandaise, au Régiment irlandais, au 3 ème Régiment ét... more Durée de service par officier à la Légion irlandaise, au Régiment irlandais, au 3 ème Régiment étranger (irlandais) ou au 7 ème Régiment étranger (irlandais) 1803-15
Biographical and service details of Miles Byrne 1780-1863. United Irishman and local organiser fr... more Biographical and service details of Miles Byrne 1780-1863. United Irishman and local organiser from 1797; Wexford rebel of 1798 and for a time second-in-command to Fr John Murphy; commanded debris of Monaseed Corps and lead defeated Wexford rebels into Wicklow; took part in guerrilla campaign in the Wicklow Mountains; among the leading activists in the Emmet Rebellion on 1803; escaped to France; joined Irish Legion etc etc
Uploads
Published Articles & Papers by Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
First published in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (JCHAS) Volume 122 (2017) 17-31
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, but several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republican.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
Published in Franco-Irish Military Connections 1590-1945, David Murphy and Nathalie Genet-Rouffiac eds. (Dublin, 2009) 189-219
Joseph Parrott was the son of Englishman William Parrott of Nottingham, a landscape gardener, and Winifred Ware of Rathcoffey, County Kildare, aunt of Hugh Ware, who became second in command of the north Kildare rebels in 1798 and spent three years in Kilmainham Gaol. When he was exiled in 1802, Parrott accompanied him and both joined the newly formed Irish Legion in 1803. Though a reluctant soldier who declared he wanted to practice his former profession of mechanical engineering, attempting to resign three times, by 1815, he had become the most highly decorated officer in the regiment. After the war, he set up an enterprise, but returned to the army when that failed, and was given the command of a fort in eastern France.
Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
Published in The Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol. 10 Part 4. 2014-2015. Editor: Prof Raymond Gillespie (N.U.I.M)
Ware was an exceptional individual who won the admiration of the Kildare rebels, the officers and soldiers of the Irish Legion, the French military hierarchy and even Napoleon. As the final commander, his even handedness was remarkable, and it was probably due to him that the unit stayed out of the conflict during the 100 Days. However, he was a Bonapartist at heart, and was never recalled to the army after the Second Restoration. His colonelcy, stripped from him by the Bourbons, was restored by Louis Phiippe in 1832.
An officer of outstanding courage, he led the regiment in two assaults on the Heights of Wolfsberg in 1813, was wounded several times during the campaign, and had three horses killed under him. Having saved the Imperial Eagle in the Bober disaster, he led the debris of the regiment the 900 km back to its base.
La Légion Irlandaise: Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
First published in Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society (JKAS) Volume XX, (Part 2) 2010-11, 99-141, Edited by Prof. Raymond Gillespie, Department of History, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
First published in: Journal of the Society of Army Historical Research (JSAHR), Spring 2007, Volume Eighty-Five Number 341, 62-75
Articles & Papers Awaiting Publication by Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
A copy of Draft 2 is now available in Drafts, and comments would be welcome in Sessions.
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Draft Articles & Papers by Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Two documents and the officers who signed them are studied, as are three contemporary nominal rolls, which help to elucidate matters. All documents are archived at the Service historique de la Défense, Château de Vincennes.
The issue appears simple, even trivial, on the face of it, but this research has taken an inordinate amount of time, beginning with a search for confirmation of Irish Legion commander Bernard MacSheehy’s promotion in the French army in Egypt in 1800 to adjudant-général from chef de bataillon, or lieutenant colonel of infantry.
The fact that the confirmation of MacSheehy was as an adjudant-commandant raised question why the change had been made, on the erroneous assumption that the rank of adjudant-commandant was somehow inferior to that of adjudant-général, as the titles might imply.
The Vincennes dossier of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the most famous Irishman to hold the rank of adjudant-général in the French army, throws no light on the matter, but the answer can be found in French military regulations from 1790 to 1803. Between Tone’s appointment and MacSheehy’s provisional promotion, the rank of adjudant-général had been replaced by that of adjudant-commandant, at which level MacSheehy was confirmed in 1800.
What does emerge is the fact that Tone, as an adjudant-général, was one of many, and not the incumbent of the unique office of Adjutant-General, as in the British army of the epoch. Furthermore, the rank of adjudant-général-chef de brigade was not a general rank (officiers généraux) but the equivalent of colonel (officiers-superieurs) serving on the staff of a division or an entire army, both of which would contain several adjudants-généraux.
Parading in his uniform, as he describes himself, Tone might have believed he held a general rank, but whether he intended to mislead is not clear. Commentators, however, for lack of adequate research, appear to have assumed that Tone held a higher rank than that to which he was entitled.
However, I hereby submit my work so far it to the scrutiny of my peers, who, I hope will have some opinions offer.
Byrne’s career in the French army can be traced through the military archives at Service Historique de la Défense, Vincennes (SHD) and other archives. Volume 1, which describe Byrne’s early life and his part in the rebellions in of 1798 and 1803, up to his escape to France, is far more difficult and much of the information is very hard to corroborate.
Many issues to which I refer in footnotes, biographical details etc, I hope to expand in my biography of Byrne: Soldier of Misfortune, A Military Biography of Miles Byrne, which is in the late stages of development.
Author: Miles Byrne Editor: Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
First published in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (JCHAS) Volume 122 (2017) 17-31
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, but several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republican.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
Published in Franco-Irish Military Connections 1590-1945, David Murphy and Nathalie Genet-Rouffiac eds. (Dublin, 2009) 189-219
Joseph Parrott was the son of Englishman William Parrott of Nottingham, a landscape gardener, and Winifred Ware of Rathcoffey, County Kildare, aunt of Hugh Ware, who became second in command of the north Kildare rebels in 1798 and spent three years in Kilmainham Gaol. When he was exiled in 1802, Parrott accompanied him and both joined the newly formed Irish Legion in 1803. Though a reluctant soldier who declared he wanted to practice his former profession of mechanical engineering, attempting to resign three times, by 1815, he had become the most highly decorated officer in the regiment. After the war, he set up an enterprise, but returned to the army when that failed, and was given the command of a fort in eastern France.
Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
Published in The Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol. 10 Part 4. 2014-2015. Editor: Prof Raymond Gillespie (N.U.I.M)
Ware was an exceptional individual who won the admiration of the Kildare rebels, the officers and soldiers of the Irish Legion, the French military hierarchy and even Napoleon. As the final commander, his even handedness was remarkable, and it was probably due to him that the unit stayed out of the conflict during the 100 Days. However, he was a Bonapartist at heart, and was never recalled to the army after the Second Restoration. His colonelcy, stripped from him by the Bourbons, was restored by Louis Phiippe in 1832.
An officer of outstanding courage, he led the regiment in two assaults on the Heights of Wolfsberg in 1813, was wounded several times during the campaign, and had three horses killed under him. Having saved the Imperial Eagle in the Bober disaster, he led the debris of the regiment the 900 km back to its base.
La Légion Irlandaise: Napoleon’s declaration that La Légion Irlandaise caused him more trouble than all his other regiments put together is not difficult to understand. Initial tension between officers brought many duels: Irish against Irish; Irish against French, Irish against Breton. In addition, the Irish officers refused to accept non-Irish officers, even though these were essential, and refused to cooperate with a non-Irish commander.
The unit was formed in 1803 by Napoleon in response to pressure from Irish republicans for intervention in their struggle for independence from Great Britain. Early officers consisted mainly of former rebels and political dissidents, members of the Society of United Irishmen, mainly Catholic, though several were Anglican or Presbyterian. These men were not ‘the last of the Wild Geese’ as asserted by several Irish historians. The so-called ‘Wild Geese’ were legitimists and supporters of the Jacobite cause, diametrically opposed to the republicans.
Native Irish officers accounted for 85 out of a total of over 300 who passed through the Legion throughout its life, but the Irish were by far the longest serving and maintained the corps’ Irish ethos.
Campaigns included (1) Flushing in 1809, where the 1st Battalion went into captivity. (2) The Peninsular War of 1808-14, from which the 2nd Battalion, depleted by combat, hardship and desertion, was withdrawn in late 1811. (3) The Saxon Campaign of 1813 during which the new 1st and 2nd Battalions were annihilated in the flooded Bober River.
In September 1815, The Irish Legion, by then le 7ème Régiment Étranger (irlandais), was disbanded by the restored Bourbons because of alleged Bonapartism. Only 20 of the officers remaining were Irish born, and less than 10% of the troops. The demise of the Legion also saw the end of Irish recruitment into the French army, the British army gaining vast numbers of Irish recruits.
First published in Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society (JKAS) Volume XX, (Part 2) 2010-11, 99-141, Edited by Prof. Raymond Gillespie, Department of History, National University of Ireland, Maynooth
First published in: Journal of the Society of Army Historical Research (JSAHR), Spring 2007, Volume Eighty-Five Number 341, 62-75
A copy of Draft 2 is now available in Drafts, and comments would be welcome in Sessions.
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Two documents and the officers who signed them are studied, as are three contemporary nominal rolls, which help to elucidate matters. All documents are archived at the Service historique de la Défense, Château de Vincennes.
The issue appears simple, even trivial, on the face of it, but this research has taken an inordinate amount of time, beginning with a search for confirmation of Irish Legion commander Bernard MacSheehy’s promotion in the French army in Egypt in 1800 to adjudant-général from chef de bataillon, or lieutenant colonel of infantry.
The fact that the confirmation of MacSheehy was as an adjudant-commandant raised question why the change had been made, on the erroneous assumption that the rank of adjudant-commandant was somehow inferior to that of adjudant-général, as the titles might imply.
The Vincennes dossier of Theobald Wolfe Tone, the most famous Irishman to hold the rank of adjudant-général in the French army, throws no light on the matter, but the answer can be found in French military regulations from 1790 to 1803. Between Tone’s appointment and MacSheehy’s provisional promotion, the rank of adjudant-général had been replaced by that of adjudant-commandant, at which level MacSheehy was confirmed in 1800.
What does emerge is the fact that Tone, as an adjudant-général, was one of many, and not the incumbent of the unique office of Adjutant-General, as in the British army of the epoch. Furthermore, the rank of adjudant-général-chef de brigade was not a general rank (officiers généraux) but the equivalent of colonel (officiers-superieurs) serving on the staff of a division or an entire army, both of which would contain several adjudants-généraux.
Parading in his uniform, as he describes himself, Tone might have believed he held a general rank, but whether he intended to mislead is not clear. Commentators, however, for lack of adequate research, appear to have assumed that Tone held a higher rank than that to which he was entitled.
However, I hereby submit my work so far it to the scrutiny of my peers, who, I hope will have some opinions offer.
Byrne’s career in the French army can be traced through the military archives at Service Historique de la Défense, Vincennes (SHD) and other archives. Volume 1, which describe Byrne’s early life and his part in the rebellions in of 1798 and 1803, up to his escape to France, is far more difficult and much of the information is very hard to corroborate.
Many issues to which I refer in footnotes, biographical details etc, I hope to expand in my biography of Byrne: Soldier of Misfortune, A Military Biography of Miles Byrne, which is in the late stages of development.
Author: Miles Byrne Editor: Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
The bias, however, is not sustained and, in document from 181, it is evident that, although a clear pro-Irish bias is manifest in the recommendation of NCOs for promotion, no such bias is apparent in the actual awarding of commissions.
Officer/Country of Origin/Background etc
Author's note: I have just noticed several errors. For example, Miles Byrne was 23, not 26, though several archived documents give 26. I will go through and check every detail.
Very sorry, I have to withdraw this document temporarily for revision.
Scope
This is the first of two articles examining the causes of these duels, the personalities of the seven antagonists, the immediate and more remote causes and the consequences. A third gives the appendices.
Although reference is made to the history and conventions of duelling in France, the study will confine itself mainly to the Irish Legion duels and their immediate context, employing, where relevant, parallels from outside the Legion, especially from literature, while remaining as far as possible within the scope of the French Army during the Napoleonic epoch.
This draft is now withdrawn. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This draft is now withdrawn. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This draft is now withdrawn. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This draft is now withdrawn. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This draft is now withdrawn. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This draft is now withdrawn. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This article is under submission to a journal. Should you like to copy for private consultation, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This document is withdrawn for editing prior to publication. If you would like a copy for private consultation, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com.
Sncerely,
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This article has been withdrawn for editing prior to publication. If you would like a copy for private consultation, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com.
Sincerely, Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This article has been withdrawn for editing prior to publication. If you would like a copy for private consultation, please contact me on this site or on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com.
Sincerely, Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
This article has been withdrawn from submission. A copy, is available on request..
This article is under submission. If you would like to receive a copy for private consultation, please contact me on this site on on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Nicholas Dunne-Lynch
Now under submission
La Légion irlandaise, formée à Morlaix, décembre 1803, a tombé victime du factionnalisme entre les officiers irlandais, nationaliste et rebelles, notamment la querelle entre Swény et Corbet, qui exista avant la formation et qui provoqua le duel et la blessure fatale du Capitaine Thomas Corbet. Le document en question est le rapport sur la première rixe qui eut lieu le jour de la prestation du serment exigé par la senatus-consulte-organique (28 Floréal l’An 12) afin de confier le gouvernement de France aux mains du 1er Consul Napoléon Bonaparte comme Napoléon 1er, Empereur des Français.
The Irish Legion, formed at Morlaix in December 1803, fell victim to factionalism among Irish officers, notably the Swiney-Corbet feud, which existed before the formation and resulted in a duel and the fatal wounding of Captain Thomas Corbet. This document describes the initial clash arising from a disagreement over the taking of an oath prescribed by the senatus-consulte-organique consigning the government of France to First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte as Napoleon 1st of the French.
Blackwell, James Bartholomew Alexander (1764-1822) Biographial and Service Details
This document has been withdrawn, and is now available on application. Please contact me on n.dunnelynch@gmail.com
An outline and preview details are here. I would welcome comments and suggestions
Errata
page 8; Luba'n should read Lubań
page 9; 2-300 probably should read 200-300
page 11; Oleniczak should read Olejniczak
Recall sheet of survivors:
page 12; Kocvhinsky probably Kosiński; Nowack should read Nowak; Kosack probably Kozak
page 8 and 17; Plakowice should be Płakowice
page 3; 15/4/1813 |2| Ware|1386|604|680| - -188 should read
15/4/1813 |2| Ware| 76 | 604|680| 1386 -188
page 5; Katzbach (Kaczawa)
Page 28; Ober Meis means Majesz Górny ; Neider Meis means Majesz Dolny. They are misplaced in the text.
My thanks to Mark T. Lalowski
I will incorporate these corrections in the original - NDL
PLEASE NOTE This quotation is from Henri Clarke, Duke of Feltre and Minister for War rather than Napoleon. The reference is
Matilda Tone, widow of Theobald Wolfe Tone, ’Narrative of my Mother’s Interview with Napoleon, written by Herself’ in Tone, William Theobald Wolfe, The Life of Theobald Wolfe Tone, Edited by his son William Theobald Wolfe Tone, 2 vols, (Washington, 1886) I, Appx, Part 2, 574.
I am indebted to Guy Dempsey for drawing this to my attention, and I apologize for misleading my readers.