La Bataille d' Eggmuhl 1809

Demont’s Division Created Out Of Changes

French Make Major Changes To the Infantry Organization in 1809

Napoleon was aware in late 1808 that war with Austria would soon be upon him. Both that impending conflict, and the ongoing Iberian issues led Napoleon to order a conscription of 80,000 troops from the 1806, 1807, 1808 and 1809 classes. Further in December 1808 he ordered a second group of 80,000 conscripts from the class of 1810-- approximately 2 years earlier than required.

To effect these manpower moves, the French made several changes to their organization.

Prior to 1808, French infantry regiments were organized with three battalions for each regiment: two line battalions and a depot battalion. Each of these battalions had nine companies: a grenadier company, a voltigeur company and seven fusilier companies. On paper, these companies each had a table of organization of approximately 140 men per company. Each company had three officers and five non-commissioned officers. So, what did Napoleon do with these 160,000 conscripts at that time when the numbers would have indicated approximately 1000 new companies. First, he created new 17 demi-brigades in France from the 1810 class conscripts. The balance of the new troops were distributed into the existing regiments by adding a 4 th battalion. Now all regiments would have three regular battalions, each of six companies, and a depot battalion of four companies.

Demont’s Division in Eggmühl

The troops in the fourth battalion were brought to the field by assembling two depot companies and four companies of new conscripts. Most of these 4 th battalions did not

march, feed, or fight with the balance of their regiments. The fourth battalions were generally placed into new divisions. The major example of this was during the Eggmühl battles, where Joseph-Laurents Demont’s division found itself in Lefebvre's VII Corps. It was made up entirely of fourth battalions.

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