Napoleonic Year 9 Musket of The 13th French Dragoon Regt. Used In Napoleon's Grande Armée at The Battles of Austerlitz , Jena, Salamanca, Madrid, La Corogne, Oporto, Ciudad-Real. Borodino, Leipzig, Vauchamps, Mormant, Saint-Dizier, Waterloo: Wavre

It is extraordinary that we have the privilege to present a superb French Dragoon musket, regimentaly marked for the 13e Regiment de Dragon's, and one that was used in so many battles, in almost all of Napoleon's campaigns, during the era known as the Napoleonic Wars, up to his final defeat in the Waterloo Campaign. The 13e dragoons further fought for the emperor after his famous defeat at Waterloo, into July, in order to defend against the Prussian advance at the Battle of Rocquencourt. This musket, and its user dragoon's, has seen such an incredible amount of combat service during its service for Napoleon.

More photographs to add tomorrow. In superb condition, lock engraved and made at the Napoleonic arsenal of St Etienne, fully stamped and inspector marked throughout, and its issued regiment's number, 13e. The musket is the typical regimental type with the usual three barrel bands, two of brass on of iron. Swivels located by the trigger guard and underneath the fore end. With ring neck cock and octagonal barrel at the breech. Despite being longer than the British infantryman's musket, the Brown Bess, it is actually classified as a carbine.

In fact they performed with heroism and bravery in so many battles, and engagements, that it would take an entire volume, or even two, of concise historical detail of their exploits in combat for their beloved emperor.

The 13th French Dragoon Regiment (13e Regiment de Dragons) was an incredibly distinguished medium cavalry unit during the Napoleonic Wars (1792–1815), known for its flexibility in both mounted combat and dismounted skirmishing. Designated as the 13e Dragoon Regiment in 1791, The 13th Dragoon Regiment (13e Régiment de Dragons) was a French cavalry unit in Napoleon's Grande Armée, recognized for its role in the 1812 Russian campaign and subsequent, it served throughout major campaigns including the 1805 Italian campaign, 1809 Wagram, and the 1812 Russian campaign.

The French 13th Regiment of Dragoons (13e Régiment de Dragons), known as the Empress's Dragoons during the Napoleonic era, fought in numerous major conflicts between 1792 and 1815, including the Revolutionary Wars, the Peninsular War, the 1812 Russian Campaign, and the Waterloo Campaign.
At Austerlitz (1805), Jena (1806), Borodino (1812), and Leipzig (1813) in the action at the Raevsky Redoubt, Borodino,The 13e Dragoons were part of the massive cavalry engagements in the centre of the battlefield, at Borodino, which was described as one of the most stubborn in history.

Napoleonic Wars (1805-1809): Action in 1805: The 13th Dragoons were part of the Grande Armée that achieved a decisive victory at Austerlitz on December 2, 1805, which effectively brought the War of the Third Coalition to an end. Crossing the Rhine/Danube, Enns, Hollabrun (1805), Austerlitz (1805), Jena (1806), and Nasielsk/Pułtusk (1806).
At the Battle of Jena on October 14, 1806, the 13th Dragoon Regiment (13e régiment de dragons) served in the brigade commanded by General of Brigade André Joseph Boussart, which was part of Marshal Joachim Murat’s Cavalry Reserve.
The regiment participated with its 1st, 2nd, and 3rd squadrons.
The regiment was part of the massive cavalry force that, under Murat, secured the victory by charging the Prussian lines, particularly as the Prussian army began to break and retreat in the afternoon.

They fought alongside the 22nd Dragoon Regiment in Boussart's brigade.
French Dragoons at this battle were instrumental in shattering the Prussian army's morale and cohesion, leading to a total rout

The Peninsular War (1809–1811)
The 13th French Dragoon Regiment (13e Régiment de Dragons) served in the Peninsular War as part of the Army of Portugal and later the Army of the Centre, often associated with the 18th Dragoons under Colonel Marie-Antoine Reiset. They were involved in campaigns in Spain and Portugal, including the 1812 Salamanca campaign and the actions around Madrid.: La Corogne, Oporto, Crossing the Tage, and Ciudad-Real.


The Russian Campaign (1812): Battle of Borodino.

The German/French Campaigns (1813–1814): Battle of Leipzig (1813), Vauchamps (1814), Mormant (1814), and Saint-Dizier (1814).

The Waterloo Campaign (1815): Battle of Wavre and Battle of Rocquencourt.

The 13th French Dragoon Regiment (13e Régiment de Dragons) was present at the Battle of Wavre on June 18–19, 1815, as part of Marshal Grouchy's right wing of the Army of the North.

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Saviot and was composed of 4 squadrons.
The 13th Dragoons were part of the cavalry force under General Exelmans, which operated on the French right flank in front of Basse-Wavre, interacting with General Vandamme’s 3rd Corps, which did the bulk of the fighting against Prussian General von Thielmann.
During the engagement, the French cavalry were tasked with threatening the Prussian flank and attempting to find a crossing over the Dyle river. In the course of the battle, some of the French dragoon squadrons were engaged with Prussian cavalry.

The battle was a tactical victory for the French, who forced the Prussians to withdraw from the town on the 19th.

A first hand account of a dragoon's bravery in the Peninsular campaign is detailed below as follow;

"One of their videttes, after being posted facing English dragoon, of the 14th or 16th Light Dragoon Regiment displayed an instance of individual gallantry, in which the French, to do them justice, were seldom wanting. Waving his long straight sword, the Frenchman rode within 60 yards of our dragoon, and challenged him to single combat. We immediately expected to see our cavalry man engage his opponent, sword in hand. Instead of this, however, he unslung his carbine and fired at the Frenchman, who not a whit dismayed, shouted out so that every one could hear him, "Venez avec la sabre: je suis pret pour Napoleon et la belle France"(Come with the sabre: I'm ready for Napoleon and beautiful France). Having vainly endeavored to induce the Englishman to a personal conflict, and after having endured two or three shots from his carbine, the Frenchman rode proudly back to his ground, cheered even by our own men. We were much amused by his gallantry, while we hissed our own dragoon ... " (Costello "The Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns" pp 66-67)

Code: 26190