General Jean Boudet was born in the same year as Napoleon
so was 40 in 1809. I had a soft spot for this particular general,
a commander whose conduct was exemplary at Essling (not
to mention at Marengo in 1800 where he played a principle
role in turning defeat into victory). Outnumbered and
isolated, his division heroically held on to Essling,
securing the army’s right flank, and Boudet
himself remained in Essling granary even
when his regiments were forced to
evacuate the village. His efforts were
recognised by the Emperor –
“General, you have saved my
army.” – and he was made a
Grand Officer of the Legion of
Honour shortly after.
Boudet was all set to repeat his
success at the Battle of Wagram
where his division, again
isolated and outnumbered, was
expected this time to hold the
army’s left flank and the village
of Aspern. 10 guns were sent
forward in order to enfilade the
advancing korps of FML Klenau.
This proved reckless as the artillery
was ridden down by Austrian
hussars. Boudet denied that he had
given the orders to move the artillery, in
his opinion, too far to the right. By the time he
had made a personal reconnaissance, it proved too
late. The 56th Line tried valiantly to recapture the guns but without
cavalry support failed to keep them. Lacking sufficient artillery, his
division fell back in the face of overwhelming numbers and Boudet
was unable to defend either Aspern or Essling, putting the French
supply train and the vitally important bridges from the island of
Lobau in danger. Luckily, his regiments were saved by the heavy
fire of the French batteries on the other side of the Danube.
Boudet received severe criticism by for his conduct at Wagram.
One story is that his death on 14 September 1809, apparently the
same day as Napoleon fiercely and publicly criticised him, was said
to have been a result of either despair or suicide. Boudet, however,
appears to have been suffering from gout and his health had
deteriorated dramatically the night before he died.
Klenau's cavalry captures Boudet's
artillery near Aspern on the morning of
6 July 1809.
General Boudet
I based General of Division Boudet on a 25mm round base, the size I had decided to use for a divisional commander’s base (see Post 175).
POST 179
179
