Irish Legion
The Irish Legion (French: Légion irlandaise) was a French battalion established in 1803 for a future invasion of Ireland. It was later expanded to a Regiment and won distinction in the Walcheren Expedition and the Peninsular War. It was disbanded in 1815.
History
The Legion was established on August 31, 1803,[1] in Morlaix, France.[2] Bernard MacSheehy was assigned to form the regiment;[3] he was an Adjutant-General in Napoleon's army.[4] The purpose of the Legion was to align the Irish hearts to the French cause in a later invasion of Ireland.[1] General Pierre Augereau had been ordained to lead the invasion, and wanted Irishmen to serve in his army.[2] However, the British Navy won the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and Napoleon was forced to abandon his plans for Ireland.[1] He shifted his focus towards Austria and Eastern Europe.[2]
Formation and Colors
The Legion was eventually expanded from a battalion to a regiment, and there was greater demand for more soldiers.[1] These made a varied group: some came immigrated from Ireland, some had been pressed into the British Navy, and some were even German or Polish.[1] While the Legion was stationed at Mainz in 1806, they were joined by 1,500 Poles.[2]
The Irish Legion had its own flag, and in December 1805 received an eagle.[2] The Legion was the only group of foreign soldiers in the French military to which Napoleon ever gave an eagle.[4] They wore green uniforms.[2]
Action
The First Battalion saw its first action at the Battle of Flushing;[1] and the second battalion fought in the Peninsular War, winning distinction at the Siege of Astorga for leading the charge that took the city.[2] During the battle, Captain John Allen's company's drummer boy continued to beat the charge after having lost both legs, for which he was given the French Legion of Honor.[1]
Disbandment
The regiment was officially disbanded by King Louis XVIII on 28 September 1815.[1] Its flags were burned and its eagle destroyed.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Medlen, Virginia (2007), Napoleon's Irish Legion: La Legion Irlandaise 1803 - 1815, The Napoleonic Historical Society, retrieved 2009-10-13
- ^ a b c d e f g Forde, Frank, Napoleon’s Irish Legion (PDF), Napoleonic Association, retrieved 2009-10-13
- ^ Brown, Matthew (2005), Rebellion at Riohacha, 1820: Local and International Networks of Revolution, Cowardice and Masculinity (PDF), Cologne: Böhlau Verlag, p. 98, retrieved 2009-10-15 (Page 83, footnotes)
- ^ a b Mitchel, John (1869), The History of Ireland, vol. 2, Glasgow: Cameron & Ferguson, p. 265