Captain Francois

An authentic journal of a French soldier through many campaigns

The young Charles François rushed to fight for the cause of revolutionary France seeing action at Valmy. This was but the first of many campaigns and battles he would fight during the time of the Revolution, Consulate and the empire of Napoleon Bonaparte. This book contains a detailed account of the campaign in Egypt and Syria against the Mamelukes, Turks and ultimately the British under Abercrombie. This episode of François' career is especially interesting since he joined the elite Dromedary Corps, a distinction for which he was known all his lifetime. Many more campaigns followed in Europe against the Russians and Austrians, followed by battles in Spain during the Peninsular War. Here François was taken prisoner, incarcerated in the hulks of Cadiz and took part in a daring and successful escape. Promoted to officer, he took part in the fateful Russian campaign, its appalling retreat and the battles to the fall of the empire. Predictably, François rallied to his master's banner during 'The Hundred Days' and provides us with a rare personal account of the campaign of 1815 from the perspective of Grouchy's column. An excellent first-hand account in every way.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.