Augereau,
from very modest condition, engages at 17 years in the Prussian
armies then Neapolitan. He is established fencing master in Naples.
To the Revolution, he re-enters to France. Initially private
in the national Guard, he is, five years later, major general
in the army of Italy.
In April 1796, he takes the castle of Ceva, his first exploit
under the command of the Bonaparte General. His bravery is illustrated
in Lodi on May 10, 1796, when he springs in spite of the rain
of Austrian grapeshot. August 3, 1796, his intervention at the
time of the battle of Castiglione reverses the fate of the battle.
In Arcole, November 15, he springs on the bridge with the head
of his troops. Bonaparte grants his regard and his confidence
to him, in spite of the rumours on his rapacity. He delegates
him in Paris to subdue the royalist push, in September. It is
the strike of state of the 18-Fructidor. Augereau appears terribly
effective, carrying out with the letter all the commands of the
Directory; he is then named commander of an army corps of the
Rhine.
Augereau,
deputy of Haute-Garonne to the consulting of Cinq-Cents, is first
of all opposed to the strike of state of the 18-Brumaire. He
is closed to the Jacobins. He refuses the invitation of the banquet
given in the honor of Bonaparte. He adopts nevertheless the Consulate
the morning even 18-Brumaire, kissing Bonaparte and exclaiming:
«How! You wanted to do something for the fatherland and
you did not call Augereau!».
In spite of his critics of the Legal settlement, he is reproduced
on the list of the marshals of 1804 and attends the sacring of
the Emperor. From September 1805 to February 1807, he receives
the command of VIIème body of the Grande Armée.
With the battle of Iéna, October 14, 1806, he beats the
Saxon ones and crushes the body of Rüchel assisted from
the Prussian army.
In Eylau (February 8, 1807), ill, he is made attached on his
horse on the beginning of the battle. Whereas he must tackle
the Russian center, his army corps is lost in a snowstorm. The
French soldiers are decimated by the enemy guns. Wounded at the
arm, Augereau re-enters to France. March 19, 1808, he receives
the title of duke of Castiglione.
He is useful then in Spain. His first victories at the head of
the Army of Catalonia are soon followed by defeats. The Emperor
returns Augereau in his grounds but recalls him for the campaign
of Russia of 1812 when he entrusts a body of reserve to him.
The marshal is present at the time of the French defeat in Leipzig,
from the 16 to October 19, 1813. His keen defense regains the
favour of Napoleon to him.
In 1814, the Emperor entrusts to him the army corps posted in
Lyon. Augereau, which has commanded to cut the lines of communications
of the army of Bohemian, compromises and refuses the combat.
He is now notable. April 16, 1814, he launches a proclamation
where he enjoints his soldiers to adopt the white rosette of
the Bourbons and denounces Napoleon like a tyrant. The Emperor
crosses out his name of the list of the marshals at the time
of the Hundred Days and describes him as «traitor in France»,
when Augereau comes to propose his services to him.
Louis
XVIII income on the throne also draws aside him. Augereau is
withdrawn in his properties, where he dies little after a chest
complaint, without leaving children.
Napoleon will say of him at Sainte-Hélène: «He
was unable to act; he did not have an instruction, little of
extended in the spirit, little education; but he maintained the
command and the discipline among his soldiers, and was liked
by them. He divided his columns well, placed his reserves well,
fought with intrepidity; but all that lasted only one day: winner
or overcome, he was generally discouraged the evening, that is
to say that it was due to the nature of his character, or with
little calculation and penetration of his spirit».
