The Battalion d’Orleans or Plauche’s Battalion

 

The researching and painting of the companies of this colorful unit whose uniforms were based upon the French army and Imperial Guard, was a pleasant change of pace from my normal War of 1812 units. From 1804 this volunteer company then battalion operated as the de facto New Orleans city guard, frequently operating to assist the civil authorities. . The battalion was also deployed under federal authority to assist the infamous Brigadier-General Wilkinson during Burr uprising scandal. During the night battle of 23^rd December 1814, Major Plauche’s battalion received great credit from Jackson for their steadfastness. The battalion had a distinct French flavor being composed of French Creoles form the French Caribbean islands and ex soldiers of French Imperial army.

 Various sources give the numbers in this battalion from 200 to over 600. I decided to settle on 600 and at 20:1 ratio gives five companies at six figures. I also added a command group of six figures that will not count in the battalion total for gaming purposes. However, the battalion also had its own band and section of pioneers. So, perhaps the latter’s numbers could substantiate a command group company, particularly as it includes a sapper and drummer.

 One would think that there would be plenty of documentation on this unique unit but surprisingly there is not, at least in English. So the following is what I have culled from various sources.

 

Unit Background from Text Extracts.

 

From: The Miniatures Page (TMP) Blog:

For those interested-- here is a bit of information on this unit (sorry I did not note from where I got it - my apologies)

The Battalion d'Orleans or Plauche's Battalion was one of the most colorful units in the American army of the War of 1812. The Battalion participated in the defeat of the British forces at the Battle of New Orleans. The Battalion was a continuation of units which had existed under the French and Spanish regimes and were reorganized by the territorial act of January, 1805. Napoleon had raised and equipped three companies of French Creoles in New Orleans in 1803 after losing Santo Domingo. It is probable that these companies became the core of the Battalion d'Orleans. New Orleans remained very pro-Bonapartist during this period. They felt a special connection to him because the Empress Josephine was a French Creole. Also, many high-ranking Napoleonic exiles fled to New Orleans after the Bourbon regime was restored in France.

After "the Battle" as New Orleanians called it, the Battalion changed its name to the Louisiana Legion and remained in service until after the Civil War. Throughout its history, the Battalion was known for its resplendent, colorful uniforms of French design. The Battalion was modeled on the Imperial French army of the Emperor Napoleon I. They used the same drill manual and closely approximated the French uniform. Indeed, many members of the Battalion were veteran soldats and officers who had served with Napoleon before moving to New Orleans.

The Battalion consisted of two centre companies (Francs and Blues, an
Irish company), two flank companies (Carabiners and Chasseurs) and a
company of Dragoons. The flank companies had uniforms based on those of the French Imperial Guard. The centre companies were dressed as the line. The Battalion also had its own flag, adjutant, surgeons, fouriers, and band. A description of the unit's flag in the 1820's describes it as having the words 'Honneur, Patrie, Discipline, Valor' embroidered on it.

Today, the Battalion is a group of 1812 re-enactors who recreate one of
the most unusual units in the American Army of the War of 1812. They currently have a Carabiner company and a centre company (les Francs). The recreated Carabiners are based in New Orleans and take part in events in the Southern theatre. Their uniforms are based upon the Grenadiers a Pied of Napoleon's Imperial Guard. The Francs are mostly members of the 21eme de Ligne, 3e compagnie.

Posted by Doug H at 2:05 AM on TMP under Napoleonics, Uniforms, War of 1812

 

From: Blaze of Glory: The Fight For New Orleans 1814-1815 by Samuel carter III

‘Plauche Battalion’

“The original unit was…called The Carbiniers of d’Orleans, an elite group of young men from the city’s finest families, commanded by Major Jean Plauche.” “When Plauche became battalion Comander the Carbiniers were Captained by Pierre Roche. Original numbers were around 550 to 600.” Note; Captain Pierre Roche, a New Orleans printer and bookseller was former officer in Napoleon’s army. Ref. The Greatest Fury, p. 68.

 “Four more companies were organized, many of whose officers were veterans of napoleons armies.”

Dragoons; (foot dragoon) under Captain Henri St Geme five foot tall with a foot high plume extending from his hat. Note: He previously served with the British in Jamaica. Ref. The Greatest Fury, p. 68.

 The Francs; Captain Jean Hudri.  Note: Captain jean-Claude Hudry spent $9,705 of his own money to arm and equip sixty French veterans and native Louisans, to form the “Compagnie des Francs”. The Greatest Fury, p. 34.

Chasseurs; Captain Auguste Guibert

Louisiana Blues, a company of Irish Americans under Captain Maunsel White pg 56-57. See also The Greatest Fury, p. 68.

 

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From: “An Examination of the Volunteer battalions on Line Jackson”, University of New Orleans MA Dissertation by Donald K. Midkiff, 5-22-2020.

Battalion d’Orleans; Four of the five ‘battalions’ sic (likely meant companies) were white creoles from Sante-Domingue. The officers were upper class, and the rank and file were middle class white creoles. p2.

The original battalion of Free Men of color was composed of black Creoles and was led by Major Pierre Lacoste and dated from the Spanish period.

The Second Battalion of Free Men of Color was raised on 19 December 1814 and led by Major Daquin and seconded by Major Savary a black creole who was a former Colonel in French service on Sainte-Domingue.

In order to cement the loyalty of Louisiana militia to the state and country Governor Claiborne in a public ceremony presented the flags of the U.S. Fourth Infantry Regiment to the First and Second Battalions of the Louisiana militia on 30 April, 1804. He also presented an ensign (no description) made in New Orleans to the Battalion of Free Men of Color in a separate ceremony. p.6.

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From: Mr. Jefferson’s Creoles: The Battalion d’Orleans and

The Americanization of Creole Louisiana, 1803-1815.

By Paul D. Gelpi Jr. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4234285 Published by: The Louisiana Historical Association

The unit is variously referred to as the Battalion d’Orleans, the Uniformed Battalion of Orleans Volunteers, and the Orleans Volunteers. P.301 note 17.

In July 1804, Governor Claiborne paraded several volunteer militia companies in New Orleans “at which Claiborne presented the city militia with its standard.” P.302. However, the reference does not describe the standard. Also, the battalion had its own twenty-piece band. Ref: IAW The Band of Music of the First Battalion of Free men of Color and the Siege of New Orleans, 1814-1815 by Charles E. Kinzer, Louisiana State University https://www.jstor.org/stable/3051599, p. 3.

 

After the incorporation of the Battalion d’Orleans into the Territorial Militia as per the Louisiana Militia act of 1805, it was frequently called upon to deal with various crises such as the Burr conspiracy the influence of the Spanish by the Marques de Casso Calvo and eventually the British invasion of Louisiana. The creole battalion was placed temporarily under General Wilkinson’s command in 1806-1807. From 1807 until the Battle of New Orleans, the battalion became the ‘guard’ for New Orleans. In fact, this volunteer unit of the full spectrum of socio-economic creoles was considered the elite of the Louisiana militia.  p.311-316.

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According to J. Fred Roush, CHALMETTE (National Park Service
Historical Handbook Series No. 29, Washington, D.C., 1954), the Orleans Battalion (aka Batallon Orleans), commanded by Plauche, had five companies:
Carabiniers
Dragons a Pied
Francs
Chasseurs
Louisiana Blues

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Note: The battalion also had a band and a detachment of sappers, Ref., A Most Warlike Appearance, Chartrand, p. 86.

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The Battalion d'Orleans in 28mm figures.

The figures are mainly from Front Rank (my favorite miniature company) with the exception of the foot dragons, which are Brigade Games sculpted by the talented Paul Hicks.

The battalion d' Orleans in line formation with the Carbiniers company on the left and the Chasseurs on the photo right.

In the center of the battalion is the command group with Major Plauche (mounted) fanion guard and flag bearer.

This is my conjectured flag representation for the Battalion d 'Orleans, which was produced  by Stuart Wilson of Maverick Models upon my design instructions.  There is a crumb of evidence to support a small part of the flag design. Specifically, in the text references there is the report that the flag bore the motto "Honeur, Patrie, Discipline and Valeur". So, the motto forms the flag obverse while the opposite has the regiments name as per the French Imperial army usage (my speculation).

A close up of the Carbiniers Company that was commanded by Captain Pierre Roche. The uniforms are modelled on the Old Guard Grenadiers.

The 'New Orleans Blues', were Irish Americans commanded by Captain Maunsell White. The uniforms are based on French line infantry. The blue pom poms are my speculation based upon their company title.

A close up of the command group with Major Plauche (mounted) fanion guard and flag bearer (left to right) and the rear rank a pioneer and fanion guard all uniformed as the Old Guard.

Formal portrait of General Jean Baptiste Plauche in military uniform. Plauche was the Brigadier General of the Louisiana Legion and commandant of the Batallion d'Orleans at the Battle of New Orleans.

Louisiana Digital Library.

This portrait was completed well after the Battle of New Orleans. Note that Plauche was  a major at the time of the battle and General Villier commanded the New Orleans Volunteer units (that included the two colored battalions and Beales Rifles) that would subsequently become the Louisiana Legion. The portrait in French uniform is evidence that French speaking New Orleans volunteers tended to adopt French styled uniforms.

The Foot Dragoons commanded by Captain Henri St Geme. These superb Brigade Games figures sculpted by Paul Hicks were a joy to paint.

The 'Francs' or  “Compagnie des Francs" were mainly formed by French creoles and ex members of the the third company 21st French Line Regiment and commanded by Captain Jean Hudri also spelled Hudry  (Hudry was a 40 yearn old native of Savoy and prosperous cotton Broker). So, this company has orange (aurore) colored pom poms to reflect their attachment to the '21eme de Ligne, 3e compagnie'.

Lastly, the Chasseurs who are uniformed as the Chasseurs of the Old Guard and commanded by Captain Auguste Guibert.

The Cannoniers Bombardiers

These figures and gun are from Front Rank as well. The 'Cannoniers Bombardiers' were a French speaking New Orleans volunteer artillery unit. This brass twelve-pounder crew (battery six) was commanded Lieutenant Etienne Bertel. 

About 190 yards away from Bertel's twelve-pounder were an eighteen pounder and six pounder crews (battery seven) commanded by General Antoine Garrigues Flaujac, who normally commanded a Louisiana militia brigade. I need to conduct more research on this artillery group. There was another volunteer artillery unit called the 'Washington Volunteers' that was composed of Americans, however I have little information about them, Perhaps they were the crews who were commanded by General Flaujac. More to follow.