The French Order of Battle and their Senior Commanders

Commander: Général de Division FC Canrobert

Passed out of St Cyr in 1828. he had distinguished himself early in his career in Algeria. Back in France after being wounded at the Siege of Constantine, he took part in the establishment of the Foreign Legion. He was back in Algeria in 1847 as a colonel. Operations in Algeria were almost continuous against rebellious tribes. The war could be fluid where French army columns would pursue or seek out rebel forces, ultimately attacking them in their strongholds. It could also be static, with both sides laying siege to built up areas. The rank of colonel attracted independent command, and thus very much the spotlight in the Algeria scenarios - it was make or break time in a career. Canrobert did exceptionally well in both phases of war, commanding first a Foreign Legion Battalion and then a Zouave Regiment, and was decorated as Commandant de la Légion d'Honneur. He loved telling how he raised the siege of Bou Sada by spreading the story amongst the rebels that there was an epidemic of cholera in his relief column. In 1850 he was recalled to France as ADC to Prince Louis Napoléon with the rank of brigade general. This became division general after the coup, along with most others senior generals later in the Crimea, 'for services rendered'. Now aged 45, he held a 'dormant commission' to take over from St Arnaud when he died, effectively making him Army Commander in Waiting.

Commander: Général de Brigade Espinasse

1er Bataillon de Chasseurs à pied

1er Régiment de Zouaves

7e (Régiment d'Infanterie) de Ligne

Commander: Gén.de Brig. Vinoy

9e Batt. de Chasseurs à pied

20e de Ligne

27e de Ligne

Commander: Chef d'Escadron Huguenet

Commander: Gén.de Div. PJF Bosquet

A year younger than Canrobert, Bosquet had begun his career at the Ecole Polytechnique and he had then attended Artillery Officer School at Metz from 1831-32. In 1834 he went on an Arabic language course, and thereafter spent virtually all his service in Algeria, much of it in combat. He received the first of his wounds as a 2nd captain in 1841, while charging the rebel cavalry. He came to the notice of General de la Lamorcière, who made him his ADC and became his patron. In 1842, now chef de bataillon, he set up and commanded the demi-bataillon of Oran Tirailleurs, who were local troops.

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