CROSSARD,

JEAN-BAPTISTE-LOUIS BARON DE

by Geert van Uythoven

Born in Potiers (France) in 1770.

French army - 1791

Entered French service as an élève of the artillery school in Metz. He begain his military career in the Légion de Maillebois as a sous-lieutenant, of which he was a member from the date the legion was raised, until its disbandment. After the disbandment of the legion, he entered the Corps Royal de l’Artillerie des Colonies; emigrated in 1791.

Royalist army of the Dutch Republic 1791 - 1792

Arriving in Coblenz, Crossard entered the Armée des Princes, initially as ADC of vicomte de Latour-Dupin-Lachar in December 1791. After the creation of the état-major of the army, he was attached to it as an infantry lieutenant until October 1792, when the army was disbanded.

Army of the Dutch Republic 1792 - 1795

Then entered Dutch service as an officer with the General Staff; campaigns of 1793, 1794 and 1795. Left the army after the creation of the Batavian Republic, he joined the ressamblement of Orangist officers in Osnabruck; destined to enter a foreign infantry battalion in British service as a major, but nothing came of it. Instead entering Austrian service.

Austrian Army 1796 - 1807

Together with Prince Frederick of Orange, Crossard entered Austrian service in 1796. He became a cadet with the Stabsdragonern (‘Staff Dragoons’), and was promoted to sous-lieutenant within in a few months. Campaigns of 1796 and 1797. As ADC of the Prince of Orange, he distinguished himself on 1 January 1797 by his exceptional bravery during the capture of the fleches at the redoubt before Kehl. On 16 April 1797 Crossard was promoted 1st lieutenant with the General-Quartermaster-Staff. Then, for a short period, he was send as an Austrian envoy to Turkey. After that he joined Suvarov in his Italy campaign in 1799.

During the battle of Novi (15 August1799) Crossard was attached to the artillery reserve. He voluntarily led the troops which stormed the heights occupied by the French several times. Behind these heights, the French had positioned a substantial reserve, which first had to be attacked and defeated in order to support the attack on the heights itself, and to cut off the retreat of the French. General of Cavalry Heinrich count Bellegarde ordered Crossard to transmit the necessary order to the brigade commander [Seckendorf ?] which had to execute the attack. But first another height, behind which lay the valley through which the attacking brigade had to march to Pasturano, had to be taken by storm and occupied. Crossard led an insignificant force to this purpose, managing to reach the edge of the height, but then he was hit in his left breast by a musket ball. The wound seemed to be deadly at first glance. And at this moment, the order to attack still was not known to the brigade commander who had to execute it. Even more, the height just taken could not be held long if the attack would not be executed soon. Covered with blood, Crossard speeded his horse to this commander, and according to the plan he ordered him to execute an attack at Pasturano village as quick as possible. The attack succeeded, and generals, 2,000 French and twenty guns were captured.

Campaign of 1800-01. When in November 1800 the armistice ended, the Austrian outposts near Ceresara were pushed back by the French and the position occupied by 15,000 men. General of Cavalry Heinrich count Bellegarde ordered Major-General baron d’Aspre to defeat the French and to capture the place again. Crossard, having good knowledge of the terrain, volunteered to make the dispositions of the attack and to lead the attack column. He led the attack so cunningly that the French were swiftly defeated, losing eight officers and a hundred men made prisoner, and Ceresara occupied by the Austrians again.

On 21 December 1800, the French attacked from Gazzoldo to Santa Maria, turning the right flank of the Austrian outposts. Voluntarily, Crossard led a division of the Infanterie-Regiment ‘Baron Spleny’ and a zug of the Husaren-Regiment No. 8 into the left flank of the French near Salarolo, enabling the outposts and their supports to push back the French to Gazzoldo on that same day. For his behaviour this day, Crossard received the knights cross of the order of Maria Theresia on 18 August 1801.

July 1801 Crossard was promoted to captain, assigned to the Infanterie-Regiment No. 40 ‘Joseph Graf Mitrovsky’ in 1802. He temporarily left Austrian service after the Armistice and the Piece of Amiens, but rejoined and participated with this regiment in the campaign of 1805 (also Austerlitz).

Russian Army 1807

In 1807, Crossard joined the Russian army as a volunteer. He fought in the battle of Eylau.

Austrian Army 1808 - 1812

Reutrning to Austrian service, Crossard was promoted to major. During the end of the year 1808, he was send as to Spain as an envoy, with secret promises of Austrian aid. Arriving here and having accomplished his task, he remained to advise the Spanish on military matters. Present in the battles of Medellin, Talavera, and Oçana. Returning to Austria in 1809, promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1810. He continued to serve in the Austrian army until 1 August 1812.

Russian Army 1812 - 1814

On 1 August 1812 Crossard again joined the Russian army. Appointed to the General-Quartermaster-Staff as a colonel. He served as sous-chef of the General Staff of Grand Duke Constantine, serving in the campaigns of 1812, 1813, and 1814. Promoted to major-general.

French Army 1814 - 1830

After the return of the Bourbons, as a true follower, Crossard returned to France. He entered French service again, on 30 December 1814 becoming maréchal de camp and appointed Adjutant of the Duke of Berry. In 1816 he became commander of a Military Division in southern France. Here he wrote down his memoirs in six volumes, which appeared as “Mémoires militaires et historiques pour servir a l’histoire de la guerre depuis 1792 jusqu’en 1815 inclusivement” (Paris 1829-‘30). Already before this, parts of his memoirs had been published as “Fragmens pour servir à l’histoire de la guerre depuis 1792 jusq’en 1815 inclusivement” (Toulouse 1825).

Later years 1830 - 1845

When the Bourbons were again driven from the throne in 1830, Crossard refused all offers made to him by the new government, resigned his rank and post and again emigrated with the few possessions he had. After having lobbied for the Bourbons without success in Great Britain, The Netherlands and Belgium, he again returned to Austria. The King of Austria granted him the dotation of his order of Maria Theresia, and a pension in the rank of lieutenant-colonel. The tsar of Russia added a yearly allowance and the right to wear the uniform of a Russian general. Until his dead, Crossard hoped to see the Bourbons return to the throne again. That was not to be. Crossard died in Vienna on 13 March 1845.

Despite the order already mentioned, Crossard also had received the Austrian Order of Leopold; the French Ordre de Saint-Louis and the Légion d’Honneur; the Russian Orders of St. George 4th Class, St. Wladimir 3rd class, and St. Anne 2nd Class; the Prussian Order pour le mérite; the Bavarian Order of Max Joseph; and the Netherlands Militaire Willemsorde 3rd Class Knight.

© Geert van Uythoven