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An old battle rages in Columbia County
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| Andrew Amelinckx/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers Coalition forces made up of Russians and Austrians fight Napoleon's French troops during a recreation of the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz held at Old Austerlitz on Route 22 Sunday. |
By Andrew Amelinckx
The thick clouds of smoke rose skyward and shouts of “Vive La France” and “Down with the Corsican” could be heard between the loud bursts of gunfire. Old Austerlitz Village on Route 22 was the site of a reenactment of one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s greatest victories, which occurred Dec. 2, 1805 in what is now the Czech Republic.
The man who shaped European politics for a generation and ruled France as Emperor from 1804 to 1815 bested a coalition of Russian and Austrian troops at the battle. Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, he rose to prominence as a military leader, but would die in exile on another island, St. Helena, in 1821.
On both Saturday and Sunday men, women and children — all in period costume — from around the country and Canada came together to bring to life the battle and the quieter moments of camp life.
Erik Gram, portraying a French Corporal from the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the line came in from the Montreal area for the event.
According to Gram, people had come from as far away as Florida and north of Toronto — with horses in tow in the case of the Canadians — for the two-day event.
“It’s a great gathering,” he said. “We all love it. It’s great opportunity to catch up with each other.”
Rick Wright, who came up from Richmond, Va., portrayed a Sapper, also with the 3rd Line.
He said his job, as a “combat engineer” was to remove impediments to the troops’ movements such as fences, with the large ax he was carrying. He said Sappers would be out in front of the line and thus were more likely to get shot at first, but he added they didn’t have to do any other jobs such as kitchen duty.
“Everybody wanted that job,” remarked Gram.
Wright has been doing reenactments of one type or another since the 1960s when he began portraying Civil War-era soldiers.
“It gives you a sense of history,” he said, adding that reenacting gave him a glimpse into what it was like for the soldiers of the time.
He said he got into the Napoleonic Wars because of the challenges of trying to recreate the era and it’s uniforms.
The uniforms of that time were extremely colorful and decorative.
“It was the height of military fashion,” said Gram.
Both men said that the hobby can be expensive, with a infantry “kit,” or uniform and the accompanying gear, costing around $4,000 and a cavalry kit costing as much as $20,000.
An obsession with detail also seems to be part of the attraction. Gram’s helmet had a plume that can only be gotten in France and was made of the neck feathers of a rooster. Wright’s uniform had similar handmade accouterments.
The battle was a riot of color and sounds and included reenactors representing the French 7th Hussars; the 3rd regiment of Cuirassiers — the heavy cavalry; the 3rd Infantry; the 21st Regiment of the Line; the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard; Russia’s Kiev Grenadiers; Britain’s 95th Rifles and Austria’s Infanterie Regiment Nr. 7 Baron von Schroder.
The reenactment ended with a truce Sunday. In the actual battle, which lasted over nine hours, Napoleon’s army routed the coalition troops.
According to Gram the French troops were allowing the coalition forces to win the day.
“We had our victory parade yesterday,” he said
The event, said Gram, was more to show the public what it would have been like at a battle more than a complete recreation of the actual events, pointing out that the field they were fighting in was far different from the actual site. “There were heights...forested areas...swamps,” he said.
Besides the battle there was also a camp, showing how the soldiers and camp followers lived, ate and slept.
Irene Klapper, from Milwaukee, Wis., was there representing a Vivandière, or canteen keeper. She said that all the women attached to Napoleon’s army would have had paid positions as cooks or seamstresses.
Klapper’s entire family is involved in Napoleonic reenacting, from her husband and son, who portray soldiers, to her and her daughter.
She said the worst part of what she does is the heat. “The men wear wool,” she said. “And the women have a lot of layers.”
The event was presented by the Austerlitz Historical Society and was held at the Old Austerlitz Village, which showcases a number of old buildings dating from 1794 to 1840.
Austerlitz was named after the battle but was originally supposed to be called New Ulm, possibly after the city Ulm located in southwest Germany.
Connie Mondel, from the historical society, said it was eighth U. S. President Martin Van Buren who championed the name Austerlitz in 1818 while he was a New York state senator.
“He was an admirer of Napoleon,” she said. “And he was upset that a town in Seneca County was named Waterloo. He was angry about it being named after a losing battle.”
At Waterloo Bonaparte was crushed by the British. Mondel said Van Buren wanted a town named after one of Bonaparte’s victories.
She said that they held the event at the village in order to relate the story of how Austerlitz got its name.
“It’s helping to get people to appreciate the town’s history,” she said.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
The man who shaped European politics for a generation and ruled France as Emperor from 1804 to 1815 bested a coalition of Russian and Austrian troops at the battle. Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, he rose to prominence as a military leader, but would die in exile on another island, St. Helena, in 1821.
On both Saturday and Sunday men, women and children — all in period costume — from around the country and Canada came together to bring to life the battle and the quieter moments of camp life.
Erik Gram, portraying a French Corporal from the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the line came in from the Montreal area for the event.
According to Gram, people had come from as far away as Florida and north of Toronto — with horses in tow in the case of the Canadians — for the two-day event.
“It’s a great gathering,” he said. “We all love it. It’s great opportunity to catch up with each other.”
Rick Wright, who came up from Richmond, Va., portrayed a Sapper, also with the 3rd Line.
He said his job, as a “combat engineer” was to remove impediments to the troops’ movements such as fences, with the large ax he was carrying. He said Sappers would be out in front of the line and thus were more likely to get shot at first, but he added they didn’t have to do any other jobs such as kitchen duty.
“Everybody wanted that job,” remarked Gram.
Wright has been doing reenactments of one type or another since the 1960s when he began portraying Civil War-era soldiers.
“It gives you a sense of history,” he said, adding that reenacting gave him a glimpse into what it was like for the soldiers of the time.
He said he got into the Napoleonic Wars because of the challenges of trying to recreate the era and it’s uniforms.
The uniforms of that time were extremely colorful and decorative.
“It was the height of military fashion,” said Gram.
Both men said that the hobby can be expensive, with a infantry “kit,” or uniform and the accompanying gear, costing around $4,000 and a cavalry kit costing as much as $20,000.
An obsession with detail also seems to be part of the attraction. Gram’s helmet had a plume that can only be gotten in France and was made of the neck feathers of a rooster. Wright’s uniform had similar handmade accouterments.
The battle was a riot of color and sounds and included reenactors representing the French 7th Hussars; the 3rd regiment of Cuirassiers — the heavy cavalry; the 3rd Infantry; the 21st Regiment of the Line; the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard; Russia’s Kiev Grenadiers; Britain’s 95th Rifles and Austria’s Infanterie Regiment Nr. 7 Baron von Schroder.
The reenactment ended with a truce Sunday. In the actual battle, which lasted over nine hours, Napoleon’s army routed the coalition troops.
According to Gram the French troops were allowing the coalition forces to win the day.
“We had our victory parade yesterday,” he said
The event, said Gram, was more to show the public what it would have been like at a battle more than a complete recreation of the actual events, pointing out that the field they were fighting in was far different from the actual site. “There were heights...forested areas...swamps,” he said.
Besides the battle there was also a camp, showing how the soldiers and camp followers lived, ate and slept.
Irene Klapper, from Milwaukee, Wis., was there representing a Vivandière, or canteen keeper. She said that all the women attached to Napoleon’s army would have had paid positions as cooks or seamstresses.
Klapper’s entire family is involved in Napoleonic reenacting, from her husband and son, who portray soldiers, to her and her daughter.
She said the worst part of what she does is the heat. “The men wear wool,” she said. “And the women have a lot of layers.”
The event was presented by the Austerlitz Historical Society and was held at the Old Austerlitz Village, which showcases a number of old buildings dating from 1794 to 1840.
Austerlitz was named after the battle but was originally supposed to be called New Ulm, possibly after the city Ulm located in southwest Germany.
Connie Mondel, from the historical society, said it was eighth U. S. President Martin Van Buren who championed the name Austerlitz in 1818 while he was a New York state senator.
“He was an admirer of Napoleon,” she said. “And he was upset that a town in Seneca County was named Waterloo. He was angry about it being named after a losing battle.”
At Waterloo Bonaparte was crushed by the British. Mondel said Van Buren wanted a town named after one of Bonaparte’s victories.
She said that they held the event at the village in order to relate the story of how Austerlitz got its name.
“It’s helping to get people to appreciate the town’s history,” she said.
To reach reporter Andrew Amelinckx call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2267 or e-mail aamelinckx@registerstar.com
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