Dominique Vandamme

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General Dominique-Joseph René Vandamme (Cassel, 5 November 1770 - Cassel, 15 July 1830) was a French military officer, who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He was a brutal and violent soldier, renowned for insubordination and looting. Napoleon once said to him, "If I had two of you, the only solution would be to have one hang the other." He also said that were he, Napoleon, to launch a campaign against Lucifer in Hell, then he would give Vandamme command of the vanguard.

At the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793 he was a Brigadier General. He was court-martialled for looting and suspended. Reinstated, he fought at the First Battle of Stockach on March 25, 1799, but disagreement with General Jean Moreau led to his being sent to occupation duties in Holland.

At the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 he led the charge that recaptured the Pratzen Heights.

In the campaign of 1809, he fought in the battles of Abensberg, Landshut, Eckmuhl and Wagram, where he was wounded.

In the campaign of 1813 Vandamme's division was encircled by the Prussian General Kleist at Kulm and 13,000 men were captured, including Vandamme himself. Taken to Tsar Alexander I of Russia, Vandamme was accused of looting, but is alleged to have replied, "I am neither a plunderer nor a brigand but in any case, my contemporaries and history will not reproach me for having soaked my hands in the blood of my father." (An allusion to the murder of Paul I of Russia.)

In the campaign of 1815 he was in command of the 3rd Corps, under the direction of Marshal Grouchy. He urged Grouchy to join Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, but Grouchy preferred to pursue the Prussian 3rd Corps under General Johann von Thielmann, winning the Battle of Wavre, but losing the war.

After the restoration of Louis XVIII of France Vandamme was exiled to America, but he was allowed to return in 1819.

[edit] References

• Alistair Horne, How far from Austerlitz, Macmillan, 1996.