Alphonse Dugenne: Difference between revisions
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He entered the [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr]] in 1859 and began his military career. |
He entered the [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr]] in 1859 and began his military career. |
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Dugenne was successively appointed corporal in October 1860, second lieutenant in October 1861 in the 2nd Foreign Regiment, lieutenant in October 1866, he moved on April 10, 1867 |
Dugenne was successively appointed corporal in October 1860, second lieutenant in October 1861 in the 2nd Foreign Regiment, lieutenant in October 1866, and he moved on April 10, 1867 to the [[:fr:81e régiment d'infanterie|81st Infantry Regiment]]. He was promoted to captain in March 1870 and served from November 20, 1870 in the [[:fr:52e régiment d'infanterie|52nd Infantry Regiment]]. On December 18, he became senior battalion commander of the ''[[Garde mobile]] de la [[Haute-Loire]]'', moved to the 21st Provisional Regiment on April 13, 1871, and was laid off by redundancy on May 29, 1871. Appointed Captain on November 31, 1871, he served from April 23, 1872 at [[:fr:64e régiment d'infanterie|64th Infantry Regiment]] and then from February 17, 1873 as part of the [[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1st Foreign Regiment]]. He was promoted to Battalion commander on November 28, 1878 in the [[:fr:19e régiment d'infanterie (France)|19th Infantry Regiment]], then moved to the [[:fr:2e régiment de zouaves|2nd Zouaves Regiment]] on June 14, 1879, and was appointed Battalion Commander of the {{illm|1st Battalion of Chasseurs of Pied|fr|1er bataillon de chasseurs à pied}} on August 22, 1882 . |
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He was then appointed on May 22, 1884, to the [[Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa|2nd African Light Infantry Battalion]], |
He was then appointed on May 22, 1884, to the [[Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa|2nd African Light Infantry Battalion]], arriving in [[Tonkin]] in 1884.<ref name="Revue"/> At the beginning of June, he caused bloody losses to the bands of pirates around the Dong Trien. He received four wounds in Hong-Hoa. On March 29, 1885, he became Lieutenant Colonel in the [[107th Infantry Regiment (France)|107th Infantry Regiment]], then on February 6, 1886, in the [[:fr:11e régiment d'infanterie|11th Infantry Regiment]] and on February 10, 1886, in the [[:fr:51e régiment d'infanterie|51st Infantry Regiment]]. On February 10, 1886, he served in the 11th Infantry Regiment then on July 1, 1887 he was appointed Colonel in the [[17th Infantry Regiment (France)|17th Infantry Regiment]] then again in the [[:fr:88e régiment d'infanterie|88th Infantry Regiment]]. |
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===Bắc Lệ Ambush=== |
===Bắc Lệ Ambush=== |
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[[File:Bac_Le_Ambush.jpeg|thumb|left|The Bac Lé ambush]] |
[[File:Bac_Le_Ambush.jpeg|thumb|left|The Bac Lé ambush]] |
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On June 23, at the head of a column of 800 French troops, Dugenne headed for [[Langson]], which he was ordered to occupy according to the [[Convention of Tientsin]] of June 3, 1884.<ref name="Revue"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=French occupation of China|url=http://hamlinharkins.com/wn7s4sm8/french-occupation-of-china|website=hamlinharkins.com|access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> He then encountered several thousand Chinese who opposed his passage. Dugenne sends a parliamentarian bearing a letter announcing that, having no order, he asks the commander of the French column to have one given to him by [[Peking]]. |
On June 23, at the head of a column of 800 French troops, Dugenne headed for [[Langson]], which he was ordered to occupy, according to the [[Convention of Tientsin]] of June 3, 1884.<ref name="Revue"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=French occupation of China|url=http://hamlinharkins.com/wn7s4sm8/french-occupation-of-china|website=hamlinharkins.com|access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> He then encountered several thousand Chinese who opposed his passage. Dugenne sends a parliamentarian bearing a letter announcing that, having no order, he asks the commander of the French column to have one given to him by [[Peking]]. |
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Dugenne, who was described as an energetic character, very hot-tempered, tall, thin, sanguine and bilious, unfit for the slightest diplomacy |
Dugenne, who was described as an energetic character, very hot-tempered, tall, thin, sanguine and bilious, unfit for the slightest diplomacy but capable of breaking everything at the risk of breaking himself, reveals that he has orders to go to Langson and that, in three hours, he will continue on his way . |
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At the appointed time, he crossed the Song Thuong.<ref>Lecomte, J., ''Le guet-apens de Bac-Lé'' (Paris, 1890), p. 1–102</ref> The French then received on the opposite bank by a hail of Chinese bullets. Obliged to beat a retreat, he called Captain Maillard: |
At the appointed time, he crossed the Song Thuong.<ref>Lecomte, J., ''Le guet-apens de Bac-Lé'' (Paris, 1890), p. 1–102</ref> The French then received on the opposite bank by a hail of Chinese bullets. Obliged to beat a retreat, he called Captain Maillard: |
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When night came, on an improvised table, by the light of a lantern, under a hail of Chinese bullets, Dugenne wrote a dispatch to the general-in-chief; the despatch finished and the meal taken, the colonel takes the lantern and places it under his seat, saying: "You have been shooting at the head long enough, brigands, so shoot now." |
When night came, on an improvised table, by the light of a lantern, under a hail of Chinese bullets, Dugenne wrote a dispatch to the general-in-chief; the despatch finished and the meal taken, the colonel takes the lantern and places it under his seat, saying: "You have been shooting at the head long enough, brigands, so shoot now." |
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It was Lieutenant of the Marine Infantry Bailly, in charge of optical telegraphy, who was instructed to try, from a hill on the left bank, to warn Hanoi of the situation of the column. |
It was Lieutenant of the Marine Infantry Bailly, in charge of optical telegraphy, who was instructed to try, from a hill on the left bank, to warn Hanoi of the situation of the column. The light caught the attention of the Chinese who rained a hail of bullets down the hill, but salvo fires made them believe that it is occupied by important forces and so, they did not attack, which enabled the audacious volunteers to regain the bulk of the column safe and sound, and could continue their retreat without being disturbed too much. The forces then arrived at Cau-son on June 30. |
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===Final Years=== |
===Final Years=== |
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Revision as of 14:50, 1 May 2022
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Alphonse Dugenne | |
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| Born | February 10, 1841 Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France |
| Died | December 20, 1887 (aged 46) Phủ Lạng Thương, Tonkin, French Indochina |
| Allegiance |  Second French Empire French Third Republic |
| Branch | French Army |
| Years of service | 1859 – 1887 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles / wars | Second French intervention in Mexico Franco-Prussian War Tonkin Campaign |
| Alma mater | École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr |
Alphonse Jules Alexandre Dugenne was a French colonel who was known for leading the Bắc Lệ ambush during the Tonkin Campaign. His efforts earned the decorations of officer and knight of the Legion of Honour.[1][2]
Biography
Alphonse was born on February 10, 1841,[1] in the Basses-Pyrénées department as the son of Alexandre-Louis Dugenne, the editor of the Mémorial des Pyrénées, and great-grandson of Elie-François Dugenne.
He entered the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1859 and began his military career.
Dugenne was successively appointed corporal in October 1860, second lieutenant in October 1861 in the 2nd Foreign Regiment, lieutenant in October 1866, and he moved on April 10, 1867 to the 81st Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to captain in March 1870 and served from November 20, 1870 in the 52nd Infantry Regiment. On December 18, he became senior battalion commander of the Garde mobile de la Haute-Loire, moved to the 21st Provisional Regiment on April 13, 1871, and was laid off by redundancy on May 29, 1871. Appointed Captain on November 31, 1871, he served from April 23, 1872 at 64th Infantry Regiment and then from February 17, 1873 as part of the 1st Foreign Regiment. He was promoted to Battalion commander on November 28, 1878 in the 19th Infantry Regiment, then moved to the 2nd Zouaves Regiment on June 14, 1879, and was appointed Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion of Chasseurs of Pied on August 22, 1882 .
He was then appointed on May 22, 1884, to the 2nd African Light Infantry Battalion, arriving in Tonkin in 1884.[1] At the beginning of June, he caused bloody losses to the bands of pirates around the Dong Trien. He received four wounds in Hong-Hoa. On March 29, 1885, he became Lieutenant Colonel in the 107th Infantry Regiment, then on February 6, 1886, in the 11th Infantry Regiment and on February 10, 1886, in the 51st Infantry Regiment. On February 10, 1886, he served in the 11th Infantry Regiment then on July 1, 1887 he was appointed Colonel in the 17th Infantry Regiment then again in the 88th Infantry Regiment.
Bắc Lệ Ambush
On June 23, at the head of a column of 800 French troops, Dugenne headed for Langson, which he was ordered to occupy, according to the Convention of Tientsin of June 3, 1884.[1][3] He then encountered several thousand Chinese who opposed his passage. Dugenne sends a parliamentarian bearing a letter announcing that, having no order, he asks the commander of the French column to have one given to him by Peking.
Dugenne, who was described as an energetic character, very hot-tempered, tall, thin, sanguine and bilious, unfit for the slightest diplomacy but capable of breaking everything at the risk of breaking himself, reveals that he has orders to go to Langson and that, in three hours, he will continue on his way .
At the appointed time, he crossed the Song Thuong.[4] The French then received on the opposite bank by a hail of Chinese bullets. Obliged to beat a retreat, he called Captain Maillard:
You are going, with your men, to stand in the rear. You won't be joining me for two hours. At 4 o'clock Maillard rejoined the main body, which had recrossed the river and was encamped on the right bank, bringing back a third of its men.
When night came, on an improvised table, by the light of a lantern, under a hail of Chinese bullets, Dugenne wrote a dispatch to the general-in-chief; the despatch finished and the meal taken, the colonel takes the lantern and places it under his seat, saying: "You have been shooting at the head long enough, brigands, so shoot now."
It was Lieutenant of the Marine Infantry Bailly, in charge of optical telegraphy, who was instructed to try, from a hill on the left bank, to warn Hanoi of the situation of the column. The light caught the attention of the Chinese who rained a hail of bullets down the hill, but salvo fires made them believe that it is occupied by important forces and so, they did not attack, which enabled the audacious volunteers to regain the bulk of the column safe and sound, and could continue their retreat without being disturbed too much. The forces then arrived at Cau-son on June 30.
Final Years
Dugenne was later recalled to France in September. He was sent to Formosa at the beginning of 1885 and returned to Tonkin.
He was appointed colonel in July 1887, he commanded the marching regiment of the French Foreign Legion and the circle of the 11th military region.[5] He returned to France in May 1887, passing his command to Commander Diguet.
He then returned again to Tonkin after a brief visit to France and he died during a column of operations between the Song Thuong and the Song Cau against the caï Kinh le December 20, 1887.
His name in the region was formidable to bands of Chinese irregulars and Annamese rebels.
He died in a column, from the rupture of an aneurysm, a few kilometers north of Tin-Dao in the territory of Monkay on December 20, 1887. He was buried in Phu Lang Thuong .
References
- ^ a b c d Revue des Basses-Pyrénées et des Landes: partie non-historique (in French). Vol. 4. Harvard University. 1887. p. 411. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ "Recherche - Base de données Léonore". www.culture.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
- ^ "French occupation of China". hamlinharkins.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- ^ Lecomte, J., Le guet-apens de Bac-Lé (Paris, 1890), p. 1–102
- ^ Ministère de la guerre (1878). Annuaire officiel de l'armée française (in French). UC Southern Regional Library Facility. p. 213. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- People from Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
- French military personnel of the Second French intervention in Mexico
- French military personnel of the Franco-Prussian War
- French military personnel of the Sino-French War
- People of the Tonkin campaign
- 1841 births
- 1887 deaths
- Officiers of the Légion d'honneur
- Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur