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The 85ème de Ligne is a unit,
recreating a French infantry regiment of Napoleon's Grande Armée
that traces its roots back to 1690. Our unit recreates the period
between 1812 and 1815, by which time the 85ème were classed as a
veteran regiment, serving in the Premier Corps of the Grande Armée
under the Iron Marshal Louis Nicholas Davout.
We are a new regiment, but the core of our members has come from one
of the oldest re-enactment regiments in Europe. This experience
enables us to recreate the battlefield tactics of the period.
Within the 85ème de Ligne, there are ample opportunities for roles
and functions. We are not just a battle re-enactment unit, but a
living history unit. This means that we focus on recreating the
everyday life of soldiers and women in the Napoleonic.
Of course, these tactics, and the drill required for them, will form
a large part of our camp life - as it did in that period. However,
we also try and relive other aspects of their daily live, like
cooking, maintenance of clothes and equipment, period games and
songs, medical practice of the period etc...
In the field, there are four different roles one could take up:
Becoming a soldier
You will become part of the 1ère Compagnie of the 1er Bataillon. The
main focus will be the military life, with drill, arms, uniform and
equipment maintenance, but there will be plenty of time for the
other aspects of a fusilier's everyday life.
Batterie des Tambours Becoming a drummer or fifer. Most of your time
will be shared with the soldiers and NCOs of your compagnie, but you
will spend a good deal of your time in the École du tambour
(literally: Drummer's school) getting to know the various songs and
batteries (drum calls) of the period - that will help structure your
compagnie's everyday life, and will help them to perform the
manoeuvres on the battlefield by relaying the orders from the
officers and NCOs.
Détachment du Service de Santé (3ème Compagnie des Infirmiers)
Becoming an infirmier. Infirmiers were the medical orderlies of the
era. Again, most of your time will be spent with the other soldiers
and NCOs, but you will also be taught authentic first aid methods
and will become familiar with medical practice and medicin from the
period - perhaps even get the chance to perform battlefield
operations or help set up a field hospital! You will be part of the
3ème Compagnie des Infirmiers of the Service de Santé.
Camp followers (Blanchisseusses, enfants de troupe, etc...)
Become a civilian camp follower in the regiment;
(cantinier or cantinière, blanchisseusse (wash women), vivandiers
and vivandières, enfants de troupe, etc... )
Camp followers are a highly valued side to our regiment, and there
are various roles to be filled. They were often wives and children
of the soldats and NCOs, and would perform many of the daily chores
for their men (cooking, washing, ...). Vivandiers et vivandièrs were
businessmen and women, selling drink, tobacco, candles, buttons,
vinegar, etc. to the troops. Enfants de troupe were children under
16 of the men and women of the regiment, and as they were too young
to take the field, they would still get acquainted to military life.
All these roles and functions are in principle open to anyone that
is suitable for them and we do allow women to become soldiers in the
ranks, as well as camp followers.
Research department
Off the field we also have a research department. These guys do not
take the field with us, but do lots of studying and research, so
that our unit looks even better, and our gear is as authentic as
possible.
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