French General. He is credited with saving Napoleon's Grand Army from complete destruction during its disastrous retreat from Russia in 1812. The son of a French Army officer, he joined the army in 1793 and was commissioned as an officer two years later.
Rising rapidly through the ranks, he served in northern Germany, and commanded an artillery brigade at Austerlitz in 1805 before becoming governor of Magdeburg in 1806 and Minister of War for Westphalia in 1808. In 1809 he was assigned to Spain serving in the army of Marshal Masséna where he commanded the French artillery at Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida. In 1811 he was put in command of the Dutch Pontoon bridge builders for the Grande Armée which Napoleon was assembling for his invasion of Russia. He soon realized that he had inherited a rag-tag collection of boatmen, yet in less than a year he had turned them into a disciplined, highly trained and skilled force who would soon prove indispensable. In addition to training, he issued his builders specialized tools and equipment, the most notable of which were the mobile wagon-mounted forges, that could quickly make any needed but unavailable metal parts or items. As the French Army retreated from Moscow in 1812, Napoleon ordered the mobile forges to be destroyed but Eblé went against his orders and kept the vital equipment intact. In hindsight, his decision proved to be vital, as the Russians were bearing down when the French Army arrived at the Berezina River and were trapped, with no way to cross. His men worked feverishly in dangerously frigid water to complete the bridges in time to escape. However, the overall campaign severely impacted his health and he died shortly afterward at the age of 54.
Rising rapidly through the ranks, he served in northern Germany, and commanded an artillery brigade at Austerlitz in 1805 before becoming governor of Magdeburg in 1806 and Minister of War for Westphalia in 1808. In 1809 he was assigned to Spain serving in the army of Marshal Masséna where he commanded the French artillery at Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida. In 1811 he was put in command of the Dutch Pontoon bridge builders for the Grande Armée which Napoleon was assembling for his invasion of Russia. He soon realized that he had inherited a rag-tag collection of boatmen, yet in less than a year he had turned them into a disciplined, highly trained and skilled force who would soon prove indispensable. In addition to training, he issued his builders specialized tools and equipment, the most notable of which were the mobile wagon-mounted forges, that could quickly make any needed but unavailable metal parts or items. As the French Army retreated from Moscow in 1812, Napoleon ordered the mobile forges to be destroyed but Eblé went against his orders and kept the vital equipment intact. In hindsight, his decision proved to be vital, as the Russians were bearing down when the French Army arrived at the Berezina River and were trapped, with no way to cross. His men worked feverishly in dangerously frigid water to complete the bridges in time to escape. However, the overall campaign severely impacted his health and he died shortly afterward at the age of 54.
French General. He is credited with saving Napoleon's Grand Army from complete destruction during its disastrous retreat from Russia in 1812. The son of a French Army officer, he joined the army in 1793 and was commissioned as an officer two years later.
Rising rapidly through the ranks, he served in northern Germany, and commanded an artillery brigade at Austerlitz in 1805 before becoming governor of Magdeburg in 1806 and Minister of War for Westphalia in 1808. In 1809 he was assigned to Spain serving in the army of Marshal Masséna where he commanded the French artillery at Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida. In 1811 he was put in command of the Dutch Pontoon bridge builders for the Grande Armée which Napoleon was assembling for his invasion of Russia. He soon realized that he had inherited a rag-tag collection of boatmen, yet in less than a year he had turned them into a disciplined, highly trained and skilled force who would soon prove indispensable. In addition to training, he issued his builders specialized tools and equipment, the most notable of which were the mobile wagon-mounted forges, that could quickly make any needed but unavailable metal parts or items. As the French Army retreated from Moscow in 1812, Napoleon ordered the mobile forges to be destroyed but Eblé went against his orders and kept the vital equipment intact. In hindsight, his decision proved to be vital, as the Russians were bearing down when the French Army arrived at the Berezina River and were trapped, with no way to cross. His men worked feverishly in dangerously frigid water to complete the bridges in time to escape. However, the overall campaign severely impacted his health and he died shortly afterward at the age of 54.
Rising rapidly through the ranks, he served in northern Germany, and commanded an artillery brigade at Austerlitz in 1805 before becoming governor of Magdeburg in 1806 and Minister of War for Westphalia in 1808. In 1809 he was assigned to Spain serving in the army of Marshal Masséna where he commanded the French artillery at Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida. In 1811 he was put in command of the Dutch Pontoon bridge builders for the Grande Armée which Napoleon was assembling for his invasion of Russia. He soon realized that he had inherited a rag-tag collection of boatmen, yet in less than a year he had turned them into a disciplined, highly trained and skilled force who would soon prove indispensable. In addition to training, he issued his builders specialized tools and equipment, the most notable of which were the mobile wagon-mounted forges, that could quickly make any needed but unavailable metal parts or items. As the French Army retreated from Moscow in 1812, Napoleon ordered the mobile forges to be destroyed but Eblé went against his orders and kept the vital equipment intact. In hindsight, his decision proved to be vital, as the Russians were bearing down when the French Army arrived at the Berezina River and were trapped, with no way to cross. His men worked feverishly in dangerously frigid water to complete the bridges in time to escape. However, the overall campaign severely impacted his health and he died shortly afterward at the age of 54.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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