Osprey Men-at-Arms 211 : Napoleon's Overseas Army

When the French Revolution broke out on 14 July 1789, France had a number of colonies spread over three continents. They were not vast in territory, but their economic importance was appreciated and often envied. Nearly all owed their wealth to the exploitation of resources by slave labour and commerce. To defend and keep the peace in these territories, a small army of colonial troops, distinct from the metropolitan line regiments or marines, had existed since the days of Louis XIV. These troops were to be found in Saint-Domingue, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Lucia, Tobago, Ile-de-France, La Réunion, Pondichéry, Guiana, Senegal and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, and totalled 518 officers and 9.935 enlisted men of white troops, plus the 600-strong Sepoy battalion, a total of over 10,000 men. René Chartrand examines the history and uniform of Napoleon's overseas army, covering such topics as the profound repercussions of the Revolution in Saint-Domingue and the rise of Toussaint L'Ouverture, and the 1803 Indian Expedition's attempt to retake possession of French posts in India. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by Francis Back.

Contents

• Chronology
• French Colonial Troops in 1789
  The National Guards
  
• Turmoil and War
  Guadeloupe and the Windwars Islands to 1802
• Saint-Dominque
  The Rise of Toussaint L'Ouverture
  The Army of Toussaint L'Ouverture
  Napoleon's Expedition to Saint-Dominque
  Uniforms
  
• The Americas and Africa
  French Louisana
  French Guiana
  Senegal
  Martinique and Guadeloupe 1802-10
  
• India and the East-Indies
  The French East Indies to 1803
  The 1803 Indian Expedition
  The French East Indies 1803-11
  
• The Dutch Colonies
  Colonial Troops in France
  Guadeloupe 1815
  
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• The Plates