General Louis Lepic

Lepic often suffered from arthritis, and received treatment regularly from Dr. Larrey. On the morning of the Battle of Eylau, Larrey assisted Lepic so he could fight in the battle. Waiting for their moment to shine in the battle, Lepic's cavalry was bombarded by artillery and he shouted out to his men, "Heads up, by God! Those are bullets, not turds!" As the French left reeled backwards from a Russian attack and Larrey's hospital came into danger, Lepic led his cavalry to the rescue and drove the Russians back.

Part of the great charge of French cavalry that saved the day at Eylau, Lepic and his men penetrated too deeply and were unable to return to the French lines. As the Russians demanded that he surrender, he and his men cut their way back through the Russian line. The Emperor happily greeted him as he returned to the French line, and told Lepic that he had feared he would soon be receiving a report of Lepic's capture since it had taken so long for Lepic to return. Lepic responded, "The only report you shall ever receive will be of my death, not of my capture."

Sources:

Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars. London: Arms & Armour, 1998.

Richardson, Robert. Larrey: Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard. London: Quiller Press, 2000.

Ryan, Edward. Napoleon's Shield and Guardian: The Unconquerable General Daumesnil. London: Greenhill Books, 2003.

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Generaux & Amiraux Francais de la Revolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

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