General Antoine Richepanse

Richepanse's name is sometimes spelled Richepance. With his father serving in a regiment of dragoons, Antoine Richepanse was close to the military his entire life. Becoming an adopted child of a cavalry regiment of Conti at age 4, by the time he was 15 he had joined a regiment of chasseurs. The Revolution brought many promotions for him, in 1791 he was a sous-lieutenant, the next year a lieutenant, and in 1793 a captain. In the middle of 1794, he was promoted to chef d'escadrons of the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval and serving in the Army of the Sambre and Meuse.

On June 1, 1796 Richepanse received a promotion to chef de brigade. Three days later he was wounded by a saber blow at the Battle of Altenkirchen, but rewarded afterwards by Kléber with a promotion to general de brigade, having been a chef de brigade for only three days. Continuing to fight despite his wound, he helped protect the retreat at the combat of Wetzlar and also fought at Uckerath. In July he joined Lefebvre's division and served at Friedberg, and a month later was wounded by another saber blow during a cavalry skirmish at Strullensdorf.

In April of 1797 General Richepanse took command of the chasseurs à cheval of the Army of the Sambre and Meuse under Lefebvre. After assisting with the crossing of the Rhine at Neuwied, he charged the enemy at Bendorf and seized Frankfurt. Service in the Army of Italy and the Army of the Greater Alps followed, and in September of 1799 he was serving in Grenier's corps. Two months later General Championnet promoted Richepanse on the battlefield at Fossano for his excellent leadership.

Throughout the year 1800, Richepanse's talents shone. In April he took command of the 3rd Divison of Moreau's corps, and led them into action at Engen, Moesskirch, and Biberach. From June to November he commanded the left corps of the army, and in this time he was victorious at Güttenzell and invested Ulm. That November he took command of the 2nd Division of Moreau's corps, and his improvised attacks and audacity at Hohenlinden is considered to be the decisive factor contributing to the French victory. In the following weeks, he proved himself again, victorious at Herdorf, Strasswabchen, Frankenmarkt, Schwannstadt, and Lambach.

The peace that followed brought about administrative positions for Richepanse. In March of 1802 he was appointed the Governor General of Guadeloupe. The next month he set sail from Brest, but unfortunately in less than six months he was dead from illness.

Sources:

Arnold, James R. Marengo and Hohenlinden: Napoleon's Rise to Power. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Military, 1999.

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

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