The French Revolution abolished mercenary troops in its citizen army but Napoleon used them. The Swiss served loyally so long as they were paid regularly. There was saying "No money, no Swiss." The Swiss infantrymen were well trained and disiplined. Their musket volleys were perfectly controlled, their shots well aimed. French General Merle said: "It was pity that the Swiss couldn't handle two muskets at once, if they only could he would issue them". Marshal Lannes was titular colonel of the Swiss troops in the French service. The Swiss served Napoleon and France well.
The first regiment was created by decree of March 15, 1805. The 1er and 2e battalions are formed from the third demi-brigade Helvetic, the 3eme Battalion formed with the 1st half-brigade and the 4e Battalion with the 2nd brigade. The regiment was assigned to the Army of Italy. The 4e battalion was detached to the Army of Naples beginning in 1806, joined by three others at the end of that year. The regiment left Italy to Strasbourg late 1811 and joined the Grand Army in March 1812. They participated in the Russian campaign in the II Corps (Marshal Oudinot).
In September 1805, 3 e and 4 e battalions were attached to the reserve army of Italy. It was commissioned by St. Cyr, was responsible for the blockade of Venice, defended by an Austro-Hungarian garrison. The 4 th Swiss battalion reinforced the division of General Reynier, 7,000 men strong. November 22, 1805, the French commander in chief told the Austrian division attempting to join the troops stuck in Venice approach. It included eight infantry battalions, 12 cavalry squadrons and 12 guns, between 5,000 and 7,000 men, commanded by the Prince of Rohan. St. Cyr divided his army into three parts. A division continued to besiege Venice, Reynier division marched to meet the enemy, while the Reserve Polish troops led by the French General himself, maneuvered to flank the enemy from the right. The clash took place on November 24, 1805, at Castel Franco, about fifty kilometers from Venice, in a field of cut hedges. Initially, the division fought Reynier only the troops of Prince Rohan. The 4 th Battalion found violently attacked by the enemy and had to be reinforced by a French battalion.
The fate of the battle was sealed when troops led by St. Cyr appeared on the Austro-Hungarian rear. They had to solve to capitulate after unsuccessfully attempting to identify by their cavalry charge. Eugène de Beauharnais, then Viceroy of Italy, later praised the behavior of Swiss soldiers in battle by describing them as effective and fearless |  | 14 Battles:
1805 - Trafalgar and Castel-Franco,
1806 - Sainte-Euphemie and Rogliano,
1807 - Rolonda, Sainte-Euphemie, Sainte-Ambrosio and Capri,
1809 - Capri,
1812 - Willia, Polotsk, Beresina and Wilna
1813 - Breme |
