II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée)
| II Cavalry Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1806, 1812-1815 |
| Country |
 First French Empire
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Cavalry Corps |
| Size | Two to four cavalry divisions |
| Engagements | Napoleonic Wars |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Jean-Baptiste Bessières Louis-Pierre Montbrun Horace François Sébastiani Antoine Decrest de Saint-Germain Rémi Joseph Isidore Exelmans |
II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée) was a French military formation during the Napoleonic Wars. It was first formed in December 1806, but only enjoyed a brief existence under Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières. The II Cavalry Corps was reconstituted for the French invasion of Russia in 1812 and commanded by General of Division Louis-Pierre Montbrun who was killed in battle, as was his successor a few hours later. In the War of the Sixth Coalition, General of Division Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta led the corps in 1813. General of Division Antoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain directed the corps in 1814. During the Hundred Days, Napoleon raised the corps again and entrusted it to General of Division Rémi Joseph Isidore Exelmans.
The II Cavalry Corps was formed on 16 December 1806 at the beginning of Emperor Napoleon's campaign in Poland. Placed under the command of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières, it operated with the northern wing of the French corps that advanced across the Vistula. The remainder of the army's reserve cavalry formed the I Cavalry Corps under Marshal Joachim Murat. The II Cavalry Corps included the 2nd Dragoon Division under General of Division Emmanuel Grouchy, the 4th Dragoon Division led by General of Division Louis Michel Antoine Sahuc, the 2nd Cuirassier Division commanded by General of Division Jean-Joseph Ange d'Hautpoul, and the light cavalry division of General of Division Jacques Louis François Delaistre de Tilly. The corps was dissolved on 12 January 1807. The only notable action occurred at Bieżuń on 23 December 1806. After Grouchy's division seized Bieżuń on 19 December, the Prussian commander General-Leutnant sent Major Karl Anton Stephan de La Roche-Aymon and several units to recover the town. Upon arrival, the Prussians found that the French cavalry had been reinforced by infantry and artillery. Grouchy immediately attacked and drove La Roche-Aymon toward Soldau (Działdowo). The French dragoons crowded a portion of the Prussian force against a swampy forest and forced the surrender of 500 men and five artillery pieces.
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