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Marie Angélique Joseph Duchemin (Brûlon)
(20.1.1772 - 13.7.1859)
"I am a woman, but I command men."
Picture 1,2: As a sous lieutenant (sub or second lieutenant) Angélique would have had two red lines running along the length of each of the epaulettes.
As is shown on the two pictures, the right epaulette would have had a fringe, while the left did not. On her breast she wears the Cross of Légion d'honneur and the medal of St. Helena. She is presented as a sous lieutenant in the uniform of veterans, which she wore during her stay in l'Hôtel national des Invalides also known as Les Invalides or l'Hôtel des Invalides.. It was also here, where she was promoted to become a sous lieutenant. Although her hair is represented in the two of her portraits as white, it was originally raven black.
Marie Angélique Joseph Duchemin (by marriage Brulon *1*) was born in a garrison at Saint-Malo, Dinan on 20th January 1772. Her father was a soldier in the 42nd regiment of infantry (regiment of foot) where he had served for 38 years, from 1757 till 1795. He was married at Havre. She also had two brothers who would later enter the service and die fighting. Her young years were spend with the garrison, where she must also have met her future husband, corporal André Brulon.
Angélique Duchemin and André Brulon married in Ajaccio on 9.7.1789. At the time of marriage she was 17 years of age. At the age of 18, she gave birth to their first child. In 1791 however their happiness ended with the death of André, killed during one of the battles at Ajaccio. By then he had served in the regiment for seven years. At the time of his death she had already lost her two brothers on the field of battle in Italy. It is said that she learned of her husband's death after the passing of three days and then wished and demanded to avenge it, while taking his uniform. André left behind two children, a boy and a girl. There is mention of her daughter in her years of stay at l'Hotel des Invalides, where Angélique is able to support her. Her daughter continues their line, with several later generations also in coming. Marie Angélique Joseph Duchemin, widow Brulon, never remarried.
Service: A year after André's death Angélique entered the regiment as a soldier and then after remained attached to it for seven years, from 1792 to 1799. It was General Casabianca (variations of the spelling possible) that allowed her to serve as a soldier, notwithstanding her sex. Due to her galant conduct in different campaigns she was soon promoted. She performed in seven campaigns. She is said to have been known also by the name of Liberté or Liberté the Fusilier, as nom de guerre. She rose from private soldier to corporal, sergeant and finally sergeant major during her time on the field.
- Gesco: At the Siege of Calvi the French had been blocked for 11 months, bombarded for 75 days. During the affair of fort Gesco on the 5th Priarial, 2.8. 1794, she filled the functions of sergeant. It was the following actions of this remarkable woman that brought relief to the garrison, and earned herself the cross of the Legion d'Honneur.
Before the event, which brought her the ode of heroism, she had been taking part in a battle at the fort of Gesco. Although proficient with sword and dagger in hand-to-hand combat, she received two wounds. One in each arm. First was a sabrecut to the right arm, while she still continued to fight with her dagger, second she received a cut from a stylet to her left arm.
Quoted as described by comerades in arms about the battle at Gesco:
"We, the undersigned, corporal and soldiers of the detachment of the 42nd Regiment in Garrison at Calvi, certify and attest that the 5th Prairial the year II, (year 1794,) citoyenne Angelique Marie Joseph Duchemin, widow Brulon, corporal-furier, performing the functions of sergeant, commanded us in the action at the fort of Gesco; that she fought with us with the courage of a heroine; that in an assault we were obliged to fight hand to hand; that she received a sabrecut in the right arm, and a moment after another from a stylet in the left; that finding we failed of ammunition, though severely wounded, she set out at midnight for Calvi, a mile and a half distant, where, by the courage and zeal of a true republican, she raised and charged with ammunition 60 women, whom she led to us, escorted by four men, which enabled us to repulse the enemy, and to preserve the fort; and that, in fine, we have only to congratulate ourselves upon our commander."
When learning that they were low on ammunition she decided to take action. Angélique, during an interview at l'Hotel des Invalides:
"I did not mind my wounds in each arm, nor did I fear the dark, but set out alone at midnight, evaded the guards, roused 60 starving women, and led them to the fort, which we reached at 2 o'clock, in the morning. We gave the women each half a pound of rice, which we all considered was an excellent bargain."
She loaded each woman with as much as she could carry, and led them back to fort. This action enabled their defense to last 48 hours longer, and possession of it was maintained.
- Calvi: Later when at Calvi all the cannoniers have been killed, the non commissioned officers were called to take their place to defend the bastion. It was here that she received a wound to her left leg which disabled her from any latter service. Her injury was recieved while aiming the 16 pounder whence a bomb had burst and damaged her left leg so horrendously that she was unable to continue with the fighting.
Summing up: "Cavalier Brulon (Angelique Marie Joseph) second lieutenant - seven years service - seven campaigns - three wounds - several times distinguished, particularly at Corsica, in defending the fort. 5th Prairial - year II (1794)."
Les Invalides: On the 24th Frimaire 1799, she was admitted into the l'Hospital des Invalides. When she entered Les Invalides, she was accepted not as a mother, sister or wife of a fallen man, but rather as a wounded soldier, thus becoming the first woman to be entered in the records of the Hospital as such. With her economy becoming better in the years that passed since her entering into Les Invalides and her receiving the title of sous lieutenant, she was able to establish her daughter and aid her grand children, great grand children and even a generation after that. Only once during her stay as Les Invalides, did she dress herself in the clothes of the female sex with the intention to amuse her grandchildren. On the contrary to the expectations however, the children did not find her change at all amusing. Instead they had burst into tears and begged and pleaded that she returns herself back in her uniform. Even as an old lady, while her hair had become more white, and only a few latecomers would still have been raven, she continued to hold a tone and manner of a commander. Her eyes were like that of an eagle, while her hand was feminine, but the manner in which she gestured with it had a masculine energy.
- Sous lieutenant: Although she ended her combat career as a sergeant-major, this was not to remain her status quo. She received from Louis XVIII an officer's commission and these words:
" This day October 2, 1822 the King being in Paris, having full confidence in the valour, good conduct, and fidelity of Madame Angélique Marie Duchemin, Widow Brulon, His Majesty has conferred upon her the honorary title of Sub Lieutenant of Invalides, to take from this day. His Majesty desires that his general and officers to whom it may appertain will recognise Madame Duchemin, Widow Brulon, in this capacity."
"Madame Brulon, military invalid, held the rank of sergeant before her entrance the hotel, has obtained from the bounties of king (Louis XVIII.) the honorable rank of lieutenant, and will be thus recognized on parade. The governor hastens to known, by means of this order, this new favor his majesty accorded to one who has herself so worthy of it by her excellent principles, her good sentiments and the high consideration which she enjoys at the hotel."
- Cross of Legion d' Honneur, Medal of Saint Helena:
Although her actions, which earned her the title of heroine and the cross of Legion d'Honneur were already concluded in the year 1794, it took a generous amount of time, before this was officially confirmed and the cross was received. It was therefore not Napoleon I but rather the III that had the honour of awarding her. Her nomination for the Legion d'Honneur, was announced in the Moniteur of 19.8.1851. Her name was written at the head of a long list of others, without any allusion to her sex.
Another source explains that it was the 15.8.1851 which was the date, on which Napoleon III had welcomed her into the order, to be the first woman to be receive the cross of the Legion d'honneur. In the year 1857 she also receives her medal of St. Helena.
Death: Marie Angélique Joseph Duchemin, widow Brulon, lived at Les Invalides untill her death and had been something of a celebrity during her stay there. She died on 13.7.1859 and was burried in Montparnasse. She was moved from there to Pére-Lachaise on 30.11.1865. Nothing remains of her at present time.
*1* I have found several variations of the name from the various sources. These are the few that I remember encountering:
Angélique (with e or é) Brulon (with u or û),
Widow Brulon,
Liberté or Liberté the fusilier,
Marie Angélique Duchemin, widow Brulon,
Marie Angélique Josephe (Joseph or Josephina) Duchemin
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Date: 2010-11-06 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-11-08 10:19 pm (UTC)