Napoleon in the Desert:
The French Balloon Brigade

When the Army of the Orient set out for Egypt in 1798, the Directory — France’s revolutionary government — made sure to include their favorite unit, the First Brigade of Aeronautics.

This “brigade” consisted of a fanatic inventor, J.M.M. Coutelle, and included the chemist Antoine Lavoisier among the science contingent. With a number of handlers and other laboring types, the savants were able to launch a tethered balloon named L’Entreprement at the battle of Fleurus in 1794 and use it to observe Dutch/Austrian movements. Coutelle spotted for French artillery and even floated over enemy lines, earning praise from the army and the government. The Austrians lodged a formal protest that use of balloons violated the rules of war, and Austrian sharpshooters tried to shoot down the craft. Coutelle played out more line and floated out of range.

Coutelle became a national hero. Lavoisier, unfortunately, had owned part of a private tax collection firm before the Revolution (one of the most hated aspects of the Old Regime) and paid for this loathsome investment with his head.

Three more balloons had joined the French order of battle by 1796. Napoleon requested that aerostiers be added to his force, and Coutelle’s men loaded their gear aboard French warships in Toulon. It’s not clear which of the French Army’s four balloons went to Egypt, but it was probably L’Entreprement. She was hydrogen-filled, and the unit’s gear included equipment to generate the gas.

Pierre Tetu-Brissy’s French air cavalry, 1798

The gear and the deflated L’Entreprement were still aboard ship when Horatio Nelson’ British fleet surprised the French at anchor in Aboukir Bay. All of the balloonists were ashore, but they recovered none of their equipment after the fleets’ destruction by the British. They joined up with Napoleon’s Institute of the Orient and helped the savants in their studies, and appear to have returned to France safely.

The balloon did not accompany the French army on its march to Cairo, but it could have with prompter unloading and organization of transport. Therefore, we’ve added the French balloon unit as a new counter available for free download here.

In game terms, the balloon unit is used only in the Pyramids and Alternate Pyramids scenarios. It is placed with the French Orient headquarters. If the French headquarters ever moves (including a retreat) the balloon unit is removed from play.

While the balloon is deployed, add two to the Orient headquarters’ command radius.
Austrian officers at Fleurus said their men feared the balloon and called it proof that Satan had allied himself to the French. It doubtless would have had similar effect on the Egyptians. Therefore, subtract one from the morale rating of all Mameluke units within eight areas of the balloon.

The Mamelukes may attempt to shoot down the balloon with artillery. Conduct a normal bombardment against the balloon. If a hit is obtained, roll one die again. If the result is a 6, the balloon explodes in spectacular fashion (this is a sack of hydrogen just like a little Hindenburg). The morale of all Mameluke units within eight areas of the balloon is increased by one for the next two turns, and the morale of all French units within eight areas of the balloon is decreased by one for the next two turns.

The balloon is part of the Orient headquarters for victory purposes (there is no additional step loss recorded for shooting it down or forcing its removal from play).