Here's an obit for LCOL Tournaire; I deleted the first couple of pages which was generic flowery stuff they probably put on many obits at that time in France. This is an imprefect Google translation:
Guillaume Tournaire, son of Jean-Baptiste-René and Marie-Ambroisine Costilhes, was born at Riom (Puy-de-Dome), July 5, 1790. At the age of 9, he had the misfortune of losing his father, but is fortunately endowed with a rare ability, was formed in a way itself by its application to serious studies and managed so that was admitted to the polytechnic school at the age of 18. It was at the time of the height of military glory of Napoleon lcon and France, while our victorious armies walked the imperial eagles from capital to capital, and threatened to extend their domination over Europe. Any youth coveted military career despite his fatigue and his own, or perhaps even because of the charm arising from a life surrounded adventures moving and likely to lead quickly to brighter fortunes. The young Tournaire , the noble and generous heart, then took, too, on leaving school, military career, and went to school for the application of artillery and engineers in Metz. There remained only one year and was incorporated as a second lieutenant in the 2 e Regiment of Foot Artillery, and as such separated and sent to the Army of Italy (December 1811). Two months after it. already seen first lieutenant on the shores of the Adriatic, having stationed at the beautiful Venice. In this position, he was not called to be part of the Grand Army of Russia, he had the misfortune to be virtually inactive, not to share the hardships and glorious enterprise of his brothers in arms; but it so providentially escaped the horrible disasters that inflicted setbacks to imperial eagles. After the terrible retreat from Moscow and the defection of the Allied Powers, the French army did more than defeat to defeat, and after the fatal battle of Leipzig, the tour had also come to the Lieutenant Tournaire to distinguish himself in the operations that Army Franco-itahenne had to be made towards the end of 1813, against the Austrians in their invasion of northern Italy, while Prince Eugene had barely had time to organize a fashion of his army observation.
The enemy from warped bridges across the Drava in Rosech, and having been covered by books on the right bank, the Viceroy decided to attack both the colon "and the Villach Rosech. The Austrians were forced derepasser Drava and destroying bridges. This is the fight that Rosech Tournaire was his first fire, he had the good fortune to distinguish them and thus win, the first case, the rank of first mate at the age of 23.
Eugene, seeing that the defection of Bavaria gave the heart of Italy to thank you of the Austrian armies, decided, after several defeats, to return to Italy, and his army retreated, leaving Trieste other major cities. Also have no hope of relief assets of France, he had to carry all his attention to the defense of the homeland. While the Italian army and continued his retreat to the Tagliamento, Tournaire , then aide of Prince Viceroy, was charged with driving a large convoy of ammunition to the destination of the Franco-Italian through the Tyrol and hostile populations. There was the greatest dangers to run, and he owed the success of his company to his prodigious activity and the affability of his character, qualities that made her aids the very people who were the cause of the most serious difficulties for the freedom of communications.
The Austrians fesaient further progress in Istria and Dalmatia, and the Franco-Italian army was pushed back on the Adige, where she gathered her forces to Roveredo. She then had some success: the division Rouger removed the entrenched positions of Vo, of Strazzina and Ala, our young captain had the honor to contribute to making this last stronghold.
But the left wing of the Austrians had already exceeded Vicenza, and threatened the rear of the army of Prince Eugene. A division of the enemy had already taken a position and Caldiero on the heights of Cologrola, and it was strongly entrenched, with the intention of attacking Verona and take the passage in front of the Adige. The prince viceroy determined to thwart the projects, by initiating the attacks, the victory was for him. Captain Tournaire at the battle of Caldiero, which cost the enemy fifteen hundred men out of action, nine hundred prisoners and two guns, the Franco-Italian did not lose in excess of five hundred men, it eleven thousand were brought against eighteen thousand Austrians.
But these few successes do not much advantage to our cause. The Austrians, whose forces were growing stronger by the day, continued to repress our army whose strength diminished daily. A body of Austrian and English landed into the mouths of the Po. The King of Naples is his army in motion and make arrangements hostile placed on the throne by Napoleon, Joachim Murat does not believe more then chained by the bonds of blood, nor by those of recognition: it takes to Ancona. The Austrians, meanwhile, finish to invade Dalmatia, Zara take, blocking Venice, and over the English make a landing on the coast of Tuscany.
On the other hand, the allied armies were doing their forward movement, from the Rhine into the high valleys of the Marne and Seine. Napoleon had placed himself at the head of the army united under Chalons, but in vain, France was defeated and his army withdrew to Troyes. While our troops evacuate Vitry and Chalons and fold successively Epernay, Chateau-Thierry, La Ferte-sousJouarre and Meaux, 1 st to February 10, 1814, Prince Viceroy of Italy, set on the Adige with about thirty- six thousand combatants, almost all new levies, had to face the strong Austrian army of about fifty-five thousand veteran troops. The Franco-Italian army was thus reduced to retire to the Mincio, where she could remain after having delivered a bloody battle, the Austrians lost nearly five thousand men out of action and two thousand prisoners, the loss of the French was valued at three thousand men. Tournaire took part in this battle was remarkable for the disposition of our troops, and had opportunity to deploy his courage and military skill. His good conduct led to his being named captain first.
But Murat had just resolved to not hide any longer, and his declaration of war meant to Prince Eugene. The French are forced to evacuate Tuscany and the Roman States. Pursued by the Neapolitans, however, they take an offensive les'environs in Parma, they deprive the enemy five hundred men, two guns and all the luggage, attack the city had already fallen into the hands of the enemy and resume; six hundred Austrians are killed, ten to eight hundred lay down their arms, and this number was a hundred Neapolitans who were sent to Joachim disarmed. It was at this decision of Parma as the last time the brave and jeunecapitaine Tournaire had opportunity to be courageous and unmoved in the fire. Occupying Parma, he had not to take part in the recent military events that were taking place in Italy, while the allied powers had already made their entry into Paris.
Prince Eugene, having finally learned the abdication of his father and the cease-fire concluded in Paris, treated the evacuation of Italy, and in the first days of May 1814, French troops had to cross the Alps , but not without throwing from the top of these mountains, a last sad look "on whose land eette independent" dance had been cemented by the shiny ar "and my. the blood of an entire generation of brave. " (Koch, campaign 1814); "
In this retreat, Captain Tournaire knew run with dedication and intelligence he had received the order to return to France with his equipment. His own authority, he disarmed the strong who found themselves on the road in Savoy, the material collected and preserved to his country and a considerable number of guns that led to Lyon.
Here ends sort of military life Tour 'Nair that it has a brilliant, glorious, and if his career was not completely broken when it was at least greatly stopped. A restoration of the Bourbons, the appointments of recent date has not been ratified, he was laid off with the rank of second captain, the captain was already there, and lost and gained the position on the field of battle, risking his life. But we do not let that six months in non-activity, and recalled to duty as first mate, he was appointed captain in the first final in 1820, and only 12 years later, in 1832, that he reached the rank of squadron leader. Was attached by three different times in the arms factory of St. Etienne, and finally as Deputy Director of the institution, its leaders were able to appreciate his varied knowledge and administrative talent , c ' which is designated to take him to the War Office the position of chief of staff of his weapon. He held this position for seven years distinguished, and that there was work to be completed in 1830 and subsequent years was now very considerable, because the reorganization of the army. The zeal with which the com principal Tournaire acquitted himself, certainly contributed to weaken his health for the rest of his life, but also of services rendered to the state, and that obligations owed him a crowd of officers; all those who have dealt with him, have become as many friends, and that their claims still could not achieve according to their desires. Successively appointed a Knight of St. Louis in 1826, and Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1831, he left the ministry in 1836 to take command of the artillery of Dieppe and its coastline, but because of his extensive knowledge of the workshop, he was immediately appointed director of the Foundry guns Douai. This has been under the administration of important developments, and manufacturing of guns many enhancements. Endowed with a remarkable aptitude for work, Tournaire left the foundry a lot of notes, reports and dissertations on various parts of the service of this establishment. On the indefatigable activity, there watching all by himself and needed the fatigue with less conscience he might have avoided. The committee artillery was able to recognize and appreciate this zeal, love the service, and he expressed his satisfaction by making an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1841, and spend Lieutenant Colonel in 1843.
Continuing to live the city of Douai , a hospitality so kindly to strangers and the colony, as he liked both the recall with gratitude, Colonel Tournaire , who never understood that right and duty it could not fail to make estimate for its excellent qualities, and the National Society of Central Agriculture, Science and Arts of the Northern Department, sitting at Douai , do not miss the opportunity to call in her womb . But as a result of another change of position, it ' could remain a member residing a short time, during which he found, however, * way to present a general notice on the Marion and some interesting reports to the standing committee Sciences Natural.
Promoted to colonel in 1846, he was called to the post of Director Colonel of artillery from the direction of Douai , where he left traces of his administrative skills. But the position of inspector of national foundries of France became vacant soon after, he was called by the government's confidence in his knowledge and experience. The retreat was to be achieved in July 1850, and had to retire in the Auvergne, the country he loved with passion, and where, to his entire family affections, he promised himself the pleasures of a good man , an excellent husband and father. But the good Tournaire, so he is known in the artillery, was unable to reach the sweet satisfaction. Always animated by an ardent zeal for work, and tireless when it came to services to be rendered, he finished exhausted in the last days of his stay in Paris, his health already so weakened and undermined by the disease. Its leaders, his friends, his family urged him worried in vain to save his failing strength, however, they managed to finally determine to take some rest in his native country. He went there, but instead to engage in that rest which was so necessary and so recommended, he let himself be carried away by the excitement of the work and he sacrificed his last days. Having occupied a lot of reforestation of the mountains, he would use his knowledge, and it is by visiting a forest belonging to him, and staying on horseback twice for eight consecutive hours, only two days apart, he was tired to the point never to rise again, and so died in Riom, November 17, 1849, this life of 59 years. But what did notoff, that lives and will live always in the middle of all those who knew Colonel Tournaire, are, as we have already said, the good memories he left us, and the past and we are always present, we can say and repeat again: Yes, Tournaire was excessive modesty and erudition, however, had extensive and varied, sometimes gushing in his conversations with striking features and original in form and expression, his conversation was as enjoyable and instructive, he had read and retained a lot. On the one unquestioned loyalty and extreme kindness to all who approcbaient, he continued to give evidence of multiple character mostly obliging and helpful. He even went to services to be rendered, and on this subject could be extended as long as you want, without fear that praise dépassât truth. Few officers have indeed had many friends that Colonel Tournaire : all who had any relationship with him never failed to visit him when they passed by Douai, quelquesuns even came there on purpose to see and to show their commitment. If we will visit the arms factory of St. Etienne, but with the good memories of Captain Tournaire this in memory of the old controllers and workers who serve in this institution. The workers of the foundry Douai , they still cherish as a father, he had all the solicitude for them.
And you, gentlemen, by giving one of you care to tell what was Colonel Tournaire , you wanted to associate with mourning his untimely death has thrown into the heart of all his friends, and show again your respect and your affection for a former colleague and very regrettable.
