General Ennemond Bonnard

General who commanded the artillery at many sieges during the Revolution

Born: October 3, 1756

Place of Birth: Saint-Symphorien-d'Ozon, Isère, France

Died: January 16, 1819

Place of Death: Tours, France

Arc de Triomphe: BONNARD on the north pillar

Pronunciation:

Enlisting as a volunteer in the artillery regiment of Auxonne in 1775, Ennemond Bonnard's first major action came in 1779 as part of the Cancale expedition. He next went to America to serve in the American Revolutionary War and after the conclusion of that war he returned to France. At the onset of the Revolution Bonnard was sent to Naples as a drill instructor, only returning to France in 1791. In September of 1792 he was promoted to lieutenant and he went to serve in the Army of the North. Bonnard was promoted to capitaine in April of 1793 and he was assigned to assist the staff of the artillery of the Army of the North. A promotion to chef de bataillon came in January of 1794 for Bonnard and at that time he joined the 2nd Foot Artillery. The next month he took command of the artillery park at Guise.

In June of 1794 Bonnard received another promotion, this time to général de brigade. That month he served at the Siege of Charleroi and then the Battle of Fleurus . Bonnard then went on to command the artillery at more sieges, serving at Landrecies, Quesnoy, Valenciennes, and Condé. That September he served at the Battle of the Ourthe and then in October he served at the Battle of the Roër. Next Bonnard commanded the artillery at Maestricht and during the attack on Fort Wyk and afterwards he was promoted to général de division.

Bonnard was given command of the reserve of the Army of the Sambre and Meuse in July of 1795. That September he served at the crossing of the Rhine under General Kléber and then in November he took command of a division. During the campaigns of the summer of 1796, Bonnard served before Ehrenbréstein, at Friedberg, Mainz, and then he distinguished himself at Altenkirchen in September. In February of 1797 he took command of Luxembourg and then that September he began commanding the 24th military division at Brussels. In 1798 Bonnard's command was expanded to the coasts and sea of Belgium. That year he also repressed insurrection in Belgium and afterwards in January of 1799 he was sent to command the 2nd military division. Bonnard continued in these administrative roles, returning to the 24th military division in August of 1799 and then a year later he took command of the 24th, 25th, and 26th military divisions.

In 1802 Bonnard was put on non-activity and then at the end of the year he was appointed inspector general of infantry in the 18th military division. In 1804 he took command of the 22nd military division at Tours, a position he would hold for a number of years. Bonnard was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1804 and ten years later he was named a Knight of Saint Louis. He retired from the army in February of 1815.

Bibliography

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Généraux & Amiraux Français de la Révolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). 2 vols. Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

Updated August 2016