Général Bataille

A carte-de-visite portrait of Général Bataille (1816-1882).

Henri Jules Bataille studied at the Royal military college of la Flèche. Entering Saint-Cyr on 16 November 1834, he left in October 1836, a sub-lieutenant in the 22nd. On 30 January 1839, he embarked with his regiment for Algeria where he remained until 10 September 1831. He was promoted lieutenant on 25 May 1840 and captain on 12 March 1843. On 9 February 1847 he joined the Foreign Legion as adjutant-major of the 2nd regiment. In 1849 he was at the siege of Azztcha and the following year he participated in the Kabylie campaign, notably against the Beni-Habibi on 24 June. On 12 December he received the knight’s cross of the Légion d’honneur. A second tour of duty of four years followed, until September 1857, during which he received the officer’s cross of the Légion d’honneur, given to him on 12 June 1856. He continued to serve in Algeria, on campaign and in expeditions.

On 12 August 1857 he was promoted général de brigade and in April 1859 he was sent to join the army in Italy, where he participated in the battle of Magenta. On 16 November 1866 he was named général de division. In 1870 he had two horses shot out from underneath him at Gravelotte.

Général Bataille died in Paris on 10 January 1882.

Photographed by Disdéri of Paris.