Napoleon's last 'Campaign of France' in 1814 proved to be one of his most brilliant. He relied as never before on committing his elite Imperial Guard cavalry to battle. He raised three new regiments of crack "claireurs" - 'Scouts', which were attached to the Guard Mounted Grenadiers, Empress's Dragoons and Polish Lancers respectively which would counterattack the Cossacks and gather vital information. Each regiment had its own style of uniform, but part of each was armed with lances. Although they were short-lived, these Scout units greatly distinguished themselves in the last battles of the collapsing Empire.

Illustrated by: Patrice Courcelle