General Alexandre Dumas - His Military Career

1. June 1786 - Enlists as a private in the Queen's Dragoons - Height 68" - age 24
2. June 1791- Promoted to Corporal
3. September 1792-   Enlists in "Black Legion" - Made Lt. Colonel
4. July 1793 -  Colonel - given command of the "Black" Legion
5. September 1793-  General in Command of a Division
6. December 1793  Given Command of the "Army of the Alps

Gallaher notes:  Dumas' promotions were not based on experience, years in rank, or even ability.  He never commanded in battle or even fought in a serious campaign.  He was a political general who could be trusted to command as a sincere and dedicated Republican. Dumas was the 4th  Commander of the "Army of the Alps" in 4 months. The other three being dismissed for bad health, corruption and suspected disloyalty to the Revolution.

Record as General

1. January 1794 -  Leaves Paris to take Command
2. April 1794 -  First major attack by the Army ( Battle of Mount Cenis)  fails 
3. May 1794 -  Personally leading the attack, Dumas secures Mount Cenis.  
4. June 1794 - Dumas ordered to Paris for questioning by the "Committee for Public Safety"
5. August 1794 - Dumas takes command of the "Army of the West" (26 thousand men) involved in 'pacifying'  Vendee.
6. November 1794- Dumas relieved of Command at his request

Medical Leave

1. December 1794 - Dumas is granted medical leave
2. January 1796 - Dumas asks to resign from the Army due to 'Poor Health'
3. June 1796 - Health recovers

Divisional Commander

1. August 1796 - Assigned Divisional Commander  in "Army of the Alps'
2. September 1796-  Writes insubordinate letters  to Paris criticizing his Commanding Officer
3. October 1796-  Commanding Officer transfers him to Napoleon's "Army of Italy".
4. January 1797-   Commands a Division besieging Mantua
5. January 1797 - Writes insulting, insubordinate letter criticizing Napoleon's Chief-of-staff 
6. February 1797 - Demoted to  brigade commander 
7. March 1797 - Wins praise while in command of advance guard.  Given the equivalent of a Divisional Command
8. April 1797 - Mentioned 3 times in dispatches for bravery under fire
9. May 1797 - Divisional Commander of Calvary - M.G. of Treviso
10. October 1797- At Home on extended leave

Eygptian Campaign

1. April 1798 - Receives orders to join Egyptian Expedition
2. May 1798 -  Napoleon gives him command of a Calvary Division (3,000 men)
3. July 1798 - Arrives Egypt.  Criticized by Napoleon for insubordination,  Fights "Battle of the Pyramids".  Dumas asks to return to France - Napoleon agrees
4. October 1798 - Dumas helps put down the Cairo Insurrection,  Napoleon praises his valor
5. January 1799 - Napoleon requests he stay in Egypt - Dumas Declines
6. February 1799 - Leaves Egypt

POW and End of Military Career

1. March 1799 - Taken Prisoner by Kingdom of Naples
2. June 1801 - Returns to France
3. October 1801 -  Dumas requests  a new Command; told "maybe" 
4. September 1802 - Against his wish, put on the Retired list -Annual pay is 4,000 francs
5. October 1805 - Ill with stomach cancer
6. February 1806 - Dies