Still dressed in their Dutch white uniforms they marched to Paris where they served for over one and a half years as palace guard[1].

On August 16, 1812, the Grande Armée arrived at Smolensk, the town being defended by 120,000 Russian troops.

The stench of the quickly decaying corpses prevented the Guard from enjoying the pleasures of victory in the town.

On the 19th a Russian general, found hiding in the town, refused to surrender and was bayoneted by the Grenadiers.

A second line of (Dutch) grenadiers, which had been advancing to support the voltigeurs, then fell back under heavy Russian cannon fire.