Rapidly promoted for feats of bravery under fire at Jemappes in 1792 and Hondschoote in 1793, he found himself appointed to serve as a staff officer.

During the War of the Fifth Coalition he led his division in action at the Piave, Tarvis, Sankt Michael, Raab, and Wagram.

But they quickly pitched into the fighting and drove back the Austrians of Johann Sigismund Riesch's left column.

[1] On 27 August 1803, Durutte received promotion to general of division in spite of Napoleon Bonaparte's dislike of officers from Moreau's army.

[3] When asked to put his signature on a document agreeing with Napoleon's appointment as emperor of France, Durutte remained true to his republican beliefs and refused to sign.

[8] After the Battle of Caldiero at the end of April, Eugène launched a pursuit of Archduke John's retreating army.

While the rest of his troops chased John, Eugène directed Durutte on a southerly route to first relieve the siege of Venice and then to rejoin the main army on the Piave River.

[10] During the battle the river rose dramatically and only half of his division was able to get into the fighting, where they fought in the center under Jacques MacDonald.

That morning his troops stormed the Malborghetto Fort from the west while Michel Marie Pacthod's division attacked from the east.

Later that day, Durutte's soldiers moved east to Tarvisio to confront Albert Gyulai's entrenched troops.

While Eugène sent Achille Fontanelli's Italians to turn the Austrian flank, Grenier's two divisions mounted a frontal assault.

When French scouts detected Franz Jellacic's Austrian division moving across his front, Eugène ordered Grenier to intercept it with the troops at hand.

Grenier's first division under Jean Mathieu Seras arrived at Sankt Michael around 10:00 am and mounted an attack, pinning Jellacic in position.

Eugène put in Philippe Eustache Louis Severoli's division on Durutte's left to keep the attack rolling.

[19][20] He took command of the 32nd Infantry Division in Marshal Pierre Augereau's XI Corps in November 1812[21] and settled in Berlin and Warsaw.

Detached to Jean Reynier's VII Saxon Corps, his troops fought against Fabian Gottlieb von Osten-Sacken's Russians at the Battle of Wolkowisk from 14 to 16 November.

After hearing of the destruction of the Grande Armée, Durutte withdrew to Kalisz in the Duchy of Warsaw, where he fended off a pursuing column of Russians.

Antoine Anatole Gedeon Jarry's brigade consisted of 36th Light, 133rd Line, and Wurzburg Infantry Regiments.

He was made a Grand Officer of the Légion d'Honneur on 23 August and received a gold sword from the mayor of Metz.

Having arrived near the field where the Battle of Ligny was raging, d'Erlon decided to detach Durutte's division and Charles Claude Jacquinot's cavalry.

But Durutte, overwhelmed by his responsibility, refused to budge and a great opportunity passed, one of several mischances for the French that day.

Durutte sent the 2nd Brigade to attack these positions, supported three horse artillery batteries, two from Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud's IV Cavalry Corps and one belonging to Jacquinot's division.

[35] Soon after, a so-far unengaged squadron of the 1st Royal Dragoons attacked the brigade as a disciplined body and smashed into its left flank, which was only 12-ranks deep.

About 1:30 PM, he sent his troops into the little valley in front of Papelotte and La Haye, covered by 18 horse artillery pieces and Jacquinot's cavalry.

The original skirmish line recoiled before enemy fire and Durutte quickly reinforced it with battalions in open order.

At this moment, Durutte rode back to the ridge and found to his dismay that the 1st Brigade was crushed and the ground to his left covered with rampaging British cavalry.

[37] As the Prussian attack against the VI Corps gained momentum, Georges Mouton, Comte de Lobau ordered Durutte to capture the Smohain area.

[39] In the rout that followed, Durutte was chased by Prussian horsemen, receiving one saber slash that nearly cut off his left hand[40] and a second blow that inflicted a severe head wound.