Thus, it is only proper that this writer should embark on a listing of the single largest unit on board the frigate South Carolina - the men who formed the three companies of marines on board the frigate and were drawn from the "Volontaires du Luxembourg" or the "Volunteers of Luxembourg". This can be a daunting task in that there were just over three hundred men who stood in the ranks of this unit on board the frigate. But, this writer will do his best to get every one of these men - combat or administrative personnel, both officers, NCOs, enlisted men, musicians, medical staff, etc. listed down here.
The post of "11/26/2014" contains a lengthy bit of information on the "Volontaires du Luxembourg" and their history before boarding the frigate South Carolina in July 1781. I will not repeat any of this already recorded information but, leave it to the reader to refer to this specific post by means of the archives associated with this blog. But, this particular post only listed the commanding officers by name and relegated the NCOs and enlisted men to being lumped together and spoken of as a numbered group of personnel. Beginning with this post, and for the next several at least, this writer will record the names of these men and hopefully cause their humanity to emerge from the mists of time.
The 1st Company of the "Volontaires du Luxembourg" was commanded by Captain --------- Collinson. According to Dr. Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, "Appendix: Crew and Marines of the South Carolina", page 142, he is cited simply as "Captain of marines". Nothing more is known of him, not even his first name. There is a possibility that he was Irish but, this supposition is completely taken from his last, and only known, name - Collinson. There were many Irish who cast their lot with the forces of France against their traditional enemy - Great Britain.
The 1st Company's enlisted breakdown was five sergeants, one corporal, and eighty-eight "soldats" or privates. The five sergeants were:
Alexandre Barbier
Jean Emery
Jacques Farin
Anathoille Saulmier
Jacques Sentaire
The single corporal was Julian Loget.
The enlisted men, or "soldats" (privates) of the 1st Company of the "Volontaires du Luxembourg are listed in alphabetical order and are as follows:
Pierre Achard
Simon Altane
Benjamin Anson
Robert Armont
Jean Aubrey
Jacques Avee
Nicolas Bardot
Charles Rene Beaulieu
Nicolas Beaumont
Jean Baptiste Becard
Jean Baptiste Belfleure
Andre Beringee
Claude Bertau
Jean Bignon
Jean Blin
Jean Blodin
Joseph Bodin
Jacques Bonnus
Rene Bougu
Jean Bourbon
Pierre Bousyon
Simon Brot
Jean Baptiste Henry Caille
Etienne Cantau
Nicolas Capron
Claude Chelin
Philippe Chermont
Jean Baptiste Cheron
Simon Colat
Jean Congelant
Jean Cornat
Francois Julien Daufraine
Philibert Decourt
Francois Desire
Francois DeStaliasse
Jacques Duboc
Bernard Dubord
Jacques Paul Dubot
Jacques Dumas
Francois Dupont
Joseph Ernotte
Joseph Font
Joseph Forin
Francois Gambier
Claude Marin Girardin
Charles Gobinet
Nicolas Godeplay
Ferdinand Godmon
Philippe Gropenard
Claude Louis Guillaume
Antoine LaMiral
Henry Laye
Mathurin LeBath
Jean Baptiste Le Comte
Louis Mallet
Vatolpia Marinot
Pierre Marizie
Antoine Marnege
Louis Masure
Jean Guillaume Morel
Thomas Mothee
Jean Moulin
Girot Muret
Pierre Olivier
Jean Claude Ortion
Claude Pacot
Lenomme Parat
Francois Pernot
Pierre Gilbert Picard
Nicolas Pinel
Emanuel Prere
Jean Baptiste Queney
Jean Louis Rabaut
Antoine Raul
Joseph Richard
Etienne Robin
Pierre Rochet
Francois Rosseau
Francois Sagne
Jean Salle
Valence Schelkude
Balthazare Simonet
Simon Thevenot
Philippe Thirie
Louis Tingot
Pierre Vaillant
Pierre Vanecq
All of these men are listed as "soldier" (soldat/private) in Dr. Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, "Appendix: Crew and Marines of the South Carolina, pages 135-170. The only discrepancy here is that the company should have eighty-eight "soldiers" in it but, there are only eighty-seven names listed here. The five sergeants and single corporal are all listed.
There must have been other junior officers to assist Captain ------- Collinson in his duties with the company. But, these officers' names are not recorded as belonging to a particular company. They are simply listed as "French officer, Lux. Corps" or "French officer, Lux. Legion".