Nicknames of Old Guard: - "The Grumblers" - "The Eagles" - "The Gaiter Straps" - "The Supporters of the Usurper

The 1st Regiment of Foot Grenadiers and the 1st Regiment of Foot Chasseurs were the Old Guard, the old of the old, so to speak. They were the creme de la creme of Napoleon's infantry. Of all the infantry regiments of the Imperial Guard only the two units carried Eagles. They enjoyed the greatest prestige and pay and numerous priviledges. There were short periods when also the 2nd regiments were named Old Guard, but it was not the real Old Guard. (During the Waterloo Campaign in 1815 even the 3rd and 4th regiments were called Old Guard.) You cannot exaggerate about these lads: they were battle-hardened veterans, bold, and physically strong. They were convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they were. If they had the chance to fight today in a pub, they would take the opponents to the cleaners, then drive them back in a school bus sobbing like the muppets.
Chateaubriand saw them in 1814; "I do not believe that human faces have ever worn such threatening expressions. These Grenadiers covered with scars, these conquerors of Europe, were forced to salute an old king, a veteran of years and not of war ... [some] drew the corners of their mouths into grimaces of scorn and rage ..." Napoleon selected his guardsmen carefully and the requirements were not easy to meet for the candidates. In 1806 only one man from each infantry battalion was admitted to the Old Guard. In 1809, after the battles of Aspern-Essling and Wagram, Napoleon took 456 best NCOs from the infantry, and they became privates in the Old Guard. In 1811 in the Old Guard were only 532 veterans from Egypt and Italy, the rest were younger. The number of veterans decreased and Napoleon was forced to accept 500 soldiers with only 5 years' service. In 1813 the Old Guard was rebuild, 250 battalions in Spain furnished 6 veterans each with at least 8 years' service. These men went into the 2nd Grenadiers and 2nd Chasseurs. The 1st Grenadiers and 1st Chasseurs accepted only those with at least 10 years' service.
In January 1814 the men of Old Guard who, exhausted as they were, would have attacked the enemy without a murmur in battles. After the bloody battle of Craonne, Napoleon wrote to his brother Joseph, "The Old Guard alone stood firm - the rest melted like snow."
In 1815 only the 1st Regiment of Foot Grenadiers and 1st Regiment of Foot Chasseurs were filled with men with 12 years' service and with the men of Elba Battalion. They were the old of the Old Guard, the sine pari (without equal). Almost 30 % of the I/1st Grenadiers were veterans of 20-25 campaigns, one third was awarded for bravery. They averaged 35-years of age and 5'11" in height.

La Marche des Grognards (Garde impériale)
Tambours BGHA "La Marche Impériale" de Charles Gourdin
Napoleons last salute to his men