[ Autographs ] NAPOLEON BONAPARTE (1769 - 1821) The "Little Corporal"whose brilliance in the field of battle and as Emperor of France has made him perhaps the most important figure of post-Renaissance Europe Important content Russian front L.S. "Napole" with numerous corrections in his hand, 2 1/3pp. large 8vo., Gloubokoe, July 19, 1812 in French to his adopted son, Prince EUGENE DE BEAUHARNAIS instructing him on the positioning of his troops for the imminent confrontation with Russian forces in the upcoming battle of Smolensk on August 7. In part: ".... I am writing at three in the morning. I went to get fresh air of the [River] Drissa. The enemy has abandoned their camp entrenched, left their handiwork...It appears they are going up the river on the right shore in all haste. It is therefore imperative that you march the division in the best state to protect your vanguard. I suppose your light cavalry is stationed at Kamen and will be reunited tomorrow. Support your troops at Pyncho tomorrow. Theother two divisions of infantry can follow in a half-march one after the other. Arrive with your first division at Kamen as early as possible in order to be able to pressure the positions on the Biechenkovichi...". For the campaign of 1812, Napoleon amassed his largest army ever assembled to force Alexander I to capitulate to the terms of an imposed treaty. He crossed the Niemen River in June with ahalf-million troops, and, as he notes in our fine letter, the Russian troops stood no chance against an army of such immense proportions. But Alexander cannily instituted a defensive retreat, stretching Napoleon's troops and causing supply problems that brought about a high desertion rate. Although he fought the Russians at Smolensk and Borodino, he did not destroy them, and despite the subsequent capture of Moscow on September 14, Napoleon was unable to force peace on Alexander, and began a withdrawal after Moscow burned. With six holograph emendations, boldly signed and in fine condition. An important letter deserving of further research.