Description:

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. NAPOLEON MOVES SUPPLIES FORWARD THE DAY AFTER THE BATTLE OF SMOLENSK - THE FIRST BATTLE OF HIS INVASION OF RUSSIA. Very rare, fine content manuscript L.S. 'Nap' with three corrections in his hand, 2pp. 8vo., Smolensk, Aug. 19, 1812 to Marshal LOUIS-ALEXANDRE BERTHIER (1753-1815), his chief of staff. One day after the conclusion of the Battle of Smolensk, the first major battle of Napoleon's abortive Russian campaign, the great general prepares vital field transport facilities in his newly occupied territory. He writes, in part: '...My cousin, give orders for the construction in Vitebsk of a transport facility for 24 ovens which will be established in a location such that we are not obliged to build [powder] magazines there and which is within reach of water. Two transport facilities with 12 ovens each will also be built in Smolensk. The second handling facility will be built in the same manner, also within reach of the water. Decree all orders for the choice of these two premises, for engineering officers to be put in charge of the construction, and for work to begin today...'. In addition to his holograph changes, Napoleon also drew five lines through the first four lines of text, deciding it better to restart his missive entirely. One or two words at the bottom of the first page are faded, perhaps due to a bit of water coming in contact with the letter, else fine. The Battle of Smolensk took place on 16–18 August 1812 and involved about 45,000 men of the Grande Armee under Napoleon against about 30,000 Russian troops under General Barclay de Tolly. Napoleon occupied Smolensk, driving out Prince Pyotr Bagration's Second Army. The French artillery bombardment burned the city to the ground: of 2,250 buildings, only 350 survived intact. Of the city's 15,000 inhabitants, about 1,000 were left at the end of the battle inside the smoking ruins. With over 15,000 casualties, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the invasion. Letters from Napoleon's Russian campaign are of the utmost rarity.

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August 16, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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