Description:

SEXTIUS ALEXANDRE FRANCOIS DE MIOLLIS
(1759 - 1828) French military officer serving in the American Revolutionary War, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. He served as sub-lieutenant under Rochambeau, his face disfigured at the siege of Yorktown. He headed the First National Battalion of volunteers of Bouches-du-Rhone. In the French Revolutionary Wars, he demonstrated skill and bravery often, becoming a brigadier general in 1796. Under Napoleon, he was deployed to Italy, taking part in the siege of Mantua and put in charge of the occupation of Tuscany. Rare, fine content manuscript D.S. signed twice ‘Miollis', 2pp. 4to., Livourne, '25 Floreal An 7' [May 14, 1799], as Brigadier General of the Army of Italy to another officer regarding the recent retreat of General Jean Cesar Graziani, complaining that he has not received a letter from the head of the battalion for nearly a day, and his ordering him to do everything within his power to prevent the enemy from escaping. The Army of Italy had been formed as an informal border patrol between Italy and France but, with the ascent of Napoleon, it was turned into disciplined body which was instrumental in the Italian Campaign. However, things deteriorated at the start of the War of the Second Coalition: on April 26, 1799 the French were defeated at the Battle of Cassano, and less than two weeks later, again on May 11 after an attack on the river Po. No doubt this significant loss prompted Miollis' stern letter and especially his postscript which reads, in part: ‘…Following your letter from the 24th, I am writing to Monserrat that they must absolutely lay siege to Lougone [?] and attach it to the defense of the forts…'. Very good.

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May 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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