NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2002 Jun 25 @ 10:00UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT
Extraordinary content A.L. (retained draft), 9pp. small 4to., "Le Cateau", June 24, 1815 in which a calvary officer writes to his father describing in tremendous detail the Battle of Waterloo. This fine letter reads in part: "...Bounaparte on the 16th. attacked our left before the whole of the troops contained on the night of the line could be brought up. the day certainly was to his advantage. The French Cavalry behaved dashingly, and succeeded in breaking one of our Squares of Infantry. The Guards behaved with great bravery and covered themselves with glory. The same day Bounaparte attacked Blucher and the Prussians with part of his Army. He beat Blucher during the day, but did not drive him from his positions. At night, Bounaparte made on of the most extraordinary and brilliant movements ever heard of. He collected the whole of his cavalry in one great mass charged thro the entire of the Prussian Army, took 18 field artillery the whole of the ammunition and the Prussian loss was 15,000 men by Blucher's account...The following day (17) in consequence of retreat of the Prussians were restricted tot he position of Wateroo. a position quite on nearly flat wide open country ...In the evening of the 17th, the Enemy rattled in our rear guard and gained some advantage over our Cavalry. On the morning of the 18th. at 11 O'clock we perceived the Enemy's columns collecting in our front for the attack...at 12 O'clock to a moment the first cannon shot was fired. An awful gun for we perceived by the Enemy's Columns, his attack was earnest ..Our guns to the number of 100 were place din the front line. The Squares of Infantry to support our Artillery and the cavalry at intervals to act as they could. The Enemy began a cannonade from 250 pieces of Artillery upon the main front of our position endeavoring evidently to cannonade our Column into confusion and then for the Calvary to take advantage of it. They attacked at the same moment the woods and convent in order to debouche from it's when taken. The guards failed then in this attack. The cannonade continued and the butchering was terrible. But we obliged our columns to remain firm luckily enough it was for presently appeased their cavalry coming forward in the most brilliant manner and in a body charged our centre to the very muzzles of our guns. They rode thru us, passed our Artillery galloped thru our intervals of Infantry, went thru some of our Cavlary and attempted to form in our rear. Nothing could be seen equal to the conduct of these troops. The whole of this first attack was made by Cuirassiers. A most extraordinary circumstance happened now. Our Artillery (Donald, Crawford amongst them) after have been rode over and passes by the French Cavalry, ran up their guns, turned them and actually fired at the enemy when in our lines. Our artillery performed wonders of steadiness untouched our Artillery was remanned and again began the tremendous cannonade. The second body of the enemy's Calvary then repeated the bold attack and did exactly the same. Then we saw their Infantry advancing in on the grand mass to attack us. They advanced under terrible slaughter form our guns nearly gained our position. The day seemed to turn on a thorn. Lord Hill then formed one division of his Corps, before in reserve the Enemy could make no impression, their Cavalry charged our Squares with the greatest determination. They could not break the; our Calvary rode round but did not charge the Enemy...The Enemy were beat back or rather retired in very good order to his position. We now thought it all over, it was about 4 'oclock...We could not follow him...his position was very strong. About 6 'oclock we perceived a formation of more forward position and again he began to cannonade us. He opened a fire, the most tremendous grape and every instrument of destruction. It is really not exaggeration to say one could not ride quick over the ground for the bodies of men and horses. Under cover of this cannonade advance Bounaparte at the head of his Imperial Guard. Calvary in a column on the left flank, then Grenadiers of the guard on their right flank. They advanced quite steadily up to our line in one great mass. They halted and commenced firing. Our troops were literally mowed down. The fire was so great nothing could stand. Our guns were moved close up to the flank of this column [?] with grape into it. Lord Hill moved a brigade ( our elite ) around the flank. I brought up Six Squadrons of Calvary and we made a general charge. The Cuirassiers of the Imperial Guards had their ranks, crushed thinned by our Artillery...We with the Cavalry pursued them, leaving the French Infantry steady on our flank. Marshall Ney was with this Cavalry and I was within 20 paces of him. He was alone with about six orderlys. The Enemy ran down his guns (about twenty) and fired such a shower of grape, and the Infantry then opened upon us. The French Cuirassiers came clear into us. I was on my old born horse, a grape shot went thro his body, and a round shot struck my hat tat the same moment. He fell dead. I was a good deal stunned and could not get from under him. The French Curiassiers rode over me, knocked my hat off but did not wound me. I lay there till the French were kicked back, they again rode by me, one of their Cuirassiers was killed passing me. I seized his immense horse, and with some difficulty got upon him. I rode off and hardly was I clear of them before a round shot struck my horse on the head and killed him on the spot. An officer of the 13th. Dragoons dismounted a man of his Reg and gave me horse. This was shot in the leg about an hour afterwards. The Enemy were now beat back. Bounaparte had led his own guard and been beaten!...The fruits of this Victory were about 200 pieces of Artillery taken in the pursuit, 4 Eagles, the baggage of Bounaprte and his army...Lord Wellington called it the battle of the Giants...Carrie was killed by a grape shot close to me. Lord Hill in the grad melee with the Imperial Guard had his horse killed and was rode over...I had rather have fallen that day as a British Infantry Man or as a French Curiassier, than die ten years hence in my bed! I did my best to be killed, fortune protected me. I was truck by a ball on the side of my thigh, which did not bleed me. One also struck me on the back of the shoulders, which I did not know till after the action was over....I rode over with Lord Wellington to see Blucher. We saw Bounapartes carriage, his hat, cloak, coat and all his orders taken in it -- his hat fits me exactly!..." usual folds, a few marginal tears, otherwise very good condition. An absolutely spectacular eyewitness account.
Auction Location:
United States
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
No Info Available
Payment Details:
No Info Available
<p>1.) This is a combination Mail, Phone and Fax Bid and Live Bid Auction and is conducted under the laws of the States of New York and Connecticut.
<p>2.) This auction will be held in two parts. Part I (Lots 1-426) will begin at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, June 25, 2002. Part II (Lots 500-1279) will begin at Noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 26, 2002. However, you may bid at any time prior to the sale dates.
<p>3.) There is a 17.5% Buyer's Premium charged on the final hammer price of each lot.
<p>4.) The Auctioneer reserves the right to reject any bid for any reason.
<p>5.) The Auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any lot for any reason.
<p>6.) In the event of duplicate high bids, the earliest bid received will be the winner.
<p>7.) Some lots may carry a reserve beneath which the item will not be sold.
<p>8.) Detailed descriptions of lots and photocopies are available upon request.
<p>9.) Illustrations of lots in this catalog and our web site may have had size and/or contrast modifications for display purposes.
<p>10.) Estimated selling prices are for your guidance only. Actual selling prices may be higher or lower than the estimate indicated.
<p>11.) The placing of a bid legally binds the bidder to purchase the lot at or below the bid placed, plus buyer's premium (see item 3). Bids may not be retracted without our approval. Please think before you bid! You are legally bound once you bid.
<p>12.) Absentee Bidding: All bidding is undertaken in a competitive manner. The winning bid will always be one bidding increment over the second highest bid. The minimum acceptable bid for any lot is one-half of the low estimate given in the item description or $15.00, whichever is greater. Bidders may call at any time to check the status of their bids. Live Bidding: Bids entered during the course of the sale by bidders on the floor, on the phone or live on the internet will be taken at the amount bid.
<p>13.) Payment is expected immediately upon receipt of invoice. All accounts are payable to Alexander Autographs, Inc. Payment must be made in U.S. funds. Wire transfer details are available upon request. Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filed with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee.
<p>14.) Shipment is made via U.S. Postal Service and UPS unless otherwise instructed. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice.
<p>15.) All material in this sale is guaranteed genuine (unless otherwise stated) to the original buyer. Any item sold which is determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale may be returned by the original buyer at any time for an immediate refund of the purchase price (only).
<p>16.) Items may also be returned if the catalog description differs significantly from the item's actual condition; such returns must be made within three (3) days of purchaser's receipt of the lot(s). All returned lots must be in the same condition as shipped. All items are in very good condition unless stated otherwise. Items housed in frames have not been examined outside of the frame. Lots which bear defects or damage not visible because of framing will not be subject to return.
<p>17.) The placing of a bid shall constitute acceptance of the preceding terms and conditions of sale. No auction results will be
available until June 28, 2002!
<p>19.) Absentee bids must be received by us one hour prior to the commencement of each sale.
<p>Bidding Increments
$15-100 $5.00
$100-300 $10.00
$300-500 $20.00
$500-1,000 $50.00
$1,000-3,000 $100
$3,000-5,000 $250
$5,000-10,000 $500
$10,000+ $1,000