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NAPOLEON BONAPARTE L.S.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE L.S.
<b>388. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE</b> Fine content, lengthy L.S. "<i>Nap</i>" with holograph emendations,<b> </b>4pp. 4to., Cacu, "<i>four in the morning</i>", May 26, 1811. Following the disastrous Portugal campaign, Napoleon writes an urgent letter to Berthier to regroup his armies, in small part: "<i>...Don't lose a moment...to write every day to Marshal Marmont and to send him instructions...Make it known to Marmont that he must... reorganize his army, reinforce the 6th division, and send back the Generals who convened with him; that he must take the colonels in the second corps of Gen. Drouet to...give command of the Vacau [?] regiment, choosing a strong officer, who will be send to his administration...who will raise in the province of Salamanca...all the mules he can find...that the Duke d'Istrie is second in command of all...Write to the Duke d'Istrie that he is given [in holograph] 500 horses or mules...to perfectly remount the artillery of the Duke of Raguse, for it is necessary that this army held his mobile artillery be in good condition...that 400 artillery horses and equipment...in movement in Bayonne...Strongly recommend to the Duke de Raguse...to reform his army...It is necessary to send an officer to the Duke d'Istrie to make him know that I hope that he will take all measures decidedly useful for the army of Portugal...</i>". Napoleon's 1810 campaign began optimistically, but his army was repulsed by Wellington at Bussaco in late September, and a winter of increasing frustration followed. By March 1811 he was forced to retreat toward Spain, leaving, by April Alameda as the only French stronghold. There, he once again met Wellington, only to once again be roundly defeated on April 4, 1811. AUGUSTE-FREDERIC MARMONT, Duc de Raguse (1774-1852), was one of Napoleon's most powerful officers, succeeding Ney in command of the VI corps under Massena, and commanding the Army of Portugal in early May, 1811. Very good condition.<b>$1,500-2,000</b>