THE RETREAT - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER SENT WHILE SUFFERING F...

Estimate

£1,400 - £2,000

THE RETREAT - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER SENT WHILE SUFFERING FROSTBITE DURING THE MARCH FROM "VILNA" TO PARIS; Very fine small 5-9 Dec. 1812 EL (part typed translation) from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) on the Retreat at "Smorghoni" (now Smarhon, Russia) then at "Ochmiana" (now Ashmiany, Russia) and then at "Vilna" (now Vilnius, Lithuania) sent by French military courier to his father in Paris; redirected to Reuil charged "3" with a very fine triangular framed Paris "P" on the front. The handwriting of the contents show just how badly the writer was suffering from frostbite; they are started with the right hand as usual but then he has to use his left hand (an understandably messy script). They include; "...we will march with the guard to Vilna... Mr de Narbonne has a mission for me for Berlin... we will not arrive until the day after tomorrow in Vilna...We travelled 10 leagues in very cold weather, left at 8am, we arrived here [Ochmiana] at 3.30pm. I am writing to you from a Synagogue where my horses are. I'm going to go to the castle to see if it's possible to have dinner...Vilna this December 9, 1812, Wednesday 1/2 noon.... I had two frozen hands the day before yesterday, and I will now not be able to use the right one for 6 weeks. We hope to leave this evening for Kowno and Konigsberg & ca. is very difficult for post horses. I found 2 crates here; one of 6 bottles of wine, one with 2 pairs of boots along with your letter of August 3, and I also received your excellent letter No.104 from Paris of November 24. Poor [??] is very sore in his feet and hands... I hope you won't be dissatisfied with my talent with my left hand... I'm going to take my letter to the courier... we hope to leave this evening for Kowno and Koenigsberg...". Napoleon, in Smorghoni himself on December 5, learned of General Malet's attempted coup d'état in Paris on that day; after holding a grand Council of War, the Emperor gave his instructions to Murat and immediately left for Paris, abandoning the great army to its fate! A graphic and important Campaign Letter from the final the Retreat from Moscow. [Ex Soluphil auction, Dec. 2010; lot 93, realised 3,600 euros inc. BP.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, LITHUANIA, FRANCE