THE RETREAT - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER SENT DURING THE MARCH ...

Estimate

£1,100 - £1,500

THE RETREAT - FRENCH OFFICER'S LETTER SENT DURING THE MARCH BY COURIER FROM "SMOLENSK" TO PARIS; Very fine small 10-12 Nov. 1812 EL (part typed transcript/translation) from Captain (later Maréchal) de Castellane (1788-1862) on the Retreat at "Smolensk" sent by French military courier to his father in Paris and so without postal marks (c.f. the next lot and other lots above from this same correspondence which were all forwarded from Paris and so had internal French rates and marks). The contents written (in a chaotic hand and covering every available space) when the retreating French Army was almost half way back from Moscow to the Polish border, include; "I went to the War Commissioners to provide food for our people... returned to the palace for lunch. I came here and was having a devilish day so instead of writing I decided to clean up - then I got rid of a letter to the Duchess of Uchingen(?)... We don't know if we start tomorrow or if we will stay here until the day after tomorrow... [I shall] take this letter to the courier…". It was endorsed inside as having been "received in Paris November 29". A very rare letter from the French Army in transit back from Moscow that would repay full translation. [Ex Soluphil auction, Dec. 2010; lot 92, realised 3,213 euros inc. BP.] Cross Reference: RUSSIA, FRANCE