Napoléon

I don't know if I mentioned to you that I don't want horses that are less than 5 years old, which is a hindrance in campaigns starting in November. The hunters, hussars, and even the dragoons cannot find horses of the required size; they must buy smaller ones. They will thus show themselves easily, very easily, in France, while otherwise, it would be impossible. They will have 5-year-old horses in good condition, and they will even save money, allowing them to buy more. Write a circular to all the units and be very active in all this. Maintain correspondence with the depots, and every 8 days let me know the number of horses that have arrived. If the depots have more men than the money I have granted, they should produce 2 horses; authorize them to buy new ones to be fully prepared for war. I am sending you a decree to form the 5th squadron of carabiniers and cuirassiers in accordance with the decrees of August 31. It is therefore necessary to urgently procure horses so that the 4th squadron, which is at the depot, can join the army at the beginning of November. The fifth squadrons should be formed with men selected from officers who are on leave; there are still very good ones among them. Just be careful to appoint officers who are returning from the main army. This does not unfairly weaken it. On this, I pray to God to keep me in Mayence on September 30, 1806.“ In Napoleon's campaigns of 1805 (against Austria and Russia), 1806 (against Prussia), and 1809 (again against Austria), Mainz was the most important French assembly point..

C’est le moyen de pourvoir aujourd’hui à l’habillement du conscrit réfractaire. Sur ce je pris Dieu qu’il vous ait eu sa sainte garde.“ Translation: "Count de Cessac, I hereby order that the staff of the 4th battalion of the 46th proceed to Strasbourg and that the staff of the 4th battalion of the 19th delegate proceed to Wesel. These staffs will each take 900 conscripts. Instruct the administrative conflicts of these regiments to provide the battalions with clothing, small and large equipment; they can withdraw from their stores in whole or in part; we will provide them with sheets. This is the means of providing for the clothing of the refractory conscript today. With this, I pray to God that He has kept you in His holy care.".

Sur ce je prie Dieu qu’il vous ait eu sa sainte garde.“ Translation: "Monsieur le comte de Sussy, the minutes of the meeting of the subsistence council on March 24 have informed me of the situation. Please ask Commander Masse to include the usual information, that is, the status of purchases, quantities of flour, quantities of wheat, and the locations where all this is stored, so that I can form an idea of our current situation. With this, I pray that God has kept you in His holy care.".

He will be granted this reward in the residence of his choice. The Minister of War Duke of Feltre Response: Soldier Endrich will be able to enjoy his active duty pay. Vitebsk, August 6, 1812..

Das vorliegende Schiffspatent wurde durch den französischen Konsul in Charlestown, New York, Boston oder Baltimore ausgestellt und gestattete den amerikanischen Schiffen, sich mehr oder weniger frei auf See in Richtung Frankreich zu bewegen, wo freilich die Gefahr in Gestalt der britischen Kriegsschiffe lauerte: Diese blockierten seit Beginn der Koalitionskriege die amerikanischen Häfen an der Atlantikküste und unterbanden so den Handel Amerikas mit dem Kriegsgegner Frankreich, was im Jahr zuvor eine der Mitursachen des Britisch-Amerikanischen Kriegs gewesen war, der erst im Dezember des folgenden Jahres (1814) beigelegt werden sollte. - Mit größeren, teils hinterlegten Einrissen in den Faltungen sowie kleinen Randläsuren, sonst in gutem Zustand; am linken Rand augenscheinlich in den gedruckten Text des Gegenblatts hinein beschnitten..

Las Cases published the admiring work under the title Le Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène (The Memorial of Saint Helena) in 1823. Here, Napoleon writes out lengthy commentary on the French Directory and his nation's political situation in the 1790s. In part (translated): "III. Tipping system: 4 factions divided the Republic; the 1st had confidence in the adapted constitution of 1795. The 2nd desired a president at the head of the state. The 3rd was that of the 1793 constitution, called the terrorists. The 4th, supporters of the Bourbons and counter-revolution. This last one consisted of only a few families and priests; terror had weighed on them, and they had been destroyed. Its own followers who still lived had emigrated and perished in poverty and contempt abroad. The first three factions encompassed the entire population of France. Many individuals who approved the adopted constitution had a decided aversion to the Convention delegates and would have preferred that patriots who had not participated in the government of the Convention be called to the Directory, or at least that voters not be called. The five directors had all voted for the death of the king. It was expected that they would employ all the Convention delegates, their colleagues who were no longer part of the council, and especially that they would show confidence in the voters. In the end, the directors allowed themselves to be dominated by the spirit of persecution that each had adopted during the long and tumultuous reign of the Convention, to the great astonishment of observers. One can say that the title of Convention delegate and especially that of voter became a title of exclusion from employment and soon a title of proscription. As these individuals expressed indignation at this conduct, they were, by a high police measure, expelled from Paris and obliged to return to their homes. The supporters of a president's government were easy to rally to the new system. Many of them were educated men who had figured in the Constituent Assembly, in public affairs. The director to be sidelined allied with them forever; they became, for them, the constitution that was founded on self-love but from the directors. The terrorists or supporters of the 1793 constitution were initially few in number or at least inactive; they were inclined to sincerely rally to the government composed of 5 fervent Convention delegates who had belonged to various Jacobin groups...these 5 directors were also from the party desired on the 13th Vendemiaire, and the terrorists gloried in having contributed to the success of that day. But the grandeur that surrounded the 5 directors, the title of representative, the etiquette, initially frightened them...War was soon declared; this faction went to war and soon conspired for the salvation of the fatherland and for the deliverance from the tyranny of the 5 lords of the Luxembourg...Carnot alone was one of them and enjoyed their trust. The Bourbonians hated the directors as republicans, as Convention delegates, as voters, and as the men of the 13th Vendemiaire. It was to please, to capture, and to rally this faction that the Directory worked...it was Carnot who soon became the object of the hatred and fear of all the terrorists, especially since they had hoped more from him. The armies sincerely rallied to the government, which, while retaining the principles for which they had fought, promised them more stability in their employment and more consideration. Thus, the Directory, through the strangest of illusions, worsened its position every day." On the last page is an autograph note in pencil by Charles Tristan, marquis de Montholon, a general during the Napoleonic Wars who chose to go into exile with Bonaparte on Saint Helena (translated): "Writing of Emperor Napoleon at St. Helena." In fine condition, with some light staining and soiling. Aware of the major role he had played in the history of his time, Napoleon Bonaparte devoted long hours at Saint Helena to dictate—and more rarely write—an account of his campaigns and military and political analyses of his era. Napoleon had little else to do than to reflect on his triumphs, and this piece documents some of Napoleon's own thoughts on the political situation in France during the 1790s. It is a critical manuscript that offers insight into Napoleon's understanding of his life, politics, and career..