182 - [AUTOGRAPHS]

[AUTOGRAPHS] 1-[General Alexandre de BEAUHARNAIS] A long handwritten letter signed “Le Gal Alexandre de Beauharnais” [Josephine’s first husband, commander-in-chief of the Army of the Rhine, guillotined on 5 Thermidor, Year II (July 23, 1794)] dated June 23, 1793, Year 2 (at headquarters in Wissembourg); recipients unknown (a handwritten note contemporary with the letter indicates “Citizen of Erbigny and General Ravel, artillery officer.” 3.5 pp. in folio; fine copy. Order to conduct inspection tours of all fortified posts “(…) of the four divisions comprising the territory of the Army of the Rhine (…)” with full authority to make arrangements and carry out works, and the obligation to draft reports. An inventory is then requested, to be prepared with “(…) the utmost care in examining the quantities of weapons such as rifles, carbines, musketons, infantry, cavalry, and chasseur sabers,” along with the duty to expedite their repair or manufacture as necessary. “(…) Please send me the results, which I shall make it my duty to present to the people’s representatives attached to the Army of the Rhine.” 2-[Mr. Foy] Autograph letter signed “M. S. Foy” [Maximilien Sébastien Foy would later become a General of the Empire] on printed letterhead “Maximilien Foy, Brigade Commander of the 5th Regiment of Mounted Artillery,” dated 28 Nivôse, Year 11 [January 18, 1803], addressed “to General Marmont, State Councilor and First Inspector General of Artillery.” 1 p., in-8; fine copy. Request for an upward correction in the calculation of the pay “(…) of Citizen Gardaire, retired captain of the 3rd Artillery Regiment” (…) it was overlooked that he had lost an arm at the Battle of Gandolour, fought in India in 1783 (…)”. 3-[Fr.-Et KELLERMANN] Autograph signed letter [François-Etienne Kellermann, General of the Empire and son of the victor of Valmy] dated July 22, 1805, to Prefect Brunetti. 2.5 pp., in-4; fine copy. An intriguing letter concerning the annulment of his wife’s marriage. He complains about his father-in-law, who “shows very little zeal in bringing to a close the important matter of annulling the marriage as null and void; advancing age brings reflection and makes one fear the future” (…) “he wants to ensure that my children’s civil status remains beyond reproach forever” to avoid lawsuits and claims. Mr. Alorovandi “must reimburse my wife her dowry” (80,000 francs). 4-Enclosed is a handwritten report signed “the captain of the pontooners” (illegible) addressed “to Citizen Gastine, Chief of Staff at the headquarters in Mantua,” dated 19 Prairial, Year 7 [June 7, 1799]. 2 folios, in-8 (letter: 1 p.). Fine copy. “The sentry on duty at the entrenched camp alerted me at one o’clock in the morning that he had spotted three boats (…)” which he was unable to identify.