France Napoleonic Documents

[peter monahan]

Wow! Great doc, Bear. Somehow it seems almost more real than a medal - the names, I guess and so the very very strong connection to identifiable people from another era. Keep posting, please!

Peter

[Bear]

Thanks Peter

I have a heart breaking situation going on now with a document. I purchased a Napoleon document over a month ago and it hasn't arrived. I sent an email to the dealer but they were on vacation. I have never had a document go missing. Many thanks to the Postal Servive but it was $1850 and I'm worried. I collect documents based on signature, date and rarely content. I think most of the good content are arlready taken, but the date was very special on document. I hope all is well.

thanks,

barry

[peter monahan]

Thanks Peter

I have a heart breaking situation going on now with a document. I purchased a Napoleon document over a month ago and it hasn't arrived. I sent an email to the dealer but they were on vacation. I have never had a document go missing. Many thanks to the Postal Servive but it was $1850 and I'm worried. I collect documents based on signature, date and rarely content. I think most of the good content are arlready taken, but the date was very special on document. I hope all is well.

thanks,

barry

We'll keep our fingers crossed, Bear. Any tracking information available from the posties to help narrow down where it might be?

Peter

Edited March 7, 2009 by peter monahan

[peter monahan]

duplicate posting

Edited March 7, 2009 by peter monahan

[Bear]

Hello,

I just got in this document signed by Napoleon while in Paris and dated the 10th of April 1809. During this time Napoleon was issuing orders from Paris to Marshal Berthier who was with the army in Strasbourg. Napoleon would leave Paris on the 13th of April to lead his army against Austria.

The DATE of 10 April 1809 is also special for another reason. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY

Autograph Endorsement Signed ('Accorde N') on a letter addressed to him by his cabinet secretary, 1 page folio with integral blank leaf, 10 April 1809. The secretary, Edouard Mouniest, asks Napoleon to endorse the payment of 3000 francs to each of the three official translators and of 6000 francs to the English translator. Napoleon's endorsement signifies his agreement. It is significant that the translator, M. Nettement, should receive double the pay of his colleagues. It suggests that Napoleon attached particular importance to the transation of English documents, which would have included intercepted or captured papers. The translator would also have kept the Emperor informed of English affairs from his reading of the newspapers. Although Napoleon took some English lessons on St Helena he never became proficient in the language.

[Bear]

The DATE of 10 April 1809 is also special for another reason. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY :unsure:

[Bear]

I also have a document by Marshal Lannes that I got a couple years back, and it is also dated Paris the 10th of April 1809. Lannes was summoned by Napoleon to return from Spain in order to take part in the Austrian Campaign. He would spend a few days in Paris before he left for the front.

[Bear]

Napoleon

[Bear]

Lannes

[Bear]

Lannes was considered Napoleon's best friend. Lannes would be dead in a month.

[Great Dane]

I have absolutely no idea why 10. april 1809 is important

But although you don't get that many replies on your various Napoleonic posts, I really enjoy reading them.

Keep'em coming

/Mike

[Bear]

Thanks Mike :beer:

[Hendrik]

Hello Bear,

10 April 1809 ... Austrian invasion of Bavaria ?

I fully agree with Mike : keep them coming !

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Bear]

Thanks Hendrik

The Austrians invade Bavaria on the 9th and war against Austria is declared on 10 April(War of the Fifth Coalition).

Also another event happened on 10 April and a clue is candles.

thanks again,

barry

[Ulsterman]

no clue. i thought maybe the birth of Darwin, but nope-6 weeks off.

[Bear]

Hello Ulsterman

The clue was candles. Not Darwin's Birthday but Jean Lannes. Lannes was born in Gascony on the 10th of April 1769. He spent his last birthday in Paris and I imagine it was not a happy one.

thanks,

barry

[Bear]

General Baussancourt(1745-1795)

General Custine(1740-1793)

Baussancourt served under Custine and I thought I'd post the pages during the 23rd of May. I can only make certain words so if any French speakers/readers see anything interesting please let me know.

thanks,

barry

This is a 125 page journal detailing military orders issued to General Baussancourt during the period of April through August 1793.

Baussancourt, g?n?ral de brigade, prit de bonne heure le parti des armes; et s??tant distingu? en diverses occasions, il obtint de grade de g?n?ral de brigade. Employ? ? l?arm?e du Nord, sous le g?n?ral Custine, il y commandait l?avant-garde, le 23 Mai 1793, lorsque le Autrichiens marchaient sur Bouchain. Il combattit avec beaucoup de valeur, et parvint ? repousser l?ennemi. Ayant ?t? destitu? quelque temps apr?s comme noble, il en mourut de chagrin, ? l??ge de 46 ans. Il comptait alors 18 campagnes.

Baussancourt, brigadier general, and has been distinguished on several occasions, he received a grade of brigadier general. Employed by the Northern Army, under General Custine, he commanded the vanguard, on 23 May 1793, when the Austrians were marching on Bouchain. He fought with great valor, and managed to repel the enemy. Having been dismissed after some time as a noble, he died of grief, at the age of 46 years. He had 18 campaigns.

[Bear]

Extract of a Letter from an Officer in the British Army

Camp Famars

May 24, 1793

I have the pleasure of informing you, that yesterday a general attack was made with great success upon all the posts of the French in the neighbourhood, by the Austrians, British, and Hanoverians, under the Prince of Cobourg. At the same time, the French were attacked at the Heights of Mount Anzain near Valenciennes, by General Clairfayt; at Maubeuge by Count of La Tour; and at Orchies by the Dutch, who were equally successful.

The enemy were so much dispirited by their losses yesterday, that they early this morning abandoned this camp, which is remarkably strong, and defended by five redoubts, before we had attempted to storm it, which would otherwise have taken place at day break. The loss of the British is trifling, amounting to no more than twenty or thirty privates of the 14th and 53d Regiments, and the 11th of Light Horse; the latter attacked a convoy escorting provisions, killed about forty, and brought in thirty prisoners, and several waggons with provisions; the Guards were not engaged.

We are now encamped within cannon shot of Valenciennes, which must soon fall, as well as Conde, as they are completely surrounded. Whilst I am writing, the suburbs of Valenciennes are in flames; but whether from the fire of the Austrians, or whether it was done by the Garrison, I cannot ascertain; some deserters say, that the French are gone to Cambray and Douay, and that at least five hundred of them would have deserted yesterday, if they could have done it with safety. As the messenger is going off I must conclude in haste.

[Bear]

Head-Quarters of the Prince de Cobourg

June 3, 1793

General Custine arrived at the French army the day after the taking of the Camp of Famars, and sent notice of his arrival to the Prince de Cobourg. He is assembling all his forces behind Bouchain, and this obliges the Prince of Cobourg to have an army of observation to cover the siege. The Count de Clairfayt commands it, and it consists of 30,000 men, posted from Vavrechin to Mayelle. The Prince of Cobourg, with an equal number of troops, is going to encamp at Denain. Thirty five thousand men will be employed in the siege of Valenciennes, and 7000 at that of Conde; 5000 more will join General Latour, that he may attack Maubeuge at the same time.

The Duke of York commands the English and Hanoverian army, and 6000 Austrians, at the head of whom General Ferrari. This corps, which is 20,000 men strong, makes the circumvallation on the right side of the Scheldt, from Fontenelle to Onnaing. Several small camps occupy Estreu, St. Sauve, and the space between Onnaing and Rombies. The reserve of artillery is near Curgies, supported by 3000 Austrians.

A floating battery has been constructed to batter Conde, on the side of the inundation, where the enemy thought themselves secure. The garrison of Valenciennes does nothing to hinder us from establishing our batteries upon Mount Anzin, which is 800 fathoms from the place. A deserter has informed us that 300 inhabitants who spoke of a surrender, have been imprisoned.

Quesnoi is invested, and will be attacked at the same time as the other places. Since the late defeats, desertion is very considerable among the French troops of the line, and a great number of soldiers daily come over to us. We took 100 prisoners in the pursuit on the 24th and 25th of last month. The Head-Quarters of the Prince of Cobourg are at St. Amand, Bruay, and the Abbey Vicogne, in order to be at hand to give assistance at the operations of the sieges of Conde and Valenciennes.

[Bear]

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[Bear]

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[Bear]

Execution of Custine

Paris, August 28, 1793

The evidence and arguments on the trail of Custine, were concluded on the 27th, late in the evening. The Public Accuser, and the Prisoner's Counsel, having made their remark, the President of the Tribunal stated the following questions for the consideration of the Jury:

1. Have there been, during the present war, criminal manoeuvres and correspondence with the enemies of the Republic, tending to facilitate their entrance into our territory, and to deliver up to them our places of strength, cities, magazines, and arsenals?

2. Is it proved that in consequence of such correspondence, the cities of Frankfort, Mentz, Conde, and Valenciennes have fallen into the hands of the enemy?

3. Is Adam Philip Custine, late General of the Army of the North and Ardennes, convicted of having co-operated in these manoeuvres and correspondence?

To all these questions the Jury found in the affirmative and passed the following sentence:

Adam Philip Custine is condemned to death, and confiscation of property for the benefit of the Republic. The sentence of death shall be executed, in the Place of the Revolution, between 10 and eleven o'clock in the morning read, printed, and posted up, wherever it shall seem proper.

The President called upon the prisoner to say, if he had any objection to make to the application of the law?

Custine answered "I have no defenders they have disappeared; my conscience make me no reproach; I die innocent."

The people heard the sentence with loud applause.

Custine was brought to the place of execution on the morning of the 28th, where he showed neither the calm resignation of conscious innocence, nor the indignant firmness that men of proud spirits, who have no such consolation, substitute for it. He kissed the crucifix, embraced his Confessor, hesitated, used every artifice to gain a few minuted longer time, and at last was brought to the guillotine by force.

[Bear]

This is the last mention of Custine in the journal.

thanks,

barry