WELLINGTON DUKE OF: (1769-1852) Anglo-Irish Field Marshal, the Victor of Waterloo, 1815. ...

WELLINGTON DUKE OF: (1769-1852) Anglo-Irish Field Marshal, the Victor of Waterloo, 1815. British Prime Minister 1828-30, 1834. A good L.S., Wellington, four pages, folio, Villatoro, 2nd October 1812, to Sir Home Popham. Wellington states that he has received his correspondent's letter and conversed with the messenger regarding his plans and their execution, remarking 'The great object for me is that you should draw the attention of the enemy by your operations from those which we are carrying on this side; & that you should prevent Caffarelli from detaching Troops to aid Marmont's Army. It would be desirable, for many reasons, that you should get possession of Santona & also of Guataria; but I confess that I entertain so bad an opinion of the Spanish Troops that I don't think you can rely upon them; & the body of Marines which you have with you is not sufficiently large to do much by themselves, or to be a very efficient example to the Spanish troops'. Wellington also writes of his own military activities, 'I am very much afraid that I shall not take this Castle. It is very strong, well garrisoned and well provided with artillery. I had only three pieces of cannon of which one was destroyed last night; & not much ammunition, and I have not been able to get on as I ought. I have however got a mine under one of the works, which I hope will enable me to carry the exterior line; and when that is carried, I hope I shall get on better. But time is wearing apace, and Soult is moving from the South; and I should not be surprised if I were obliged to discontinue this operation to collect the Army' and further reflects 'It is unfortunate that you should have plenty of cannon & ammunition, but that you want good soldiers, & I no want of the latter, but very little of the former. The means of transport, however, required to move a train from the coast or from Madrid where we have plenty, are so extensive, that the attempt would be impracticable'. A letter of good military content. Some very light age wear and extremely minor damp staining to the margins, only very slightly affecting a few words of text and not the signature. G

Home Riggs Popham (1762-1820) British Rear Admiral who saw service in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Marie-Francois Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga (1766-1849) French General who served as aide-de-camp to Napoleon Bonaparte. Auguste de Marmont (1774-1852) French General, Marshal of the Empire. Jean-de-Dieu Soult (1769-1851) French General, Marshal of the Empire.