BERTHIER LOUIS-ALEXANDRE: (1753-1815) Marshal of France, Prince of Neuchatel. Chief of Staff under Napoleon. A very good content L.S., `Alexandre´, one page, 4to, Valladolid, 11th January 1809, to Marshal Duc de Dalmatie, in French. An interesting military letter by Berthier, from Valladolid, where he has arrived with Napoleon who will stay until the 17<sup>th</sup> January before returning to France. On this same date, 11<sup>th</sup> January, Napoleon wrote to his brother Joseph from Valladolid `You can make your entrance to Madrid whenever you consider it convenient´, after having obtained several recent victories against the English and Spanish. Berthier states in part `La division Heudelet vient d´arriver a Valladolid ainsi que le 17º d´Infanterie légere, mais la division Marchand a du vous joinder ainsi que Mr. le Maréchal Ney avec la division Maurice Mathieu…. La division Heudelet se trouvera en mesure de maintenir vos communications entre Astorga et Lugo´ ("The Heudelet division has just arrived in Valladolid as well as the 17<sup>th</sup> light Infantry, but the Marchand division had to join you as well as Mr. le Maréchal Ney with the Maurice Mathieu division…. The Heudelet division will be able to maintain your communications between Astorga and Lugo") Berthier further refers to Napoléon´s orders regarding the English troops retreat, and says `Il parait bien difficile, Monsieur le Maréchal, que dans la position ou se trouve l´armée Anglaise, elle puisse s´embarquer, Sa Majesté compte sur votre zele et votre énergie pour la détruire´ ("It seems very difficult, Mr. Marshal, that in the position where the English army is, that they could embark. His Majesty is counting on your zeal and your energy to destroy it") Accompanied by a Bulletin Analytique on the printed heading of Marshal Duc de Dalamatie, from Valladolid, same date, referring to Marshal Ney troops. Very small minor age wear, otherwise G to VG

 

The letter is addressed to the Duc de Dalmatie, Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult (1769-1851) Marshal of France.

Etienne Heudelet de Bierre (1770-1857) French General. He distinguished himself at Austerlitz. Heudelet fought in Marshal Soult´s invasion of Portugal in 1809.

Jean Gabriel Marchand (1765-1851) French General

Michel Ney (1769-1815) Marshal of France, Duc d´Elchingen and Prince de la Moskowa. Executed.

David Maurice Mathieu de la Redorte (1768-1833) French general who fought at Tudela.