Subasta Bidspirit | [BESSIERES JEAN-BAPTISTE]: (1768-1813)

[BESSIERES JEAN-BAPTISTE]: (1768-1813) - [BESSIERES JEAN-BAPTISTE]: (1768-1813) Marshal of France, Duc d´ Istria. Killed in the battle field in Rippach, the day before the battle of Lutzen. An extremely interesting content letter, sent to Marshal Bessieres by Baron Jean-François Dudon (1778-1857), reporting in full detail about the loss of the city of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain, close to the Portuguese border. A cleanly written letter with important historical content.   A.L.S., `Dudon´, two pages, folio, gilt edges, n.p. [Spain], 29 th January 1812, to Marshal Bessieres, in French. The present letter being a copy of Dudon´s letter which was forwarded to Marshal Bessieres. The French officer Dudon, states in part ` Votre excellence apprendra par les journaux nos success, mais personne ne parlera de nos revers, de nos malheurs et peut-être l´Empereur lui-même les ignore t-il. Nous avons perdu Ciudad Rodrigo le 19 de ce mois après trois jours de siege. Les ennemis ont suivi le plan d´attaque de l´Armée Française lorsqu´elle s´est emparée de cette ville avant d´entrer en Portugal; la breche avait été tres mal réparée, elle a été bientot rendue practicable. La garnison s´est vaillament défendue, quoiqu´elle eut été considérablement diminuée par la désertion, surtout de la part du 113º composé en grande partie d´Italiens. Le General Barrie, Gouverneur, le commandant de la place, le Commandant d´artillerie, ont été tués, on s´est battu de rue en rue´ (Translation: ” Your Excellency will learn from the newspapers of our successes, but no one will speak of our setbacks, our misfortunes and perhaps the Emperor himself is unaware of them. We lost Ciudad Rodrigo on the 19th of this month after three days of siege. The enemies followed the plan of attack of the French Army when we seized this city before entering Portugal; the breach had been very badly repaired, it was soon made passable. The garrison defended itself valiantly, although we were considerably diminished by desertion, especially on the part of the 113º, which was largely composed of Italians. General Barrie, Governor, the Commander of the place, the Commander of artillery, were killed, we fought street by street”) Further wondering why the French Army has not reacted in time and indirectly accusing the officers leading the troops, saying ` Les préparatifs des Anglais, la reunion de leur grosse artillerie a Almeida, leur marche et la prise de Ciudad Rodrigo, tout cela s´est fait avant que nous n´eussions fait avancer un bataillon. D´où vient cette apathie, est-ce insoussiance pour le service de l´Empereur? Personne dans l´armée n´en peut être accuse. Est-ce ignorance des mouvements de l´ennemi?... Nous étions a Burgos, je fus d´avis de revenir immédiatement a Valladolid… Votre Excellence connait toutes les lenteurs et les difficultés d´un ravitaillement pour Ciudad Rodrigo; mon conseil fut mal accueilli, on décida que nous continuerions notre voyage pour Pamplune, et quelques jours apres un aide de camp fut envoyé a Paris demander mon rappel; le Prince de Neuchatel, sans m´entendre, me fit donner l´ordre de passer a l´armée du Portugal´ (Translation: ” The preparations of the English, the assembly of their heavy artillery at Almeida, their march and the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, all this was done before we had brought forward a battalion. Where does this apathy come from, is it carelessness in the service of the Emperor? No one in the army can be accused of this. Is it ignorance of the enemy's movements?... We were in Burgos, I decided to return immediately to Valladolid... Your Excellency knows all the delays and difficulties of a supply for Ciudad Rodrigo; my advice was badly received, it was decided that we would continue our way to Pamplona, and a few days later an aide-de-camp was sent to Paris to ask for my recall; the Prince of Neuchatel, without listening to me, made me give the order to go to the army of Portugal”) Further again, saying ` Les habitants du pays ne conçoivent pas comment une armée française a pu laisser prendre une place, sous ses yeux sans faire un movement.Les projets des anglaise n´étaient pas caches, et les journaux du 8 Decembre de la Galice en donnaient les details. A peine arrive a Valladolid et informé de l´état des choses, M. le Duc de Raguse a voulu y porter remede, il n´était plus temps…´ (Translation: ” The inhabitants of the country do not conceive how a French army could let take such place, under its eyes and without making a movement. The projects of English were not hidden, and the newspapers of December 8th from Galicia gave the details of them. As soon as he arrived in Valladolid and was informed of the state of things, the Duke of Ragusa wanted to remedy it, it was too late…”) Further again and before concluding, Dudon reports on the ` disgraces´ and ` disasters´ experienced in different cities of Spain,