NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Napoleon plans the invasion of Russia "The rivers will only be a small obstacle we will be ...

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Napoleon plans the invasion of Russia "The rivers will only be a small obstacle we will be able to cross them in a few moments"

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of the French 1804-14, 1815. An excellent content and very fine Letter Signed `Nap´, one page, 4to, gilt edges, Paris, 7th February 1812, to Prince Eugene Beauharnais, in French. The present letter was dictated by Napoleon Bonaparte to Baron Fain. Napoleon is making all the preparations and military moves preceeding his Russian military invasion, and writes to his adopted son Eugene Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy and one of his more talented military Commanders, about the corps he needs to add to the Guard troops, referring above all to the special corps they will need to cross the rivers on their way to Moscow, and states `Mon fils, je reçois votre lettre du 29 Janvier. Je vois que vous avez une bonne compagnie de matelots qui suivra la garde. Il est nécessaire de vous faire suivre aussi par 200 ouvriers de l´arsenal, charpentiers, calfats et charrons. Ils auront un caisson rempli des outils nécessaires pour leur service. Ces deux corps marcheront ensemble et réunis à l´équipage de pont, aux sapeurs et à la compagnie du génie Italienne dont j´ai ordonné la formation´ (Translation: “My son, I received your letter dated January 29th. I see that you have a good company of sailors who will follow the guard. It is necessary to have you also followed by 200 workers from the arsenal, carpenters, caulkers and wheelwrights. They will have a caisson filled with all the necessary tools for their service. These two corps will march together and will be joined by the deck crew, the sappers and the Italian engineering company whose formation I have ordered“) Further and before concluding, Napoleon makes a comment which will prove to be nine months after one of his biggest military mistakes, a miscalculation probably due to the delay in reaching Moscow and to the terrible and unexpected winter weather conditions, which ended with the disaster of the Battle of Berezina, 26th to 29th November 1812, a chaos retreat which costed heavy losses when trying to cross the river. As the present letter shows, Napoleon was expecting that the rivers crossing would not be a problem and even less with the corps he is taking with him, and states `Les rivières ne seront plus qu´un faible obstacle: on pourra les passer en peu d´instants´ (Translation: “The rivers will only be a small obstacle: we will be able to cross them in a few moments“) It has been estimated that sixty thousand men died in the Battle of Berezina, half of them being non-combatants. Very small stain to the upperleft corner, although not affecting the text, otherwise VG

Eugene de Beauharnais (1781-1824) French Prince, son of Josephine de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy 1805-14 and Grand Duke of Frankfurt.

Agathon Jean François Fain (1778-1837) French Historian. In 1806 he was appointed secretary and archivist to the cabinet particulier of the Emperor, whom he attended on his campaigns and journeys. Created a Baron of the empire in 1809, on the fall of Napoleon he was first secretary of the Emperor´s cabinet and his confidential secretary.