NAPOLEON I. Autograph manuscript (about 3... - Lot 192 - Osenat

Lot 192
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NAPOLEON I. Autograph manuscript (about 3... - Lot 192 - Osenat
NAPOLEON I. Autograph manuscript (about 3 columns) with dictated notes to Grand Marshal Henri-Gatien BERTRAND (3 columns), all on an English laid paper bifeuillet watermarked "J. Ansell 1811". LONGWOOD, SAINTE-HELENE ISLAND, probably late 1816]. On folio, a few cuttings corresponding to a total of 1/4 column. "I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE ENTERING THE CAMPAIGN: WE ARE ORGANIZING THE ARMY! "(GASPARD GOURGAUD). Among his works and dictations, the emperor devoted time to thinking about the progress that could be made in military organization. Grand Marshal Bertrand indicates in his Notebooks of St. Helena, on November 14, "The emperor dictates to General Gourgaud a project of organization of the army to be given to the grand marshal. Gourgaud said laughingly to Mme Bertrand: I did not know we were going to enter the campaign: we are organising the army! ». On November 23, 1816, Gaspard Gourgaud wrote in his Diary: "The emperor tells me about his plans for military organization. The next day, Grand Marshal Bertrand noted: "The Emperor talks with the Grand Marshal about his military notes. As they are, made without pretension, they will form an interesting work. "Again on January 12, 1817: "The Emperor [...] wants to continue his military notes. The present notes bear witness to this work, a version of which was published under the title "Projet d'organisation de l'armée" in the Œuvres de Napoléon à Sainte-Hélène (Napoléon I, Correspondance, Paris, Imprimerie impériale, t. XXXI, 1869, pp. 512-547). The pages indicated below refer to the latter work. Cavalerie du train des équipages On 8 December 1816, Grand Marshal Bertrand stated: "the emperor is concerned with transport, packs, wants to give donkeys to the army". These notes are to be linked to the second part of the published "Projet", entitled "Équipages militaires" (pp. 530-53). The present notes include a large section devoted to the organization of the cavalry of the train crews. WE READ HERE IN THE EMPEROR'S HAND: "Important Note. 1 squad, 1 assistant storekeeper... 1 mule or pack horse for the battalion commander - 1 1 for the quartermaster and administration... - 1 3 for the 18 officers of the corps at the rate of 1 per 6 officers... - 3 1 for the regimental fund... In his Cahiers de Sainte-Hélène, Grand Marshal Bertrand reports: "The great improvement to be made in warfare, the only one of importance, the one that will give a great advantage to the one who establishes it first: it is to accustom the soldier to carry his food, to make his own flour and bread [.The emperor then looked up the weight of rations, biscuits, rice, flour, etc. At supper, he had a cake made with flour and rice boiled in water brought to him? In his Journal, Gaspard Gourgaud confirms on the same date: "His majesty [...] has a four-ounce cake of flour made by the cook brought to him, and four ounces of rice." This question, already addressed by Napoleon I in the seventh of the "Notes on the Art of War" (p. 408), is developed further in ch. III of the first part of the "Project" entitled "Infantry" (pp. 515-516). Another part of these notes is devoted to the question of transporting the soldiers' food. WE READ HERE IN THE EMPEROR'S HAND: "The problem to be solved is to have a month's supply of food without the need to communicate with the stores.... The present ration [is] 18 ounces of flour or 20 of wheat, which makes 24 of bread. To carry his bread, a soldier has difficulty carrying his 6 litres for 4 days, not because of the weight but because of the packaging. If he had to carry wheat or flour, it would be easier for him to carry a weight of 8 litres in two bags of 4 litres each. In the case of flour, 18 ounces of flour, 20 ounces of wheat or 24 ounces of bread can be replaced by 6 ounces of reef. In this case, the two bags carrying 8 pounds of sweetbreads would provide 21 or 22 days' worth of food. BUT THE FRENCHMAN WANTS BREAD TO EAT ON THE MARCH. 5 ounces of flour being 4 of sweetbread plus 13 of sweetbread which is missing, would make a mixed ration of 9 ounces. The soldier could carry 14 days of food. Grand Marshal Bertrand and his son are known to have offered, to friends and various personalities, autographed relics of Napoleon I extracted from the manuscripts brought back from Saint Helena - hence the cuttings observed here.
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