. DUROC (Géraud Christophe Michel). Autograph... - Lot 20 - Osenat

. DUROC (Géraud Christophe Michel). Autograph letter signed to the Countess of Montesquiou-Fezensac. Castle of Biénitsa [between Molodetchno/Maladietchna and Smorgoni/Smorhon, in the present Belarus], December 4, 1812. 1 p. 1/2 in-folio. LETTER WRITTEN 5 DAYS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE BEREZINA. "I cannot defer to offer you the homage of my gratitude for all the kindnesses which you had for my wife and of which she did not fail to inform me. Her sensitivity was quite natural and you have done more than excuse it. At present, you have your son near you. He will have informed you of everything that is happening here. THE EMPEROR'S HEALTH IS VERY GOOD. THE ARMY IS STILL MARCHING, IT IS APPROACHING ITS REINFORCEMENTS AND ITS STORES. I have just received several letters from Mr. le Comte de Montesquiou. He will excuse me if I do not answer him immediately. WE ARE ON THE MARCH AND WE HAVE LITTLE TIME TO SPARE... ". The Countess of Montesquiou-Fezensac, Louise-Charlotte Le Tellier de Courtanvaux de Montmirail, was the governess of the King of Rome. Her husband, Élisabeth-Pierre de Montesquiou-Fezensac was a grand chamberlain. One of their sons, Anatole de Montesquiou, had served in the Russian campaign as an orderly of Napoleon I, but he had just been sent on December 2 to Paris, where he arrived shortly before the present letter of General Duroc.