. NAPOLEON I. Letter signed "Napo" to the... - Lot 29 - Osenat

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. NAPOLEON I. Letter signed "Napo" to the... - Lot 29 - Osenat
. NAPOLEON I. Letter signed "Napo" to the Minister of War, General Henry Clarke. Enns [east of Linz, in Austria], 4 May 1809. 3 pp. in-4. ON THE MOVE TO VIENNA. On the right bank of the Danube, Napoleon I had passed the Traun river near Linz and had fought the battle of Ebersberg against the Austrians on May 3, but was stopped for a time at Enns, whose enemies had burned the bridge over the Enns river. While he led the bulk of his troops forward, he had created an observation corps in Hanau and, under the command of General Marc-Antoine Bonin de La Boninière de Beaumont, a reserve division based in Augsburg on the rear of the Grand Army, in order to be able to deal with any eventuality: in fact, at the outbreak of the war with Austria, unrest had erupted in various parts of Germany, the insurrection in the Tyrol from April 11 having been particularly violent. In Italy, moreover, the army of Prince Eugene had been pushed back on the Adige by the Archduke of Austria Jean, but this one was soon going to evacuate its positions to return to Austria with the aim of participating in the defense of Vienna. " ... I had ordered that three provisional regiments of dragoons go to Hanau. I have just ordered that two of these regiments go to Au[g]sbourg, only one will remain in Hanau. I have designated the 6th, if this regiment is part of the three which marched on this side. Take care that the provisional regiment which is in Hanau be formed as soon as possible and that for this purpose the men intended for this regiment go to Mayence, instead of going to Strasbourg. I HAVE PASSED THE TRAUNN, as you will see in the bulletin, I AM BRIDGING A BRIDGE ON THE EN[N]S, WHICH I WILL PASS TOMORROW. Thus moving away, I ordered that independently of the observation corps of the Veser which is assembled at Hanau, a reserve division composed of five provisional regiments of dragoons, the regiment of Berg, a regiment of Wurtemberg and several corps drawn from Bavaria be formed at Au[g]sbourg. CORRESPOND WITH GENERAL BEAUMONT, SO THAT IF THERE WERE SOME MOVEMENTS ON THE SIDE OF THE TIROL, MY FRONTIERS WOULD BE INFORMED OF IT EARLY. The purpose of this reserve is to preserve the lands of the Confederation from partisans and from all kinds of movements. Activate as much as you can the formation of the provisional regiments. I have already written to you for the formation at Ausbourg of the 65th regiment. There are already the officers and 200 men, there will be another 400 men coming out of the hospitals. Direct to Ausbourg what there is in the depot and the conscripts intended for this regiment. Consult with the General Dejean [Jean-François Aimé Dejean, Minister Director of the War Administration] to direct to Ausbourg all that is necessary for this regiment. I DO NOT RECEIVE ANY ACCOUNT FROM ITALY. SEND OFFICERS TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND TO KNOW THE LOSSES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, either in the battles, or in the Tyrol, so that General Dejean can put them in an account and that the cavalry regiments whose depots are in Piedmont be given what they need to repair them. THE 14th REGIMENT OF HORSE HUNTERS HAS LOST A LOT IN A CHARGE AT RATISBONNE, take care to have it give what it lacks. THE TWO EXCELLENT CORSICAN BATTALLIONS AND TIRAILLEURS OF THE PO HAVE LOST A LOT IN YESTERDAY'S BATTLE [AT EBELSBERG, between Linz and Enns], see to it that General Lacuée [Jean-Girard Lacuée, director general of conscription and reviews] gives them all the Corsicans and 300 more men from the conscripts of the Piedmont. These battalions have an excellent spirit. Take care that all the men who leave Strasbourg are formed into marching battalions of 600 men, with numbers. Direct them first to Ausbourg, and then to PASSAU which WILL BE THE CENTER OF ARMY MOVEMENTS, ADMINISTRATIONS AND STORES. The regiments of cuirassiers which have their depot in Piedmont are weak, I ordered that all that is in Spain be erased, do not lose a moment to complete them so that as soon as my junction is made with the army of Italy, these detachments can come to join me. It is necessary to calculate that my regiments of carabiniers and cuirassiers have lost one in the other each 100 horses, it is thus necessary that one gives them men and horses, but especially recommend that one takes old horses, because young horses are not useful... ". Napoleon I. Correspondance générale, Paris, Fayard, vol. IX, 2013, n° 20956.
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