MURAT (JOACHIM). - Lot 153

Lot n° 153
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600 - 800 EUR
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Result : 975EUR
MURAT (JOACHIM). - Lot 153
MURAT (JOACHIM). Letter signed "Joachim Napoleon" (one p. 1/2 in-4) with autograph apostille signed with his initials (one line), as King of Naples, addressed to General Paul Grenier, Chief of the General Staff of the Neapolitan Army. "Camp royal" de Piale [in Calabria, in front of the Strait of Messina], July 23, 1810. 2 pp. in-4. PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION TO SICILY. Decided on May 16, 1810 by Joachim Murat to put an end to the English threat to the island so close to the Calabrian coast, and to finally reunite the lands of his kingdom, it was placed under the orders of General Grenier. The expeditionary corps was divided into three troops, commanded respectively by generals Partouneaux, Lamarque and Cavaignac (flanked by general Dery). Napoleon I agreed, but only on condition of any assurance of success - in other words, he was opposed in a roundabout way. The adventure was attempted on September 17, 1810, but as General Grenier refused, only General Cavaignac disembarked: without the support of the other two troops to face the English and a hostile population, he had to return to Calabria. "Give orders to all the companies of voltigeurs of the LAMARQUE division to be on the shore along Canatello [Cannitello, on the Strait of Messina] by eight o'clock this evening at the latest, where they are to be loaded onto light boats. Biscuits will be distributed to them for six days, as well as 80 cartridges for each; they will also be given flints. Six hundred men of my Guard will be brought to shore at the same time, and will be loaded onto the remaining light boats, whose oarsmen will be supplemented. If there are still light boats left after these detachments have embarked, I will inform them of their destination. General PARTOUNEAUX will assemble all the companies of voltigeurs at the same time, as well as the battalion of La Tour d'Auvergne; I am transmitting to him the telegraph order for them to arrive at Scilla [Scylla, on the Calabrian coast, at the mouth of the Strait of Messina]. The two divisions, Partouneaux and Lamarque, are to be handed over at two o'clock after midnight behind the boats that are to transport them; they are to be ready to embark at the 1st signal given, the first at Scilla and the other at Canatello. The reserve must be ready to march; the same distributions will be made to them. I would like you to let me know immediately the approximate strength of the companies of voltigeurs in each regiment, and that the Navy be informed immediately of the number of light boats known as feluccas and the number of men they can carry. Give orders accordingly. I'll let General DERY know directly the composition of my Guard detachment. If these companies do not bring my force up to 4,000 men, we will take companies of grenadiers in proportion from the two divisions to obtain this force. IF BAD WEATHER OR A QUELCONQUE INCIDENT EMPECTS THE EMBARKING OF THESE TROOPS, it will be necessary for the chief ordinator to be warned in advance, so that he can take the necessary measures to feed them during the time they remain here... [In his own handwriting, Joachim Murat added:] Water of life will also be distributed..."
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