NAPOLEON I. Letter signed Napoleon to Marshal Moncey (1754-1 - Lot 24

NAPOLEON I. Letter signed Napoleon to Marshal Moncey (1754-1842), commander of the ocean coast army. Paris, January 7, 1808. 1 page in-8 (18.5 x 22.8 cm). Brown ink on bifeuillet. The beginnings of the Spanish War. Napoleon instructs Moncey to establish his headquarters in Vitoria. "I have received your letters from Bordeaux of December 23 and 29. Your headquarters must be in Vittoria by January 10th. However, do not force the march of any troops; there is no hurry. Send the Minister of War the accurate situation reports for your army. I'll let you stay in Biscay for a few days, so that you can train well and organize your divisions. I see from your letter that your first division will not be in Bayonne until January 4th. It is useless, as I told you earlier, for you to force your troops to march in order to carry out the Minister's orders in good time. Give an exact account to the Minister of War, which does not prevent you from writing to me from time to time. As soon as you have entered Spain, send officers to the right and to the left, and gather information on the situation and the spirit of the country. Pass on the enclosed letter to General Mouton." Marshal Moncey arrived in Bordeaux on December 20, 1807 at the head of the ocean coast observation corps. He crossed the Bidasoa on January 30, 1808, then entered San Sebastian to the cheers of the locals. Ink a little pale. Folds. Mounted on tab. From the Lucien-Graux collection (sale June 17, 1958). Napoleon's correspondence. 1864; letter no. 13436, vol. XVI, p. 232. Napoleonica. Correspondance générale... [online], 16,965.