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153 - MURAT (JOACHIM). Letter signed "Joachim Napoleon" (one p. 1/…
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Estimate €600 - €800
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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" at Piale [in Calabria, in front of the Straits of Messina], 23 July 1810. 2 pp. in-4. PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION TO SICILY. Decided on 16 May 1810 by Joachim Murat to put an end to the English threat on the island so close to the coast of Calabria, 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, under the respective orders of Generals Partouneaux, Lamarque and Cavaignac (flanked by General Dery). Napoleon I agreed to the expedition, but only on condition that there was no guarantee of success. The adventure was attempted on 17 September 1810, but as General Grenier refused, only General Cavaignac disembarked: as he did not have the support of the other two troops to deal with 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 Straits of Messina] by eight o'clock this evening at the latest, where they are to be loaded onto light boats. They will be given biscuits for six days and 80 rounds of ammunition each; they will also be given flints. Six hundred men from my Guard will be brought ashore at the same time and will be embarked on the remaining light boats, whose rowers 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 for the same hour all the companies of voltigeurs, as well as the battalion of La Tour d'Auvergne; I am transmitting to him the order by telegraph to make them arrive at Scilla [Scylla, on the coast of Calabria, at the outlet of the Straits of Messina]. The two divisions, Partouneaux and Lamarque, must be delivered at two o'clock after midnight behind the boats that are to transport them; they must be ready to be embarked at the first 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 what is the approximate strength of the companies of voltigeurs of 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 will inform General DERY directly of the composition of the detachment of my Guard. If these companies do not bring my strength to 4000 men, we will take companies of grenadiers in proportion in the two divisions to obtain this strength. IF BAD WEATHER OR A QUICK INCIDENT IMPEDES THE EMBARKING OF THESE TROOPS, it will be necessary for the chief ordnance officer to be warned in advance, so that he can take the necessary measures to feed them during the time they remain here... [In his handwriting, Joachim Murat added:] Water of life will also be distributed...".
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About the sale The Empire at Fontainebleau - Second day
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits:
Michel Bury and Henri du Cray
See original version (French)
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