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a handwritten letter written in black ink on a yellow piece of papertwo old papers with handwriting on them sitting on top of each otheran old map of a river with a line drawn on itan old map of the world with a lot of drawings on it
Ader

504 - Mexican Campaign. 15 letters ‘Gogo’ (or L.
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
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Description
Mexican Campaign. 15 letters ‘Gogo’ (or L.A.) from Ensign Gabriel-Antoine-Georges de PARIS LA BROSSE (1838–1916), November 1861–May 1862, to his mother; approximately 175 pages, in-8. A very interesting collection of letters concerning the Mexican expedition. The first two letters, from Paris and Cherbourg, were written prior to his departure aboard the aviso *Le Marceau*, on which Ensign Georges de Paris embarked on 11 November 1861, under the command of Admiral de La Roncière. After a stopover in Tenerife (22–25 November), where the division assembled before heading for Martinique and Havana, and then on to Veracruz. A long letter (20–22 December) gives his impressions of Martinique and Jamaica. The first letter from Mexico is dated 19 January 1862 in Veracruz; from this point on, they are long letters, written over several days (a ‘little diary’), full of details about the operations; some letters run to 25 pages, and one is as long as 38! We can only provide a brief overview here. Vera Cruz, 19 January. Landing at Sacrificios, ‘an island two miles from Vera Cruz’, from where troops, horses, artillery and provisions had to be ferried across in small boats; Georges was given command of two 12-pounder guns by Captain Bruat. – Camp de la Soledad, 2 February: march inland. – Camp de la Tejeria, 20 February. As the guns for which he was responsible were too heavy, it was decided to abandon them, and he joined Captain Bruat’s battery; explanation of the ‘gourbi’; arrival of General Prim at the camp. – Camp de Cordova, 5 March. The expedition set off; wounded in the foot, he was unable to march and had to follow the column on horseback. – Orizaba, 8 March: ‘brief diary of the Division’s march’, through the mountains, under fire from the Mexicans; passage of the ‘Tchikiuit’; arrival and encampment at Cordova; as the Mexicans were evacuating the town, a huge explosion at an ammunition depot in the fort’s underground passages caused 1,000 dead and 500 wounded: ‘I pity them with all my heart, for to tell you the truth I harbour no animosity towards the Mexicans, and God knows I would not wish to wage war against them. I even hold them dear to my heart, for they have enabled us to undertake a most pleasant expedition there, for which I am most grateful to them.” General Lorencez has arrived in Vera Cruz. Whilst the division is set to advance towards Tehuacan, the British remain in Cordova and the Spanish in Orizaba. Illness is spreading amongst the troops. Explanations regarding command and military service. Paris continues his letter on the 11th, at the Ponte Colorado camp, and explains the difficulties of setting up field batteries across the mountains and in the clouds. Arrival in Tehuacán on the 15th; difficulties in finding accommodation; on the 19th, he describes his quarters and sketches his canvas bed attached to his kit. On the last page, he has drawn a small map to illustrate the march through the mountains. – 7 April. They withdrew towards Córdoba; reflections on political procrastination; arrival of General de Lorencez with his troops; life in camp; military mass… – Córdoba, 18 April, then Orizaba, 23–26 April. Meeting in Orizaba of the Council of Allied Plenipotentiaries; heated discussions between General Prim and the admiral, who no longer wishes to negotiate with Juárez. ‘Departure of the Spanish and the British. The French remain alone in Mexico. The admiral informs Juárez’s government that he does not recognise it’, and that he is going to march on Mexico City. On the 19th, the march begins; at the village of Fortin, the vanguard encounters the Mexican cavalry; charge by the African light infantry. ‘General Almonte, who arrived from France with General Lorencez and who represents the reactionary faction favourable to French influence, has issued two or three proclamations here in which he styles himself Commander-in-Chief and Supreme Head of the Republic. […] It is likely that, as we advance, we shall be joined by band leaders, who cannot yet come to us because, if they were caught, they would be immediately shot, but who will take advantage of the first break in the weather’”… Paris drew a copy of the map of Mexico to enable his mother to follow the operations. Details of the 10 planned stages from Orizaba to Puebla. – Guaquichula, 2 May… to 21 May. Account of the march towards Puebla, marked by various attacks on the column by the Mexican cavalry, which was growing in strength. The letter resumes on 10 May in Amozoc, with an account of the disastrous Battle of Puebla (drawing of the site of Puebla, dominated by the Church of Guadalupe). Retreat to Orizaba… Enclosed: – a large map drawn on tracing paper and annotated (27 x 61 cm) in black and red ink with highlights, A road map from Veracruz to Mexico City (based on a map from 1846; see the letter dated 18–26 April); – the end of another letter (p. 9); – a letter from Gratien de Paris to his mother, written before his brother Georges’s departure.
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part II
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Auction time 10/14/2026 at 2:00 PM
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