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a piece of old paper with handwriting on it
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533 - Philippe-Paul, Count of SÉGUR (1780–1873), general and histo…
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Estimate €500 - €700
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Description
Philippe-Paul, Count of SÉGUR (1780–1873), general and historian. Autograph manuscript, ‘The Battle of the Moskva’, Notes by the Duke of Vicenza; 5 folio pages (edges slightly frayed). A refutation of Caulaincourt’s account of the Battle of the Moskva (7 September 1812). The historian of the Russian Campaign takes notes based on the Memoirs of Caulaincourt, Count of Vicence, and refutes them with his own personal recollections. For example: ‘This is completely at odds with what I heard and saw with my own eyes. […] This report by Berthier is in complete contradiction to what Berthier himself told Daru in the midst of the battle’… Etc. The principal figures in this famous battle are mentioned: Napoleon, Berthier, Belliard, Davout, Bessières, etc. The tone of the observations is impassioned; the comments are frequently written in the wake of conversations the Count of Ségur has just had with generals who took a direct part in the action… Enclosed is an autograph letter from Captain Jean-Marie Soubdès (1787–1859) to the Count of Ségur (6½ pages, folio size). A captain in the former 5th Cuirassier Regiment, he provides some clarifications and corrections after reading Ségur’s book, *Histoire de Napoléon et de la Grande Armée*. Soubdès joined the retreating Grande Armée in October and would like the role of General Latour-Maubourg to be highlighted. He corrects a few errors in dates and figures, and discusses the crossing of the Berezina: there was neither a hurricane nor a storm; whilst the men did indeed eat horse meat, he doubts that they resorted to cannibalism; the army lacked neither footwear nor clothing, which had been taken from the dead, etc.
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part II
Auction location
Auction time 10/14/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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