LS in French, signed “Nap,” one page both sides, 7.5 x 9, May 28, 1808. Letter to Clarke, Minister of War. In part (translated): “I see in the May 1 report on the State of Artillery…an error. Two companies of almost 200 men on the Ile d’Yeu would be far too much…risk of loss is disproportionate to the need. One sole company will be sufficient. The 3rd Company of the 1st Batallion, 109 men strong, is listed as being in General Zayonczek’s Division. This General has a Polish Division and hasn’t had any French artillery for a long time…The 7th Company is in Martinique… my intention is that each Batallion should have a second Company on the Islands…It grieves me to see that the 10th Batallion has only 400 men and 350 horses, the 4th 600 men and 780 horses…In general I am surprised to see that there are 14,700 men in the baggage train and 17,500 horses. This seems disproportionate to me…there should be an additional 2,000 horses. The organization of the pontoon pioneer batallions in only two batallions doesn’t seem good to me. It’s necessary to have 3 to 5 or 6 companies in each so that 2 of them can be sent to the Grande Armée…The Company of Miners must be brought back from the Island of Elba…it is useless there…I see 2 Companies of Coast Guard Gunners at Caprara; one is more than enough…Companies of Coast Guard Cannoniers must be created for Tuscany, but they must not be companies made up of natives of the country—Who, up to the present moment, are deserving of little confidence. Above all that’s where veteran gunners are needed.” In fine condition, with central horizontal and vertical folds and a few ink blots to signature. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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