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World War II-dated TLS signed “G S Patton Jr,” one page, 8 x 10.5, August 26, 1944. Letter written as commander of the Third United States Army to Major General Manton S. Eddy, commanding general of XII Corps, commending his rapid advance across France and willingness to accept calculated risks. In full:
“1. Your Corps has most expeditiously accomplished its mission of attacking east, seizing and holding a bridgehead east of YONNE RIVER at SENS and protecting the south flank of the Army, all in the short space of three days.
“2. The aggressive and efficient manner in which this mission has been carried out reflects credit upon the Corps in keeping with the high traditions of the service and upon you as its Commanding General. Your ability to accept calculated risks without becoming involved in unwarranted delays has contributed substantially to the successful accomplishment of the mission.
“3. You and the personnel of your Command are hereby highly commended for your splendid accomplishment of this mission.” In fine condition, with a tear to the top edge and trivial soiling. Accompanied by a custom cloth-bound presentation case.
The commendation dates from Third Army’s rapid exploitation of the Allied breakout from Normandy. As Martin Blumenson recounts in Patton: The Man Behind the Legend, 1885–1945, Eisenhower, Montgomery, and Bradley decided in early August that a single corps would suffice for the advance into Brittany, freeing the remainder of Patton’s army to turn eastward and southeastward from Avranches toward the Seine and Loire. Troy Middleton’s VIII Corps swept into Brittany, with armored forces advancing through Rennes toward Lorient, where a substantial German force had barricaded itself, and westward toward Brest. As Brittany declined in strategic importance, Wade Haislip’s XV Corps drove through the Avranches corridor and advanced some seventy-five miles to Le Mans in less than a week.
Three developments then reshaped the pursuit: Hitler ordered a counterattack toward Avranches that ultimately failed, Canadian forces attacked southward from Caen toward Falaise, and the Allied commanders directed Haislip to turn north from Le Mans. Bradley subsequently halted the American advance near Argentan at the boundary separating the American and British army groups. Blumenson describes this as one of the war’s most controversial decisions, rooted in Bradley’s prudence. Patton disagreed with the halt and secured permission to resume his eastward advance.
On August 14, Patton left three divisions along the Argentan line and sent Haislip’s XV Corps eastward with two divisions toward Dreux. Walton Walker’s XX Corps advanced toward Chartres, while XII Corps moved toward Orléans, the three thrusts reaching their objectives within days. Eddy assumed command of XII Corps on August 19, replacing the ailing Gilbert R. Cook, and continued the pursuit eastward. Patton called the advance ‘probably the fastest and biggest pursuit in history,’ while Blumenson concluded: ‘No army had ever moved with such speed and dash.’
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