Grand Army. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY GUNNER COURTIN, 3rd regiment, 4th battalion, 6th company of the Marine Artillery, ADDRESSED TO RENÉ GIBIERGE residing in Bellesme in Orne, Erfurt, July 29, 1813. 18856-14

Great Army. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY THE GUNNER COURTIN, 3rd regiment, 4th battalion, 6th company of the Marine Artillery, ADDRESSED TO RENÉ GIBIERGE residing in Bellesme in the Orne, Erfurt, July 29, 1813. 18856-14

Letter with address "Monsieur René Gibierge residing in St Germain de La Coudre care of Bellesme at St Germain *"
Soldier Courtin is a gunner in the 3rd regiment, 4th battalion, 6th company of the Marine Artillery, in the Great Army.

Erfurt, July 29, 1813.
Soldier Courtin asks about the health of his correspondent, informs that his own is good. He describes his daily life.
"… I will tell you that we will arrive in ten days at the place where this dreadful combat may be the end of my life; but fate which is reserved for me by the Supreme Being will give us, as I hope, a convincing proof to the contrary by a triumphant return to our country in the midst of my dear friends. We are about three hundred and fifty leagues from our country. We are on the road and are quartered in villages and we are fairly well fed eating good rye bread and for good meat we eat potatoes or meat or dairy products in sufficient quantity. I will tell you that I received your letter on July 25th as well as your money and all arrived safely [...]
Please write back to me immediately. Here is my address, To Mr. Courtin, gunner in the 3rd Reg.t 4th Batt.n 6th Comp.y of marine artillery attached to the regiment in the Great Army".

Handwritten note at the end of the letter "he left on February 9, 1813 from the town of Saint Germain where he resided".
* The district of Bellesme was a former French territorial division in the department of Orne from 1790 to 1795. It consisted of the cantons of Bellesme, Ceton, Condeau, Nocé, la Perrière, Remalard, and Saint-Germain de la Coudre.

Double sheet. 2 1/2 pages.
Dimensions: 20.5 cm x 17 cm.
Poor condition, damp stains and foxing, folds, tears on the edges with losses.