TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS FROM GENERAL LOUIS AUGUST FRANÇOIS DE MÉRIAGE (KNOWN AS MÉRIAGE) TO HIS WIFE ESTHER: one from Russia where he is taken prisoner, March 16, 1813; the other during the French expedition in Spain in Briviesca on May 8, 1823. 18856-24

TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS OF GENERAL LOUIS AUGUST FRANÇOIS DE MÉRIAGE (KNOWN AS MARIAGE) TO HIS WIFE ESTHER: one from Russia where he is taken prisoner, March 16, 1813; the other during the French expedition in Spain at Briviesca on May 8, 1823. 18856-24

1 - Very rare letter from the general taken prisoner by the Russians, addressed to his wife, Baroness Esther de Mariage, in Orell, Russia, March 16, 1813.
Appointed by the Emperor as a brigadier general in Moscow, he is wounded and left on the battlefield at Krasnoi where the Russians capture him (November 16, 1812); he will only return from captivity in July 1814.

He hopes that his previous letters have reached her and he asks his wife:
"to inform the administration of endowments, if you believe it necessary, that I am still in this world, so that I am not listed among the dead."

He mentions the difficulties in corresponding with France:
"I should send my letters open to the Minister of Police in St. Petersburg, who forwards them to the Russian army to be passed on by intermediaries to the French headquarters, and the latter sends them to their destination after being read by everyone, still lucky if they arrive because there is nothing less reliable than the postal service of our army."

Therefore, he advises using the intermediary of Madame Barkoff, the wife of the general and State Counselor:
"When I was wounded and taken prisoner, I had placed in General Marchand's wagons a box containing my portfolio, my necessaries, some silverware, and a few other items that I wanted to save from any event."
He is unsure if this box, which contained the lovely portrait of his wife, could be saved from the disaster.

2 pages. Dimensions: 19.1 cm x 12 cm.
In good condition with minor marginal loss, traces of folds, small tears at the bottom edge, and minimal foxing.

2 - Accompanied with another signed autograph letter from the general to his wife during the French expedition in Spain.
Briviesca, May 8, 1823: "Tomorrow we are leaving for Burgos, from where we will depart on the 13th for Madrid where we will be on the 23rd or 24th [...]."
Double leaflet. 2 pages. Dimensions: 25 cm x 20 cm.
With the address "To Madame la Baronne de Mariage, rue Bleue n° 9 Paris."
In fair condition, with folds, marginal tears outside text.

BIOGRAPHY:
Louis Auguste François Mariage, known as Louis Mériage, born on July 8, 1767 in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte (Manche), died on December 8, 1827 in Paris, was a French general of the Revolution and the Empire.
[...]
In 1805, he took part in the Austrian campaign and on December 1, he was deputy chief of staff in the 4th corps of the Grande Armée. In January 1806, he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Vienna, and on March 14, he was assigned to the French embassy in that city as a second secretary.
In May 1809, he participated in the campaign in Germany with the 8th army corps. On June 2, he took command of the city of Vienna, and on October 1 of the same year, he was transferred to the Dalmatian army. He was placed on non-activity on September 1, 1811. On March 20, 1812, he returned to service as adjutant-commander in General Marchand's staff during the Russian campaign. He was promoted to brigadier general on October 19, 1812, during the troops review by Napoleon in Moscow. He was wounded on November 18 at the Battle of Krasnoi, left on the battlefield, captured by the Russians, and returned to France in July 1814.
On April 7, 1815, he was assigned to the 3rd military division, in charge of organizing the National Guard. He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor on July 13, 1823, and a Grand Officer of the Order on October 29, 1826.
He passed away on December 8, 1827 in Paris.