SOULT, Nicolas Jean de Dieu, duc de Dalmatie (1769-1851). French Marshal.
Letter Signed ("le Mal Soult") to General Lahoussaie, instructing him that the arrest of the Prussian Captain Schoeppler must be done in the greatest secrecy.
1 page 4to in French, Elbing, 28 August 1807.
Trans: "You inform me in your letter of the 25th of this month, General, that Marshal Davout has ordered you to arrest the Prussian Captain Schoeppler if he returns to your division and that you are to have him taken to Elbing. It is to be desired that the arrest of this dangerous person take place; but it must not become known in the surrounding country, nor in the Prussian army; and so, if you succeed in taking him, I wish you to keep him secretly, and to have him immediately sent to Thorn, where the commanding general will have him imprisoned, and will keep him until he receives further orders. In this case, it would best that this man travel only at night. It is vitally important that the papers which Schoeppler might have on him at the time of his arrest be taken from him and as soon as you have them, please be good enough to have them sent to me. You will understand, General, that all this must be kept highly secret, as Marshal Davout has said."
The Treaty of Tilsit, signed barely two months before this letter, turned Russia into France's (temporary) ally and humiliated Prussia, earning Napoleon its eternal hatred. It was Soult's part in the victories which led to the treaty which brought him the title of Duc de Dalmatie.
Three brown stains at the left hand margin, not touching the text; remains of guard on verso. Together with an engraved portrait of Soult with his facsimile signature.
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