Napoléon Bonaparte / Louis Nicolas Davout - Lettre signée à Napoléon par le prince d'Eckmühl et réponse signée de Napoléon - 1815

Official handwritten letter from the Ministry of War, dated April 7, 1815 (the Hundred Days period), signed by Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout (Duke of Auerstaedt, Prince of Eckmühl), then Minister of War under Napoleon I.

It bears marginal annotations or apothegmata, including one in the upper left part signed by Napoleon I himself: his decision signed with his initials “NP” (or “N”) concerning the remount of cavalry for the 1815 campaign.

Letter signed by Marshal Davout, Minister of War, with an apostille signed by NAPOLEON I.

Exceptional historical document dated April 7, 1815, written at the outset of the Hundred Days at the Ministry of War. It is a report addressed directly to the Emperor (“Sire”) by Marshal Davout (Minister of War) concerning the purchase of 6,000 horses for the cavalry from General Bourcier.

Marginal handwritten annotation by the State Secretariat (?) in the upper left margin summarizing the orders dictated by Napoleon: “I no longer want young horses, I will take horses with short tails.”
Emperor’s handwritten monogram of approval: NAPOLEON I: “NP” (or N), followed by the note “8 April 1815.” Second marginal execution decision: “This is to transmit this Emperor’s decision to Count Bourcier with the aim of authorizing a contract for 6,000 horses with short tails...”
Original autograph signature at the bottom of the document: “M.al Prince d’Eckmühl” (Marshal Davout).
Era seals and marks: Ink from the General Secretariat (11 April 1815) and the word “Remise” (Delivery).