{ "meta": { "title": "Davout, by dispatch", "subtitle": "A campaign in correspondence", "start": "1806-09-15", "end": "1806-11-27", "scope": "Twenty-eight selected letters: sixteen sent by Davout and twelve addressed to him, from 15 September to 27 November 1806. Five editorial anchors give context from the same correspondence. This is a first sample, not the complete correspondence or a continuous itinerary.", "limitations": [ "Outgoing passages and datelines were checked in the 1885 printed scan. Incoming documents were checked against web transcriptions only. No autograph manuscripts were examined.", "A date is the date written, not the date delivered. Adjacent documents are not automatically a question and reply.", "Orders, reports, intended movements and modern editorial summaries remain distinct. Contemporary claims are attributed rather than treated as independently confirmed.", "Zichlin’s modern identity and the exact headquarters bivouac near Jena remain unresolved; those writing places have no map pin.", "The connecting trail orders recorded places. It does not reconstruct roads, courier routes, daily positions or the positions of every unit." ] }, "people": [ { "id": "davout", "name": "Louis-Nicolas Davout", "role": "Marshal; commander of the 3rd Corps" }, { "id": "friant", "name": "Louis Friant", "role": "General; division commander in the 3rd Corps" }, { "id": "berthier", "name": "Louis-Alexandre Berthier", "role": "Prince of Neufchâtel; major general of the Grande Armée" }, { "id": "napoleon", "name": "Napoleon I", "role": "Emperor of the French" }, { "id": "lannes", "name": "Jean Lannes", "role": "Marshal; commander of the 5th Corps" }, { "id": "jerome", "name": "Jérôme Bonaparte", "role": "Prince; commander of the allied corps" }, { "id": "imperial-hq", "name": "Imperial headquarters", "role": "Order issued in Napoleon’s name; signature not reproduced in the inspected transcription" } ], "places": [ { "id": "berlin", "name": "Berlin", "lat": 52.52, "lon": 13.405, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1380979968", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "historical_precision_note": "The dateline says Berlin outskirts. The city marker supplies geographic context only; it does not locate the outskirts camp.", "note": "The dateline says Berlin outskirts. The city marker supplies geographic context only; it does not locate the outskirts camp. Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "bamberg", "name": "Bamberg", "lat": 49.8914, "lon": 10.8869, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamberg", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1379380650", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "paris", "name": "Paris", "lat": 48.8567, "lon": 2.3522, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1380227587", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "poznan", "name": "Poznań", "lat": 52.4083, "lon": 16.9336, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pozna%C5%84", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1381423314", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "wittenberg", "name": "Wittenberg", "lat": 51.8671, "lon": 12.6484, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wittenberg", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377635131", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "frankfurt-oder", "name": "Frankfurt (Oder)", "lat": 52.3419, "lon": 14.5517, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_(Oder)", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377564241", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "naumburg", "name": "Naumburg", "lat": 51.15, "lon": 11.8167, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naumburg", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378186501", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "possneck", "name": "Pößneck", "lat": 50.7, "lon": 11.6, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%B6%C3%9Fneck", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1379182926", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "eckartsberga", "name": "Eckartsberga", "lat": 51.1167, "lon": 11.55, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eckartsberga", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378785450", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "historical_precision_note": "The dateline says a bivouac at Eckartsberg. The city marker supplies area context only; it does not locate the camp or battlefield.", "note": "The dateline says a bivouac at Eckartsberg. The city marker supplies area context only; it does not locate the camp or battlefield. Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "duben", "name": "Bad Düben", "lat": 51.5919, "lon": 12.5853, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_D%C3%BCben", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377572367", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "sompolno", "name": "Sompolno", "lat": 52.4111, "lon": 18.5028, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sompolno", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1376879749", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "zychlin", "name": "Zichlin (modern location unresolved)", "lat": null, "lon": null, "coordinate_source_url": null, "coordinate_source_note": "Multiple modern Żychlins. A Polish secondary transcription annotates this letter as Żychlin near Konin, while historical name gazetteers also associate Zichlin with Żychlin near Kutno. No map marker is assigned.", "mapping_status": "unresolved; do not plot", "ambiguity_source_urls": [ "https://napoleon.org.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&sid=7cd7563b20d45acb8184d60833d9d633&start=10&t=76&view=print", "https://sggee.org/research/Gazetteer_Congress_Poland.pdf" ], "note": "Multiple modern Żychlins. A Polish secondary transcription annotates this letter as Żychlin near Konin, while historical name gazetteers also associate Zichlin with Żychlin near Kutno. No map marker is assigned." }, { "id": "weimar", "name": "Weimar", "lat": 50.9811, "lon": 11.3294, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377984856", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "scope": "Additional place requested for incoming correspondence", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "potsdam", "name": "Potsdam", "lat": 52.4006, "lon": 13.0592, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1381545523", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "scope": "Additional place requested for incoming correspondence", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "halle", "name": "Halle (Saale)", "lat": 51.4828, "lon": 11.9697, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halle_(Saale)", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1381474233", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "scope": "Additional place requested for incoming correspondence", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "auma", "name": "Auma", "lat": 50.7, "lon": 11.9, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auma", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1377529096", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "scope": "Additional place requested for incoming correspondence", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "wurzburg", "name": "Würzburg", "lat": 49.7833, "lon": 9.9333, "coordinate_source_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCrzburg", "coordinate_source_revision_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1379499517", "coordinate_source_note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters.", "mapping_status": "approximate town or area", "scope": "Additional place requested for incoming correspondence", "note": "Public city coordinate fetched from the English Wikipedia API on 2026-10-24; rounded to 4 decimal places. Approximate town marker only, not a historical headquarters." }, { "id": "jena-bivouac", "name": "Bivouac near Jena (site unspecified)", "lat": null, "lon": null, "note": "The heading gives a bivouac one and a half historical leagues from Jena. Its precise location has not been established; no marker is plotted." } ], "sources": [ { "id": "mazade1885-v1", "title": "Correspondance du maréchal Davout, prince d’Eckmühl : ses commandements, son ministère, 1801–1815", "url": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog", "edition": "Edited by Charles de Mazade. Paris: Plon, Nourrit et Cie, 1885. Volume I.", "notes": "Sixteen outgoing datelines and selected passages checked against the scanned printed edition. This is an edited publication, not a manuscript facsimile." }, { "id": "napoleon-oct1806", "title": "Napoleon’s correspondence — October 1806", "url": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-octobre-1806/", "edition": "Historical correspondence transcribed by Histoire du Consulat et du Premier empire.", "notes": "Headings and text checked against the linked web transcriptions. No printed-facsimile or autograph comparison completed for these incoming letters." }, { "id": "napoleon-nov1806", "title": "Napoleon’s correspondence — November 1806", "url": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-novembre-1806/", "edition": "Historical correspondence transcribed by Histoire du Consulat et du Premier empire.", "notes": "Headings and text checked against the linked web transcriptions. Page and edition letter numbers are left unassigned where absent." }, { "id": "davout-operations1896", "title": "Orders leading to Auerstedt", "url": "https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/1806/auerstadt/c_davout.html", "edition": "The Napoleon Series transcription, quoting Opérations du 3e Corps 1806–1807 (Paris: Calmann Lévy, 1896).", "notes": "Two imperial-headquarters orders. The reproduced texts have no signatures; no personal authorship is assigned to Berthier." }, { "id": "natural-earth", "title": "Natural Earth — geographic outlines", "url": "https://www.naturalearthdata.com/about/terms-of-use/", "edition": "Public-domain 1:110m country boundaries; modern geography.", "notes": "These are present-day outlines for orientation, not 1806 political borders. Town coordinates are approximate modern reference points; each place’s coordinate source is recorded in the downloadable collection." } ], "letters": [ { "id": "davout-170", "date": "1806-09-15", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "friant", "placeId": "paris", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "War preparations — and cooking pots", "summary": "Writing from Paris after seeing Napoleon at Saint-Cloud, Davout tells Friant that preparations for war are under way, although some still expect them to secure peace. He is confident in the troops but says they lack cooking pots and canteens; captains are to arrange purchases from inhabitants in Germany.", "excerptFrench": "Tout est à la guerre ici; une partie de la garde est partie ce matin.", "translationEnglish": "Everything here is geared towards war; part of the Guard left this morning.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n331/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n330/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 264; passage p. 265", "letterNumber": "170", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The confidential news and family news belong to this letter; the long Napoleon quotation in the footnote is editorial supporting material, not Davout’s letter.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Paris, 15 septembre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-171", "date": "1806-10-01", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "bamberg", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "At Bamberg, seeking the latest orders", "summary": "Davout reports arriving in Bamberg to confer with Bernadotte, the prince of Ponte-Corvo. Differences between the orders and Bernadotte’s movement make him wonder whether instructions have changed. He reports his divisions assembling and continues the hussars towards Kronach under the orders already received.", "excerptFrench": "Monseigneur, je viens d’arriver à Bamberg pour me concerter avec le prince de Ponte-Corvo", "translationEnglish": "Monseigneur, I have just arrived at Bamberg to confer with the prince of Ponte-Corvo", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n332/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n332/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 266; passage p. 266", "letterNumber": "171", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The excerpt is the opening clause, not a complete sentence. Page 267 is cropped at the left edge in this scan; the selected quotation is entirely legible on page 266.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Bamberg, 1er octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-174", "date": "1806-10-05", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "bamberg", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "An inspection before the march", "summary": "Davout reports the inspection of his corps: arms are in good condition, clothing has been issued and the men have spare shoes. Camp utensils remain unevenly supplied. He also describes ammunition stocks and the problem of transporting the remaining cartridges.", "excerptFrench": "L’armement est partout dans un très-bon état.", "translationEnglish": "The arms are everywhere in very good condition.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n335/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n334/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 268; passage p. 269", "letterNumber": "174", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Page 269 is cropped at the left edge. The short selected sentence is completely visible; the summary avoids reproducing damaged lines as exact quotations.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Bamberg, 5 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-05-napoleon", "date": "1806-10-05", "time": null, "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "wurzburg", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Ovens, bread and the road to Lichtenfels", "summary": "Napoleon expects to reach Bamberg the following day. He tells Davout to keep his cantonments near the Lichtenfels road, accommodate the incoming Foot Guard close to the imperial lodging, and produce as much bread and biscuit as possible.", "excerptFrench": "Vous devez prendre le chemin de Lichtenfels; ainsi n’éloignez pas vos cantonnements de cette route.", "translationEnglish": "You must take the road to Lichtenfels; therefore do not place your cantonments far from that road.", "sourceId": "napoleon-oct1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-octobre-1806/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Heading and complete letter inspected. No recipient address supplied. The stated movement and Guard arrival are prospective.", "Source heading: Würzburg, 5 octobre 1806 — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "davout-176", "date": "1806-10-11", "time": "02:00", "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "possneck", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "At two in the morning, the column must catch up", "summary": "Davout explains why he halted the head of his infantry at Pössneck: he was waiting for Milhaud’s cavalry reports and for the infantry to close up after a long, rapid march. Reconnaissance parties are bringing prisoners and reports of the fighting at Saalfeld.", "excerptFrench": "la marche, aussi longue que rapide, ayant extrêmement allongé ses colonnes.", "translationEnglish": "the march, as long as it was rapid, having greatly stretched out its columns.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n338/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n337/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 271; passage p. 272", "letterNumber": "176", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The quotation is a clause from a longer sentence. The time is explicitly printed; no modern time zone is assigned. Posneck is the edition’s spelling.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Posneck, 11 octobre 1806, à deux heures du matin." ] }, { "id": "davout-177", "date": "1806-10-12", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "naumburg", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "The cavalry reaches Naumburg before the infantry", "summary": "Davout reports that his light cavalry reached Naumburg at half past three and the advance guard at eight in the evening. The hard day’s march has produced stragglers, so his infantry divisions are halted at different distances outside the town.", "excerptFrench": "La journée ayant été extrêmement forte et ayant occasionné beaucoup de traîneurs, j’ai fait arrêter la 1re division à une lieue ou deux de Naumbourg, la 2e un peu plus loin et la 3e à environ trois lieues.", "translationEnglish": "The day’s march having been extremely hard and caused many stragglers, I halted the 1st division one or two leagues from Naumburg, the 2nd a little farther away and the 3rd about three leagues away.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n339/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n339/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 273; passage p. 273", "letterNumber": "177", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The printed dateline is 12 October, visually verified. The downloaded OCR incorrectly reads 13 October. Superscript ordinal endings are represented as plain text. The cavalry’s 15:30 arrival is inferred from the day/evening narrative; it is not used as the letter’s writing time.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Naumbourg, 12 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-12-hq", "date": "1806-10-12", "time": "05:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "imperial-hq", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "auma", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "March directly on Naumburg", "summary": "An imperial order directs Davout's entire corps towards Naumburg as quickly as possible while remaining ready to fight. Light cavalry is to scout ahead and obtain prisoners and intelligence; Sahuc's dragoon division is placed under Davout's command.", "excerptFrench": "Il est ordonné à M. le maréchal Davout de partir avec tout son corps d'armée de la position qu'il occupe pour se diriger directement sur Naumburg", "translationEnglish": "Marshal Davout is ordered to leave the position he occupies with his entire army corps and march directly towards Naumburg", "sourceId": "davout-operations1896", "sourceUrl": "https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/1806/auerstadt/c_davout.html", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The inspected transcription identifies an imperial-HQ order but does not reproduce a signature. Do not assign personal authorship to Berthier without another source. Auma is the order's origin, not Davout's position. Website contains transcription errors outside this excerpt.", "Source heading: 12 October 1806, 5 a.m., Auma" ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-13-hq", "date": "1806-10-13", "time": "15:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "imperial-hq", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "jena-bivouac", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "If Lannes is attacked tonight", "summary": "Headquarters reports that Lannes faces an enemy force near Jena. If Davout hears an attack there that evening, he is to manoeuvre against the enemy's left. If there is no attack, further orders for the following day will arrive during the night.", "excerptFrench": "S'il n'y a pas d'attaque ce soir à Iéna, vous recevrez cette nuit les dispositions de l'Empereur pour la journée de demain.", "translationEnglish": "If there is no attack at Jena this evening, you will receive the Emperor’s dispositions for tomorrow during the night.", "sourceId": "davout-operations1896", "sourceUrl": "https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/1806/auerstadt/c_davout.html", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Not the later night order sometimes central to accounts of Auerstedt. The sender's bivouac is only approximately located. Text inspected; signature not reproduced.", "Source heading: 13 October 1806, 3 p.m.; Au bivouac, une lieue et demie d'Iéna" ] }, { "id": "davout-179", "date": "1806-10-14", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "napoleon", "placeId": "eckartsberga", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "A first report of Auerstedt: victory and loss", "summary": "From the bivouac at Eckartsberg, Davout reports a hard-fought victory after meeting the enemy beyond Kösen. Alongside his claims about captured artillery and opposing forces, he stresses casualties, wounded men and a shortage of cartridges. This is the commander’s immediate account, not an independently reconciled battle return.", "excerptFrench": "Plusieurs régiments ont perdu la plupart de leurs officiers. Le nombre des blessés est très-considérable.", "translationEnglish": "Several regiments have lost most of their officers. The number of wounded is very considerable.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n343/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n342/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 276; passage p. 277", "letterNumber": "179", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The letter concerns the battle now normally called Auerstedt. Eckartsberg is its dateline, not an assertion that the entire battle took place in that town. Casualty and enemy-strength statements are Davout’s contemporary claims.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Au bivouac d’Eckartsberg, 14 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-180", "date": "1806-10-15", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "eckartsberga", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "The morning after: ammunition and medical help", "summary": "Davout forwards reconnaissance reports but says a full battle report must wait. Replacing the ammunition expended has emptied his reserve. He asks for replacement officers and specialists, and for medical personnel and dressings to be sent to the many wounded at Naumburg.", "excerptFrench": "Il est nécessaire d’envoyer des secours d’officiers de santé, des objets de pansement à Naumbourg, le nombre des blessés étant très-considérable.", "translationEnglish": "Medical officers and dressing supplies need to be sent to Naumburg, the number of wounded being very considerable.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n345/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n344/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 278; passage p. 279", "letterNumber": "180", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The edition’s footnote explicitly identifies the letter’s “bataille d’Eckartsberg” as Auerstedt. The request for help does not establish when supplies arrived.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Au bivouac d’Eckartsberg, 15 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-184", "date": "1806-10-16", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "napoleon", "placeId": "naumburg", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Praise, grief and loyalty", "summary": "Davout thanks Napoleon for congratulating the 3rd Corps and its generals. He presents that praise as consolation for the wounded and frames the deaths of his soldiers in the language of loyalty to their sovereign.", "excerptFrench": "Quant aux braves que nous avons perdus, Sire, ils sont morts en héros : leur dernier vœu a été pour leur bien-aimé souverain.", "translationEnglish": "As for the brave men we have lost, Sire, they died as heroes: their last wish was for their beloved sovereign.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n348/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n348/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 282; passage p. 282", "letterNumber": "184", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The claim about the men’s last wishes is Davout’s rhetorical statement. It is not presented as independently documented testimony from individual soldiers.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Naumbourg, 16 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-16-napoleon", "date": "1806-10-16", "time": "07:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "weimar", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Praise after Auerstedt, and a little rest", "summary": "Napoleon congratulates Davout, mourns the men lost and asks him to convey his satisfaction to the corps and its generals. He asks for news and tells Davout to let the corps rest for a while at Naumburg.", "excerptFrench": "Mon Cousin, je vous fais mon compliment de tout mon cœur sur votre belle conduite.", "translationEnglish": "My Cousin, I congratulate you with all my heart on your fine conduct.", "sourceId": "napoleon-oct1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-octobre-1806/4/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Heading and complete letter inspected. Text also appears on histoire-empire.org; this may be the same transcription lineage, not independent authentication. Rest at Naumburg is an instruction.", "Source heading: Weimar, 16 octobre 1806, 7 heures du matin — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "davout-188", "date": "1806-10-18", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "duben", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "A bridge found intact at Düben", "summary": "Davout places his first division beyond Düben and the other two on the left bank of the Mulde. He reports retreating troops and says the French approach was unexpected, so no preparations had been made to burn the bridge. He expects similar success at Wittenberg; this expectation must be distinguished from the later crossing report.", "excerptFrench": "On ne nous attendait pas ici; aussi aucune disposition n’avait été faite pour brûler le pont.", "translationEnglish": "We were not expected here; consequently no preparations had been made to burn the bridge.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n355/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n355/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 289; passage p. 289", "letterNumber": "188", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Duben is identified here with modern Bad Düben. The letter dates the report, not every movement or intelligence item mentioned in it.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Duben, 18 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-190", "date": "1806-10-20", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "napoleon", "placeId": "wittenberg", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Across the Elbe at Wittenberg", "summary": "Davout reports that the advance guard crossed the Elbe at nine in the morning and the whole corps was on the right bank before three in the afternoon. He describes saving the bridge after the Prussians set it alight, and asks for engineers, sappers and money to strengthen the crossing.", "excerptFrench": "l’avant-garde du 3e corps a passé l’Elbe, le 20, à neuf heures du matin; tout le corps d’armée était sur la rive droite avant trois heures après midi", "translationEnglish": "the advance guard of the 3rd Corps crossed the Elbe on the 20th at nine in the morning; the whole corps was on the right bank before three in the afternoon", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n357/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n357/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 291; passage p. 291", "letterNumber": "190", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Excerpt from a longer opening sentence. Superscript 3e is represented as plain text. The crossing times are events reported in the letter; its writing time is not stated. Source inconsistency: neighboring letter 189 gives ten in the morning for the advance guard’s crossing; letter 190 prints nine. Both report 20 October. Retain the wording as a reported time, not a reconciled fact.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Wittenberg, 20 octobre 1806.", "The neighbouring letter 189 gives 10:00 for the advance guard’s crossing; letter 190 gives 09:00. The date is shared, but the precise hour is not reconciled." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-20-napoleon", "date": "1806-10-20", "time": "03:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "halle", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Get a bridge over the Elbe", "summary": "Napoleon presses for a bridge across the Elbe. Three corps are attempting a crossing, but Davout alone has boats. Once across, he is to establish a bridgehead, take Wittenberg and put its defences in order.", "excerptFrench": "Il est bien important d’avoir un pont sur l’Elbe.", "translationEnglish": "It is very important to have a bridge over the Elbe.", "sourceId": "napoleon-oct1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-octobre-1806/4/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "This letter gives objectives. Separate dispatches are needed to prove the actual crossing or arrival.", "Source heading: Halle, 20 octobre 1806, 3 heures du matin — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "davout-197", "date": "1806-10-24", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "lannes", "placeId": "berlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Who was entitled to enter Berlin first?", "summary": "Writing from the outskirts of Berlin, Davout challenges Lannes after hearing that a squadron of the latter’s hussars has entered the city. He says Berthier had ordered that the 3rd Corps should enter first on the 25th, and asks whether the instructions have changed.", "excerptFrench": "Cependant Son Altesse le prince de Neufchâtel m’a fait connaître que l’intention de l’Empereur était que le 3e corps devait y entrer le premier, et qu’il ne devait le faire que demain 25.", "translationEnglish": "Yet His Highness the prince of Neufchâtel informed me that the Emperor intended the 3rd Corps to enter first, and that it was to do so only tomorrow, the 25th.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n364/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n364/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 298; passage p. 298", "letterNumber": "197", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The dateline says the outskirts; do not map an exact headquarters. The 25th is a planned entry in this letter. Mazade’s separate footnote says the entry occurred on 25 October, but that editorial assertion is not used as a letter event here.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Des faubourgs de Berlin, 24 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-25-napoleon", "date": "1806-10-25", "time": "17:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "potsdam", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "News of Spandau’s surrender", "summary": "Napoleon tells Davout that Spandau has surrendered and reports captured guns, powder, provisions and prisoners. This is information sent to Davout, not evidence that he captured the fortress or was at Potsdam.", "excerptFrench": "Mon Cousin, je vous annonce la nouvelle que Spandau vient de se rendre.", "translationEnglish": "My Cousin, I bring you the news that Spandau has just surrendered.", "sourceId": "napoleon-oct1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-octobre-1806/6/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Heading and complete short letter inspected. Quantities in the letter are contemporaneous reported figures, not independently audited totals.", "Source heading: Potsdam, 25 octobre 1806, 5 heures du soir — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-10-26-napoleon", "date": "1806-10-26", "time": "04:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "potsdam", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Intercept the boats leaving Berlin", "summary": "Napoleon orders patrols towards Frankfurt and the canals to intercept boats carrying court possessions or artillery stores from Berlin. He asks for details of Berlin's situation, expects reconnaissance towards Küstrin and says he is moving to Charlottenburg.", "excerptFrench": "J’attends des détails sur la situation de Berlin.", "translationEnglish": "I await details on the situation in Berlin.", "sourceId": "napoleon-oct1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-octobre-1806/6/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Frankfort is identified from the explicit Oder/canal geography; never map this reference to Frankfurt am Main. No recipient address in the heading.", "Source heading: Potsdam, 26 octobre 1806, 4 heures du matin — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "davout-205", "date": "1806-10-31", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "napoleon", "placeId": "frankfurt-oder", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "On the Oder, preparing to move on Küstrin", "summary": "Davout reports sending Gudin towards Küstrin while the rest of the corps has reached Frankfurt and taken position on the Oder’s right bank. He plans to march on Küstrin before daylight and reports efforts to interrupt communications across the river system.", "excerptFrench": "Le reste du 3e corps s’est porté sur Francfort et a pris position sur la rive droite de l’Oder.", "translationEnglish": "The rest of the 3rd Corps moved to Frankfurt and took up position on the right bank of the Oder.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n372/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n372/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 306; passage p. 306", "letterNumber": "205", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The references to the Oder identify Francfort as Frankfurt an der Oder, not Frankfurt am Main. The projected next-day march is a plan, not a confirmed position.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Francfort, 31 octobre 1806." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-11-02-napoleon-kustrin", "date": "1806-11-02", "time": null, "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "berlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Turn Küstrin into a secure base", "summary": "Napoleon congratulates Davout on the capture of Küstrin, asks for an inventory of its stores and wants the small bridgehead fort restored. He also asks about ovens and bread production: the fortress is to support further operations.", "excerptFrench": "Faites-moi connaître ce qu’il y a de fours et ce qu’on peut faire de pain. Voilà un bon appui pour l’armée.", "translationEnglish": "Let me know what ovens there are and how much bread can be made. This is a good base for the army.", "sourceId": "napoleon-nov1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-novembre-1806/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Second distinct letter on 2 November, with no stated time. The congratulation does not establish Davout personally entered Küstrin on this date.", "Source heading: Berlin, 2 novembre 1806 — Au maréchal Davout; opening 'je vous félicite de la prise de Küstrin'" ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-11-02-napoleon-recon", "date": "1806-11-02", "time": "05:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "berlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "What are the marshes like?", "summary": "Napoleon wants engineers to reconnoitre the Oder and Warta: marshes, causeways and communications. Davout should rest around Frankfurt, find shoes and greatcoats, send patrols east and prepare 120,000 rations of biscuit bread for the next advance.", "excerptFrench": "De quelle nature sont ces marais? Y a-t-il des chaussées ? Comment communique-t-on de Sonnenburg à Küstrin ?", "translationEnglish": "What are these marshes like? Are there causeways? How does one travel from Sonnenburg to Küstrin?", "sourceId": "napoleon-nov1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-novembre-1806/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "First of two distinct letters to Davout dated 2 November. Retaining a corps around Frankfurt is an order, not a dated Davout dateline.", "Source heading: Berlin, 2 novembre 1806, 5 heures du matin — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-11-03-napoleon", "date": "1806-11-03", "time": "05:00", "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "berlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Do not eat the fortress’s siege supplies", "summary": "Napoleon tells Davout to conserve Küstrin's siege provisions and draw ordinary supplies from Frankfurt and Landsberg. Detachments belonging to his corps are to assemble at Küstrin; cavalry reinforcements and Jérôme's corps will support the advance.", "excerptFrench": "Mon Cousin, ne consommez pas les vivres de siège de Küstrin; ces approvisionnements sont très-difficiles à faire", "translationEnglish": "My Cousin, do not consume Küstrin’s siege provisions; these supplies are very difficult to assemble", "sourceId": "napoleon-nov1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-novembre-1806/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The recipient address explicitly names Frankfurt an der Oder. Addressed destination is not direct proof of Davout's physical position or receipt on that date.", "Source heading: Berlin, 3 novembre 1806, 5 heures du matin — Au maréchal Davout, à Francfort-sur-Oder", "Addressed destination: Francfort-sur-Oder (Frankfurt an der Oder). An address does not prove physical presence or receipt." ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-11-05-napoleon", "date": "1806-11-05", "time": null, "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "berlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Advance, but no farther than Meseritz", "summary": "Napoleon permits an advance towards Driesen and Meseritz while awaiting cavalry and news that other corps are free to support it. He explicitly forbids Davout's infantry to go beyond Meseritz for now, despite contemplating a later move to Posen.", "excerptFrench": "mon intention n’est pas que votre infanterie, sous quelque prétexte que ce soit, dépasse Meseritz.", "translationEnglish": "It is not my intention that your infantry should go beyond Meseritz, under any pretext whatsoever.", "sourceId": "napoleon-nov1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-novembre-1806/2/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Complete letter inspected, including the restrictive instruction later in its text. Its opening permission must not be summarized as an unconditional advance to Posen.", "Source heading: Berlin, 5 novembre 1806 — Au maréchal Davout" ] }, { "id": "incoming-1806-11-07-napoleon-posen", "date": "1806-11-07", "time": null, "direction": "received", "senderId": "napoleon", "recipientId": "davout", "placeId": "berlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Towards Posen, without a major engagement", "summary": "Napoleon tells Davout to expect orders for Posen and to bring muskets for the Poles. He forbids a serious engagement, calls for reconnaissance and frequent reports, warns against overconfidence, and insists on discipline, measured marching, defensible positions and ovens to feed the gathering army.", "excerptFrench": "Ne fatiguez point vos troupes, et arrivez à Posen sans faire des marches forcées.", "translationEnglish": "Do not tire your troops, and reach Posen without making forced marches.", "sourceId": "napoleon-nov1806", "sourceUrl": "https://napoleon-histoire.com/correspondance-de-napoleon-novembre-1806/3/", "page": null, "letterNumber": null, "verificationLevel": "transcription-checked", "verification": "Heading and text checked against the linked web transcription. No printed-scan or manuscript comparison completed. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "This is the first of two separate 7 November letters on the page. The second has an explicit Frankfurt recipient address and discusses Russian columns; do not attach that address to this letter. Arrival at Posen on 9 or 10 November is Napoleon's expectation, not an observed event.", "Source heading: Berlin, 7 novembre 1806 — Au maréchal Davout; opening 'j’ai lu votre lettre du 5 au prince de Neufchâtel'" ] }, { "id": "davout-216", "date": "1806-11-09", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "napoleon", "placeId": "poznan", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "In Posen, a political reading of the welcome", "summary": "On entering Posen, Davout tells Napoleon that he sees a wish to throw off Prussian rule across all classes of society. His letter also discusses the troops still arriving, difficult sandy roads and the collection of information. The claim about public feeling is his impression.", "excerptFrench": "c’est de toutes les classes de la société que part le vœu de secouer le joug des Prussiens.", "translationEnglish": "the wish to throw off the Prussian yoke comes from every class of society.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n390/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n390/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 324; passage p. 324", "letterNumber": "216", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "The quotation is a clause from the opening sentence. Posen is modern Poznań. This is Davout’s political interpretation, not a survey of the inhabitants.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Posen, 9 novembre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-225", "date": "1806-11-15", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "jerome", "placeId": "poznan", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Keeping Jérôme informed of the next move", "summary": "Davout tells Prince Jérôme that he intends to leave Posen the following day with the corps and attached cavalry, aiming for Kowal within reach of Thorn and Warsaw. He relays uncertain Russian intelligence and discusses supporting Lannes. The letter is a plan and coordination message.", "excerptFrench": "Du 18 au 19, je serai à Koval, à portée de Thorn et de Varsovie, où j’envoie mes troupes légères.", "translationEnglish": "Between the 18th and 19th I shall be at Kowal, within reach of Thorn and Warsaw, where I am sending my light troops.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n405/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n405/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 339; passage p. 339", "letterNumber": "225", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Koval is the edition’s spelling of Kowal; Thorn is Toruń. The quoted future position must not be plotted as an observed dateline. Jérôme is addressed as commander of the allied corps.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Posen, 15 novembre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-228", "date": "1806-11-18", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "napoleon", "placeId": "sompolno", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "Russian intentions are still uncertain", "summary": "From Sompolno, Davout forwards intelligence obtained by a Polish informant sent by Dąbrowski. He reports Russian and Cossack movements around Warsaw, while expressly saying that the Russian decision remains uncertain. He also describes patrols, garrisons and dispositions of his own forces.", "excerptFrench": "A Varsovie, le 15, on croyait que les Russes devaient rétrograder; ainsi il n’y a encore rien de certain sur le parti qu’ils ont pris, depuis qu’ils ont eu connaissance des désastres des Prussiens.", "translationEnglish": "In Warsaw, on the 15th, it was thought that the Russians would fall back; so there is still nothing certain about the course they have chosen since learning of the Prussian disasters.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n410/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n410/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 344; passage p. 344", "letterNumber": "228", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "Information attributed to informants remains reported intelligence. The dateline is 18 November; reported events in Warsaw are separately dated 15 and 16 November. The initial unaccented A follows the edition.", "Published writing dateline; town or area, not a precise headquarters. Does not establish the position of every unit or the recipient.", "Printed dateline: Sompolno, 18 novembre 1806." ] }, { "id": "davout-237", "date": "1806-11-27", "time": null, "direction": "sent", "senderId": "davout", "recipientId": "berthier", "placeId": "zychlin", "davoutPlaceId": null, "title": "A captured fortress and the monastery’s treasure", "summary": "From Zichlin, Davout forwards the capitulation of Częstochowa and reports prisoners, arms and the new garrison. He describes the monastery’s religious treasure and says he has left it under its existing guardians, pending Napoleon’s orders, with an inventory to be prepared.", "excerptFrench": "D’après leurs réclamations, j’ai ordonné qu’il restât sous la surveillance et la responsabilité de ses anciens gardiens jusqu’à ce que Votre Altesse m’ait fait connaître les ordres de Sa Majesté.", "translationEnglish": "Following their representations, I ordered it to remain under the supervision and responsibility of its former guardians until Your Highness had informed me of His Majesty’s orders.", "sourceId": "mazade1885-v1", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n423/mode/1up", "letterSourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n422/mode/1up", "page": "Letter starts p. 356; passage p. 357", "letterNumber": "237", "verificationLevel": "scan-checked", "verification": "Dateline and selected French passage visually checked against the 1885 printed scan. Manuscript not checked. English translation newly prepared for this project.", "notes": [ "“It” in the excerpt refers to the monastery’s treasure, described immediately before it. The printed writing location is Zichlin. Its modern identification is unresolved between multiple Żychlins; no coordinates are assigned. Częstochowa is the subject of a report, not Davout’s writing location.", "Printed dateline Zichlin; modern identification unresolved. Retain in timeline and correspondence view, omit map marker.", "Printed dateline: Zichlin, 27 novembre 1806.", "Modern location unresolved: multiple towns are called Żychlin. This letter remains in the sequence but has no map marker." ] } ], "events": [ { "id": "context-170", "date": "1806-09-15", "title": "Preparing for war", "summary": "From Paris, Davout reports the departure of part of the Guard and orders practical preparations for his corps, including obtaining cooking pots. This marks a letter about preparations; it is not a declared start date for the campaign.", "placeId": "paris", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n330/mode/1up", "kind": "context" }, { "id": "context-179", "date": "1806-10-14", "title": "Auerstedt: the first dispatch", "summary": "Davout’s evening report describes a bloody victory after meeting the enemy beyond Kösen, with serious officer losses and many wounded. The edition identifies the action as Auerstedt. Enemy strength and casualty descriptions remain contemporary claims.", "placeId": "eckartsberga", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n342/mode/1up", "kind": "battle" }, { "id": "context-190", "date": "1806-10-20", "title": "The Elbe crossed at Wittenberg", "summary": "Davout reports that the corps has crossed to the Elbe’s right bank and that the bridge has been saved from fire. The date 20 October is consistent in letters 189 and 190. The letters differ over the advance guard’s hour: 10:00 and 09:00 respectively.", "placeId": "wittenberg", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n357/mode/1up", "kind": "context" }, { "id": "context-197", "date": "1806-10-24", "title": "At Berlin’s outskirts, orders collide", "summary": "Davout writes to Lannes after learning that the latter’s hussars have entered Berlin, ahead of the planned first entry by the 3rd Corps. The dateline establishes the outskirts on 24 October. The 25 October entry is still future in the letter.", "placeId": "berlin", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n364/mode/1up", "kind": "context" }, { "id": "context-216", "date": "1806-11-09", "title": "In Posen: soldiers and Polish hopes", "summary": "On reaching Posen, Davout reports a broad wish to throw off Prussian rule, while his letter also follows the continuing arrival of his divisions. This is his reading of local opinion. Posen is modern Poznań; the letter does not prove unanimous political support.", "placeId": "poznan", "sourceUrl": "https://archive.org/details/correspondanced03davogoog/page/n390/mode/1up", "kind": "context" } ] }