DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823) Marshal of France, Duc d

DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823) Marshal of France, Duc d´Auerstaedt and Prince of Eckmuhl. Known as the Iron Marshal, Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815. L.S., `Amitié, Le Ministre de la Guerre, P[rince] d´Eckmul´, with a four lines annotation in his hand, one page, folio, Paris, 27th March 1815, to Lieutenant General Count Compans, in French. On the printed heading of the Minister of war, Davout in his capacity as Minister of war during the Hundred days, he has only been appointed a week earlier, states in part `My dear General, I have written to you telling you to join me in Paris, if you have not received my letters, depart when receiving this one to come to Paris where the Emperor will have the pleasure to see you.´ Davout adds a four lines annotation beneath his signature saying `Your wife is waiting for you quite impatient, she is keeping well as well as your children´ With blank integral leaf, bearing an attractive watermark. Very small overall, minor age wear and creasing mostly to the bottom right corner, not affecting the text or signature. Folded. G to VG £400-600 Davout was appointed Minister of war on 20th March 1815 immediately after Napoleon´s return from exile in the island of Elba. He reorganized the French army and he was so indispensable to the war department that Napoleon kept him in Paris during the Waterloo campaign. Napoleon was criticized for such decision regarding the best General he then possessed. Jean Dominique Compans (1769-1845) French General during French Revolution and First Empire. Compans was appointed by King Louis XVIII Knight of Saint-Louis and grand-cordon of the Legion d´Honneur on 14th February 1815, a month before the present letter date. During the Hundred Days Compans re-joined the Imperial army and was imprisoned at Waterloo.