THOUVENOT PIERRE: (1757-1817) French General during the American Revolutionary War, and later served in the ...

THOUVENOT PIERRE: (1757-1817) French General during the American Revolutionary War, and later served in the Napoleonic Wars. Thouvenot is well remembered for his defence of Bayonne in 1814. A very interesting and lengthy A.L.S., Thouvenot, four pages, 4to, Vitoria, 26th April 1813, to General Foy, in French. The present letter is written only two months before the Battle of Vitoria, which eventually lead the Duke of Wellington to victory in the Peninsular War against French. Thouvenot urges General Foy to start the siege of Castro, listing the regiments and battalions he has ordered to march from Vitoria to Bilbao, refers to multiple French Generals such as Palombini, Rouges, etc.. and reports extensively on bandits, Spanish guerrilla and on General Mina, stating in part `..the convoy of prisoners leaving Miranda on 24th and going to Vitoria joined 3500 to 4000 men who were ambushed on each side of the road, near the bridge.. the convoy was shortly escorted, our troops fought with incredible courage and not a single prisoner was released…we have lost several officers and a large number of injured..´ Further saying `..Guipuzcoa and Alava supply the means to Mina and help to pay a large part of the troops salaries and the ammunitions and weapons to the English..´ A letter of very interesting content and good association. Small overall age wear, otherwise G Maximilien Sebastien Foy (1775-1825) French General, Statesman and Writer. Francisco Espoz y Mina (1781-1836) Spanish General and guerrilla leader. In the campaign of 1813 and 1814 he served with distinction under the Duke of Wellington. Espoz y Mina was a very successful strategist and displayed great organizing capacity. The French authorities were compelled to allow him to levy customs dues on all goods imported into Spain, except contraband of war, which he would not allow to pass without fighting. The money thus obtained was used to pay his bands a regular salary. He was able to maintain discipline among his men, whom he had brought to a respectable state of efficiency. Although a monument was raised in Bayonne and an annual celebration of Thouvenot's brave defense still takes place, his actions during the siege of the city were condemned by both sides as a needless waste of lives. The Duke of Wellington referred to him as a `blackguard´.