LS in French, signed “J. B. Bernadotte,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 12.5, Republique Francaise letterhead, November 3, 1801. Letter, written as general-in-chief of the army of the west, to the Minister of War Alexandre Berthier. In part (translated): “A gang of brigands and torturers especially active in the Vitré area…was commanded by a former soldier named Bobon. It terrorized and devastated the countryside to such a degree that the inhabitants of the city didn’t dare venture out…Citizen Durocher, Lieutenant of Gendarmes…succeeded in totally defeating this gang… The Prefect of the Department of Isle et Vilaine and the authorities in Vitré…ask that Durocher be rewarded on a national level. By virtue of the authorization given me by the First Consul…I named Durocher a Captain…The First Consul approved…enclosed is a copy of the letter he wrote to Citizen Durocher…Durocher has indefatigably exterminated Mercier, Contore and that gang which again sought to create havoc and terror…Mercier was notorious for his friendship with George and was an accomplice in the assassination attempt of 3 nivose.” Central horizontal and vertical folds, several small notations and endorsements to first page and a bit of scattered light toning, otherwise fine condition. At the conclusion, Bernadotte is referencing an incident when a bomb was thrown at the carriage of Napoleon and Josephine, the first such attempt involving a bomb thrown at a vehicle. RRAuction COA.
