French political figure and general (1760-1794) during the French Revolution, who was the first husband of Joséphine de Beauharnais, later empress of the French as wife of Napoleon Bonaparte; he was guillotined during the Reign of Terror. ALS in French, one page, 6.75 x 8.75, August 3, 1793. Handwritten letter to Citoyen Coussaud, officer of the 10th Regiment of Chasseurs, written as General in Chief of the Army of the Rhine. In part (loosely translated): "It is probable that shortly I will hand over command of the army to another officer. I wrote to the commissioners of the Convention to ask for a successor, it is impossible for me to remain in such an eminent place when so many popular Societies of which I am honored to belong ask for the removal of all the former; may this unjust and impolitic measure of a general proscription not disorganize the army, I fear it but it is impossible for me to usefully serve the republic when the wish of the clubs calls to the armies men outside the caste of which I am unfortunate enough to be part of it…Nothing can be done in the world that prevents me from remaining faithful to the republic and to cherish the patriots is to tell you that my attachment to you is unshakable." In fine condition, with a rusty circular paperclip impression to the edge and staining to the top edge.
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