Napoleon Bonaparte, exile in Saint Helena

Autograph manuscript fragment of Napoleon's Memoirs, 2 page oblong 8vo (8 x 2 in.; 201 x 50 mm), [Saint Helena, c. 1818], written by Napoleon on half of the first page, his secretary Louis Marchand in the other column, recto-verso (the text has been struck-through), and the transcription of Napoleon's notes by Emmanuel de Las Cases who wrote a note on the second page: "dictée de Napoelon a St helene, donné à son ancien collegue à la chambre et camarade au conseil d'état par le Cte de Las Cases. Passy, 25 avril 1836," mounted on cardboard.

Comte de Las Cases. Memorial de Sainte Helene, Paris, Barbezat, 1930, tome V, page 89

Autograph fragment of Napoleon's Memoirs concerning the battle of Montenotte during the Italian Campaign of 1796, Napoleon's first victory as commander in chief.

"Dès cette même nuit du 8 au 9 le général en chef se porta avec les divisions de Massena et Augereau par Cadibone sur Montenotte et à la pointe du jour Argenteau enveloppé de tout côté fut attaqué en tête par." In the Memorial de Sainte Helene, 1830 edition, Las Cases corrected the date to "in this same night of the 9 to 10."

The Battle of Montenotte, 12 April 1796, opposed the French Revolutionary Army to the coalition of Austria and Sardinia commanded by the Count Argenteau. Despite his lower smaller army (30,000 French against 80,000 Austrian), Napoleon obtained there the first of a series of victories and a year after signed a treaty of peace with Austria and the king of Sardinia which gave Piedmon to France.

Entirely autograph fragments of Napoleon's Memoirs are scarce.