Michel Ney | letter signed, to Artillery General Seroux, preparing for the invasion of England, 19 June 1805

Ney, Michel duc d'Elchingen

Letter signed ("Ney"), to General Jean Nicolas Seroux du Fay, 19 June 1805

in French, giving orders for Napoleon's projected invasion of England, specifically that the fire tenders should be loaded onto the ships with the other artillery material, excepting the gunpowder which might be damaged by remaining too long on board, and anything else required on land

1 page, 4to, engraved heading ("Ney, Maréchal de l'Empire, Commandant en Chef le Camp de Montreuil sur Mer."), Montreuil-sur-mer (Pas-de-Calais), 30 prairial an 13 [19 June 1805]

Marshal Ney (1759-1815), was arguably Napoleon's greatest general, dubbed by him "le Brave des Braves". 

Napoleon had planned an invasion of England, setting out from Boulogne in the Pas-de-Calais with his famous "flotilla of flat-bottomed boats". However, the plan was aborted, because Napoleon never gained control of the English Channel, important naval support was blockaded at Cadiz, and he soon found himself at war again with Austria and Russia. Marshal Ney was at the head of the Grande Armée in August 1805 as it turned eastwards to begin the Ulm Campaign, which led to the Battles of Elchingen in October and, ultimately, Austerlitz in December.

General Jean Nicolas Seroux du Fay (1742-1822), became a soldier before either was born, in 1755. He was Commander of the artillery of Marshal Ney's VI Corps from 1805 until 1807, serving under him at Elchingen.