FRENCH MILITARY POST - CRIMEAN WAR 1854 / 1855. - Lot 244

FRENCH MILITARY POST - CRIMEAN WAR 1854 / 1855. In order to counter the ambitions of the Tsar of Russia in the Caucasus and the Middle East, a Franco-British expedition, allied with the Turks & Sardinians, moved towards the Crimean peninsula with the aim of taking Sebastopol, then a Russian maritime base. Letter from General MESNIL to Briey-Moselle, type 15 date stamp with the words "ARMEE D' ORIENT BAU D", December 21, 1854 + "30c" double line tax affixed to the letter for non franking. SIGNED AUTOGRAPH CORRESPONDENCE: (3 days of writing following each other), - "aboard the MOGADOR, French steam frigate, December 13, 1854, in the Black Sea, My Dear Charles, I am heading for the Crimea, in a few hours we will begin to hear the cannon from Sebastopol. I'm sending you two new little letters, which you'll return to their addresses when the time comes. As I'm writing home at the same time, you'll go and get news etc. All yours (signature.) - P.S.: Go and tell little Beynot, to console her poor mother, that I have been looking for news of her father. I have indirectly received very satisfactory news. If I can, I'll take care of him as soon as I arrive in Sebastopol. - Slept outside Sebastopol on December 17, 1854. I have not been able to take care of our compatriots of the 42nd; with the first mail you will have a long letter if I have time. - as I close this letter, Masson enters my tent, little Bugnot is perfectly well; Kenzela was wounded a month ago, he is recovering." CAD arrives BREY January 5.