Napoleon I | Letter signed, on the need for new uniforms after the retreat from Moscow, 1813

Napoleon I

Letter signed 'N', to the Comte de Cessac, Minister of Administration of the War, 

writing on his return from Russia, ordering him to send clothing to the depots, asking him to prepare 20,000 uniforms, for he intends to raise as many cavalrymen as he can find horses for, Paris, 12 January 1813, light foxing, some ink spots

The letter illustrates the scale of the Grande Armée's catastrophic retreat from Russia. A total of 600,000 troops had been allocated to the Russian campaign; nearly 500,000 - two thirds of them Frenchmen - were lost. The Comte de Cessac nevertheless succeeded in making good the losses inflicted by the enemy with astonishing swiftness.

"....il est probably qu'il reviendra peu d'hommes a pied de la Grande Armee, ce qui reviendra d'ailleurs sera nud, et dans tous les cas je previs que je serai oblige de lever une grande quantite d'hommes...j'ignore le nombre qui en existe a la Grande Armee, mais j'ai lieu de craindre que le nombre ne soit fort diminue..."