DERIOT (Albert-François). Autograph letter signed... Lot 21

DERIOT (Albert-François). Autograph letter signed to future Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières. Cairo, 30 fructidor an VII [September 16, 1799]. 3 pp. 1/2 in-4, trace of tab in margin of last page. Very fine letter illustrating the disarray of the men left behind in Egypt after Bonaparte's departure accompanied by officers like Bessières on August 22, 1799. "My dear commander, I have received your letter dated current 6th, which informs me of your departure for France; this news came as a surprise to me, as I had not expected it. You told me that you didn't know where you were going; however, you told me one day, when I told you that I was doing well and that I felt strong enough to make the journey, that I should stay in Cairo to gain strength, and that I would go to Upper Egypt with you. All this must lead me to believe that you had decided that I should stay with the rest of the corps. However, you were aware of the state of my affairs in France and my desire to see my family again, which can only subsist on the fruits of my savings. But I must no longer complain, since I think you have done it for the good of those who are with me, and this will not diminish the friendship... I have devoted to you forever, and I hope you will not forget the good people you have left behind. They are all counting on you to speed up our return to France. [Deriot goes on to give details of the changes in the composition of the Guides corps since Bessières' departure...]. General Kléber had first said that he would be obliged to incorporate us, as all the saddles of the horses you had left when you embarked had been stolen, but fortunately some were found at the Gizeh workshop. Which means that we are preserved. We've set up the music and these young people don't seem happy that you've left them here; but they have to do as the others do, which is to take their side. You know that when you left, you took everything that was left in the till, and we haven't been able to get a penny, and I don't even know when we'll be paid. [He goes on to give guarantees about the maintenance of accounting, record-keeping and troop discipline...]. We sold all the officers' effects, and the q[uarti]er-m[a]re was in charge of everything that each sale produced. He made duplicates, inventories, and packets of the money due to each. As for the debts you have left, you can rest easy; they will be paid, but you haven't told me about them all. Caillet is asking for much more, Laroche ditto, Gasquet is asking for a hundred francs for a horse. And others whose names are not in my memory. Adieu, mon cher command[an]t, je vous prie de ne nous oublier pas auprès du général en chef [Napoléon Bonaparte] affin que nous puissions bientôt rejoindre vous. I send you my love... If you go to Paris, I beg you to stop by my wife's house... and if she needs anything, please let her have it. I will keep you informed when I arrive... All the officers have asked me to tell you many things on their behalf... All is very quiet here..." Battalion commander and later brigade commander in the Guides of the General-in-Chief of the Army of the East, Albert-François Deriot distinguished himself in several important engagements, was wounded at the siege of Saint-Jean-d'Acre (1799) and at the battle of Heliopolis (1800), and remained in Egypt until the end of the campaign. He initially served under Jean-Baptiste Bessières, commander of the Guides until his departure. On his return to France at the end of the campaign, he held various positions, notably in the Guard. He was made Brigadier General in 1811, Major General in 1812, Chamberlain to the Emperor in 1813, and Chief of Staff of the Imperial Guard during the Hundred Days.