LASALLE ANTOINE-CHARLES: (1775-1809) French cavalry General. Also known as "The Hussar General". Lasalle gained ...

LASALLE ANTOINE-CHARLES: (1775-1809) French cavalry General. Also known as "The Hussar General". Lasalle gained fame as a daring adventurer and is credited with many exploits during the Egypt and Spanish campaigns. An excellent multiple signed D.S., `Lasalle M.al de Logis´, one page, oblong folio, Zwolle, 9th April 1795, in French. The carefully hand-written document bears the heading "North Army - Regiment of Chasseurs riders - Liberté - Egalité" and a very attractive red wax seal of the republican regiment to the left border, in fine condition. The document is given to Thomas René Souton, officer of the cavalry regiment, granting him this permanent leave due to his disabilities. Signed by the members of the administration board of the Regiment, and also signed to the left border by General Dominique-Joseph René Vandamme, (1770-1830) Count of Unseburg. A reputed French military officer and corps commander who publicly criticized Napoleon. Signed D. Vandamme, with a two lines holograph. With a large water wark. Folded. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG  £1500-2000 

 

Lasalle married former wife of General Victor Berthier, and sister-in-law to Marshal Louis Alexandre Berthier. When Napoleon and Lasalle met at the Tuileries Palace, the Emperor asked, `When is the wedding?´ Lasalle replied, `Sire, when I have enough money to buy the wedding presents and furniture´. Napoleon said, `But I gave you 200,000 francs last week, what did you do with them?´. Lasalle replied, `I used half to pay my debts and have lost the rest gambling´. Such a confession would have broken the career of any other soldier but, coming from Lasalle, it made the Emperor smile and ordered to give Lasalle another 200,000 francs. When a prefect asked why Napoleon didn't discipline Lasalle for his conduct, Napoleon responded that `It only takes a stroke of a pen to create a prefect, but it takes twenty years to make a Lasalle´.