ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HIS AFFAIRS WHILE HE IS ON DUTY WITH THE 3RD ZOUAVE BATTALION IN ALGERIA AND MEXICO, 1861 - 1867, IN A SERIES OF 8 ALS TO M. CHAUVIN, NOTARY IN FRANCE FROM OVIDE DUREY, A ZOUAVE CORPORAL
[various places in Algeria and Mexico: 1861 - 1867]. A collection of 8 letters in French, approx. 16 pages, some 1700 words, all in a clear hand. Ovide Durey writes to a Monsieur Chauvin, a notary and his power of attorney back in France regarding payments to be made on a debt due to his uncle and for funds to be sent to him while he is on duty with the military. The first four letters are from posts in Algeria from 1861 - 62, three are from Mexico between Dec. 1862 and July 1863, and the final letter is from May 1867 after his battalion's abrupt departure from Mexico.
In his first letter, dated Oct. 27, 1861, Durey writes concerning the debt his uncle is claiming. He also requests that M. Chauvin send him fifty francs as promptly as possible as he is about to leave on an expedition in December to quell an Arab revolt in the Sahara. He writes again on January 9, 1862 from Biskra, Algeria saying the money had not yet arrived. His battalion had just returned from Houed [sp?] to escort a convoy of sick people and were shortly to leave again to accompany a resupply of food and ammunition. His next communication on Jan. 26 also discusses the debt to his uncle. By August 3, 1862, he is within a day's march of Algeria and expects to soon be on his way to Mexico: "Comme dit l'empereur l'armee d'Afrique devant accomplie de nobles exploits...." He promises to let M. Chauvin know the state of his health once he reaches Mexico.
He next communicates from Mexico, "Colonne de l'Interieur" in a letter dated Dec. 21, 1862. He mentions that General Doblado and his 14,000 men had just abandonned the town they had arrived in. He and his fellow soldiers had traveled 145 leagues without encountering the enemy. He wonders whether they are waiting up ahead near Guadalajara or if they will have to run all over Texas looking for them. He also discusses the country they are moving through, rich and gold and silver mines, but empty of the basic necessities of life. He mentions the exhorbitant price of coffee as an example. He also says the Donay Division is occupying the road to San Luis with General Mejia and that they are the vanguard brigade- the 6th Regiment of African Chasseurs [Cavalry], marching with Commander-in-Chief Bazaine. By March 1, 1863, the date of his next letter, he and his fellow soldiers are ten leagues from the city of Puebla, intent on its capture. Durey reports in a letter dated July 27 that he had been wounded by a bullet in the chest which grazed his fifth rib. He was still able to march on, however, and participated in the attack on the Penitentiary in late March, and the red house in April during the siege. He mentions the opposing General Comofort and his reinforcements had swelled the opposition to some 37,000 men. The French General Bazaine, along with the first Brigade of Durey's regiment, the Brigade of Tirailleurs Algeriens, one of the 51 line and one of the 81st, marched toward San Lorenzo and three cavalry squadrons approached Puebla in the middle of the night. After a spirited attack the enemy was pushed back, abandonning 8 cannons, 11 banners, 4 flags and a whole convoy of ammunition, money and food, and thousands of prisoners. Eventually the garrison within the city tried to escape but did not succeed. [This is a reference to the Siege of Puebla which began on March 16, 1863 and continued until the city fell to the French on May 19.]
Durey's final letter comes several years later, on May 2, 1867, from Geryville [French Algeria]. He tells M. Chauvin of the hasty departure of his regiment from Mexico in early March of that year. [The fall of Emperor Maximilian and the French Empire in Mexico ended with his execution in June 1867.] He had suffered much from a bout of yellow fever and now found himself back in Algeria dealing with the notorious Si Lala and hearing rumors that his regiment was going to be sent to Prussia next. Item #70770
Letters of a career soldier from Algeria and Emperor Maximilian's Mexico during the second era of French colonial expansion.
Price: $2,500.00