Lt.General le Marquis Alain de Mylcandonai, His Majesty's Adjutant General,
to Lt.General le Baron Soire de Success, OC First Division,
Greetings!
Mon Cher Soire,
My father told me many years ago that only in the direst adversity is it
possible to truly differentiate between those having a genuine concern for
your welfare and mere hangers on who will use you to their own advantage
when your star is in the ascendant but waste no time in kicking you should
your star seem to fall.
I recently received a letter from le Comte d'Armagnac which would appear to
place him in the latter category. Not being on as familiar terms with the
Comte as you are yourself (you will recall that it was on your
recommendation that I appointed him to command the Heavy Brigade?) I have
decided to forward the letter to you (enclosed) to ask your opinion. It may
well be, after all, that le Comte merely has naturally abrasive style of
correspondence and does not intend to give offence?
As you know, it has never been my custom to demand favours from those
gentlemen I am able to help in the course of my duties. I do expect a
minimum level of civility from such gentlemen, however, and it seems to me
that le Comte d'Armagnac's letter falls somewhat short of this. His apparent
taunts regarding my being perceived to be 'unworthy' to command the Cavalry
Division (when it was I doing the appointing!!!) and lack of recent battle
experience (when I was fighting with the RNHB only in May) are as
uncalled-for as they are inaccurate. I must confess that, when I first read
the letter, I deeply regretted not paying more heed to those advisors who
advocated that I stand upon my rights regarding command of the Cavalry
Division and have d'Armagnac demoted back to his brigade.
Given the cloud under which I presently find myself, it is only to be
expected that there will be those who adopt a lack of civility in their
dealings with me for fear of attracting the ire of Duc Senior. It is
somewhat disappointing to learn that d'Armagnac appears to be one of them.
The dismissive fashion in which he treats my request regarding Lt.Colonel de
Zaster is equally lacking in tact, I find. As it happens, with Colonel le
Vair resigning the Second Division adjutancy in order to lead his regiment,
I will be in a position to appoint de Zaster personally. Nevertheless, in
the apparently unlikely event that I am in a position to attract future
requests from d'Armagnac I should, perhaps, remember to treat them in an
equally dismissive fashion? Frankly, I would far rather have honest enemies
like Grosscanard and, more recently, Duc Senior than false friends like
Brouilles and, it would appear, d'Armagnac. In preference to both of these,
of course, I would have staunch friends like yourself.
Anyway, as mentioned above it could well be that I have completely misread
Comte d'Armagnac's intentions and I would be grateful for your advice on the
matter. With an impending arrest hanging over my head it all too likely that
I am merely seeing ill-wishers where there are none to be found.
Amitiés,
Alain
> Sir,
>
> Thank you for your kind congratulations on my promotion. Please accept my
> apologies that for whatever reason, the powers that be did not think you
> worthy of it.
> I obviously have you to thank for being in a position to take up the
> divisional command. You need have had no worries about your confidence in
> appointing me Heavy Brigadier as I had already filled the postion for a
year
> whilst your interests were still focussed on the Dragoons. That was, of
> course, before my foray into government as Minister for Justice.
>
> I have to say, even from my lofty position as Cavalry Division commander,
> that the thrill of battle and smell of gunpowder vrings a breath of fresh
air
> compared to the machinations of Paris intrigue. I would suggest you head
in
> this direction but I see you have already made a move in that direction
and
> arranged an appointment as Second Division commander.
>
> Given that your recent expertise has been primarily focussed on policy and
HQ
> strategy, feel free to drop me a line if you need any pointers as to how
to
> handle the frontline situation in the current campaign.
>
> Re. the divisional adjustant, I am sure the Lt Colonel has impressed upon
you
> his merits and what he has to offer but you will appreciate that each
officer
> has his own style and approach. I will certainly be looking for an
adjutant
> but fear that paper work will just have to work when at the moment my
every
> decision means life or death for the soldiers of La Belle France.
>
> d'Armagnac
>
