November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
“General Orders. Spain and Portugal, 1810[-1811]”. 2 vols. London: Printed by Authority. Thomas Egerton Military Library, Whitehall, 1811[-1812]. I: 261 pp. (including index) and II: 322 pp. (including index). Octavo (8-1/2" x 5-3/8"), period full bindings of diced Russia leather with raised band, gilt lettering and trim, gilt edges, and marbled endpapers. A handsome and rare set of the General Orders for the Duke of Wellington’s Peninsular Army, officially printed and custom-bound for distribution to key general officers and staff. Both volumes are inscribed to the same intended recipient, that on volume II entered opposite the title page: “The General Officer / Commanding the / 3rd Division of /Infantry” and signed “Chas. Stewart A.G.”; volume III is similarly inscribed to the commander of the 3rd Division, but following the title page and unsigned. Charles William Stewart (1778-1854), 3rd Marquis of Londonderry, was a career British officer and half-brother of Robert, Lord Castlereagh. Serving with great merit in the campaigns against Napoleon, he commanded a cavalry brigade under Sir John Moore, returning to the Peninsula in April 1809 as adjutant-general under Wellesley, with the rank of brigadier-general. At the passage of the Douro he led some charges of squadrons which were specially noticed by Wellesley in general orders, and he also distinguished himself at Talavera. He was promoted major-general on 25 July 1810 and returned to the Peninsula in March, and served as adjutant-general throughout the campaigns of 1810 and 1811. He was mentioned in despatches for Busaco and Fuentes d'Onoro. In the latter battle he disarmed a colonel of chasseurs and made him prisoner. He was essentially a “beau sabreur”, handsome and dashing; in Alison's words, “his nature was chivalrous rather than administrative.” CONDITION: Both volumes in very good condition; the spines with very slight edgewear; pages bright and clean, with scattered light foxing. JLK