LEUTRUM (Karl Sigmund Friedrich Wilhelm, 1692-1755, General of Infantry in the Piedmontese Army in the War of the Austrian Succession, Baron)

Autograph Letter Signed in French with translation, to Count Birago, Captain of Auxiliaries and Commanding the Canale Brigades at Cherasco (French Querasque), forwarding a letter from Count Bezin enclosing a note from 'His Majesty', Carlo Emmanuele III of Sardinia and Prince of Piedmont [these enclosures not present], for the Commander at Cherasco to have the auxiliaries supplied as necessary, saying that it is of old date, and if that causes any difficulty to send a courier in haste to get it repeated, meanwhile Birago is to keep to "all the orders I gave you by your Lieutenant Blavet", 1 side 4to., Canale (French Canal), 2nd March

The war of 1740-1748 was fought on many fronts. In North Italy the Austrians and Piedmontese joined forces against the invading French and Spanish. Count Birago in this letter was Milanese, while Bezin was a Count of the Dukedom of Lorraine, whose former Duke Francis was now Emperor and the husband of Maria Theresia.
Leutrum from Baden, was probably the best field commander of the Savoy army in the 18th century. Son of the Master of the Hunt to the Margrave of Baden-Durlach, he had enlisted as a boy of 14. Carlo Emmanuele III would have liked Milan, part of the Austrian dominions, and, when the Spaniards had the chance to take it, threw in his lot with Austria.
In this letter the Piedmontese are mobilizing from winter quarters. Cherasco and Canale are SSE from Turin, on the road to Alba. Within days the Piedmontese had moved East, driving the French from Asti (on the 7th) and Alessandria (on the 10th). Leutrum secured a resounding victory against the French and their Genoese allies at the Col de Assietta in July 1747. Having organized a notable defence of Cuneo during its siege in 1744, he became its popular Governor after the war. A ballad recalls the successful wish of 'Baron Litron' to be buried, as a Protestant, among the Waldenses.

Item Date:  1746

Stock No:  52773      £275

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