CHARLES XV OF SWEDEN: (1826-1872)

CHARLES XV OF SWEDEN: (1826-1872)

CHARLES XV OF SWEDEN: (1826-1872) King of Sweden, and King of Norway as Charles IV, 1859-72. A good A.L.S., Charles, one page, small 8vo, n.p., 6^th August [1870], to Monsieur Fournier, French Minister, in French. The King refers to the Wissenbourg affair stating `Here you have the telegram about the Weissebourg affair. The third Regiment division Douay and the first Brigadier Law forced back after several hours of fierce combats.. General Douay killed!..´ With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope bearing a fine red wax seal to the verso. Small overall minor age wear and creasing, otherwise G

 

The Battle of Wissembourg, during the Franco-Prussian War, took place on 4^th August 1870. The battle saw the unsupported division of General Douay of I Corps, which was posted to watch the border, attacked in overwhelming fashion by the German.

 

Charles Abel Douay (1809-1870) French General during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III. During the Wissembourg battle Douay held a very strong position initially, but his force was too thinly stretched to hold it. Douay was killed in the late morning when a mitrailleuse battery exploded near him. The fighting within the town had become extremely intense, becoming a door to door battle of survival. The people of the town of Wissembourg finally surrendered to the Germans. The French troops who did not surrender retreated, leaving behind 1000 dead and wounded and another 1000 prisoners.