Napoleon's Finest; Marshal Louis Davout and His 3rd Corps, Combat Journal of Operations by Davout, Louis Nicolas; Scott Bowden; Peter Harrington - 2006

[Berkeley, CA]: Military History Press, 2006. Folio. Limited Deluxe edition. 227 pages. The first translation into English of Davout's Operations du 3e corps which was first published by his nephew in the 1896 French edition. It details the extraordinary successful campaigns of the 3rd Corps of Napoleon's Grande Armee of 1905-1807, under the command of Marshal Davout most notably at the Battle of Auertadt, October 14, 1806. Outnumbered by more than two to one, his 26,000 man corps defeated his Prussian opposition. These papers are a key primary source for the study of the first campaigns of the Grand Armee. They include the after-action reports filed by Davout's brigade, division and other commanders and they detail the marches and combat officers personally directed, shedding light on the campaigns in Germany and Poland. The many color maps, orders of battle, officer biographies all contribute to making this an essential reference on those crucial years. A fine copy bound in a fine maroon leather binding decorated in gilt, raised bands with compartments lettered and decorated in gilt, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers and housed in its original shipping box.