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Translation of a 19th century Napoleonic era document
I am new to this site and am quite pleased to have found it. Over the years I have acquired a number of documents from the Napoleonic era authored by generals from that time period. Now that I am retired I have begun trying to translate them. I took three years of French in college but that was decades ago, so I consider myself somewhat of a beginner.
I have posted a document written by General Pierre Dupont deL"Etang shortly after the battle of Marengo in 1800. The first part of the post is my transcription of the written French, and the second part is my translation of same.
I have reservations about how close I am to a good translation and would appreciate a review of my work with any corrections or critical comments that may help me in the future as I translate other document in my collection.
I look forward to any anyone can provide.
Liberté Armée d’Italie Égalité
Quartier général de Bologne
Le 26 Vendémiaire l’an 9 de la République Franc
Dupont Lieutenant- Général
Au Général Oudinot, Chef de
L’etat Major Général
Je pris signifier, Mon Cher Général, le ordres du Général-en-Chef sur la tes coeur
au Général sous ecrives que je suis charmé de pouvoir humilies c'est le plus
insolent de nos ennemis!
les Napolitains sont au nombre de plusieurs mille d'hommes a Maurata ca
qui augment l'audace des arétes. Le général Mylius a refusé a Ferrara
le passage des grains dont la libre circulation avait été convenu sous
parole d'honneur. Les Autrichiens veulent nous effacer et inciter les habitants
contre nous. Il nous font une guerre fourbe tres funeste , il faut la faire
cesser , si nous etions surpris par la mauvaise saison , dans cette situation ,
nous serions fort mal!
Les officiers d’etat major qui je desire conserver sont, Barthelemy Chef
D’Escadron, Espert, Chef de Bataillon, Martin Chef d’Escadron piemontais, et Dupin, Cpt.
Le Général Gobert je vous en demandera un au deux pour son transit
particulies.
Je vous embrasse, Mon Cher Général.
Dupont
Mille amitiés au Général
Liberty Army of Italy Equality
Headquarters, Bologna
The 18th of October of the year 1800 of the French Republic
Dupont, Lieutenant General
To General Oudinot,
Chief of the General Staff
My Dear General, I took to mean the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, on thy heart as you write to the General, that I am delighted to humiliate this the most insolent of our enemies!
Neapolitans are among the several thousand men in Maserata which increases the boldness of their edges. General Mylius has refused the passage of grains to Ferrara whose free circulation had been agreed to by word of honor.
The Austrians want to remove us and encourage the inhabitants against us. We have in it a deceitful war, very sad. It must stop. If we were surprised by the bad weather in this situation, we would be in a very bad way.
The staff officers who I desire to keep are Barthelemy Chef d”Escadron, Espert, Chef de Bataillon, Martin Chef d’Escadron Piedmontese, and in, Captain.
I will ask General Gobert for the particular transit requirements for one or two.[1]
I embrace you my dear General,
Dupont
My best love to the General
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on -
Hello
If I have a good understanding, you have a paper document and this document is written in French ?
I notice some mistakes in the French transcription (and it's no a surprise, because French has evolved and reading a old document is not easy, even for a native French speaker).
Do you have a photo of the French text ?
I corrected some obvious mistakes, and underscore some weird words, could you confirm ?
Je pris signifier, Mon Cher Général, les ordres du Général-en-Chef sur la tes coeur (theses 3 words are discordant)
au Général sous ecrives que je suis charmé de pouvoir humilier c'est le plus
insolent de nos ennemis!
les Napolitains sont au nombre de plusieurs mille d'hommes a Maurata ce
qui augmente l'audace des arétes. Le général Mylius a refusé a Ferrara
le passage des grains dont la libre circulation avait été convenu sous
parole d'honneur. Les Autrichiens veulent nous effacer et inciter les habitants
contre nous. Il nous font une guerre fourbe tres funeste , il faut la faire
cesser , si nous etions surpris par la mauvaise saison , dans cette situation ,
nous serions fort mal!
Les officiers d’etat major que je desire conserver sont, Barthelemy Chef
D’Escadron, Espert, Chef de Bataillon, Martin Chef d’Escadron piemontais, et Dupin, Cpt.
Le Général Gobert je vous en demanderai un au deux pour son transit
particulier.
Je vous embrasse, Mon Cher Général.
Dupont
Mille amitiés au Général
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Permalink Reply by Rich Matason on
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Thank you so much for your assistance. I am going to attach a copy of the letter shortly.
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Permalink Reply by Rich Matason on
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Thank you for your response. I had much difficulty with the expressions and words that you underlined.
I have attached a copy of General Dupont's letter. His handwriting is not that easy to decipher.
It is very important to me to have a good translation of this document and the others that I have since I will be using them in a book I am writing. I therefore appreciate your help very much.
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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on
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I don't see where is the attached document ?
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Permalink Reply by Rich Matason on
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I will try sending it as a .pdf file
- Attachments:
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General Dupont letter.pdf, 580 KB
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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on
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ok I can see it now.
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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on
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Here is possibility to correct some mistakes. But I am not 100% sure.
when the text in French will be correct, it will be easier to translate.
Je puis signifier, Mon Cher Général, les ordres du Général-en-Chef sont la terreur du Général ????? que je suis charmé de pouvoir humilier. C'est le plus insolent de nos ennemis.
Les Napolitains sont au nombre de plusieurs mille ????? (maybe hommes, but the first letter seems to be a G) à Maurata ce qui augmente l'audace des arétins.
Le général Mylius a refusé a Ferrare le passage des grains dont la libre circulation avait été convenue sous parole d'honneur. Les Autrichiens veulent nous affamer et inciter les habitants contre nous. Il nous font une guerre sourde très funeste, il faut la faire cesser, si nous étions surpris par la mauvaise saison , dans cette situation , nous serions fort mal.
Les officiers d’état major que je désire conserver sont, Barthelemy Chef D’Escadron, Espert, Chef de Bataillon, Martin Chef d’Escadron piemontais, et Dupin, Cpt.
Le Général Gobert vous en demandera un au deux pour son travail particulier.
Je vous embrasse, Mon Cher Général.
Dupont
Mille amitiés au Général
(Franceschi)
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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on
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Here is a translation : It needs a native Englisk look.
I may mean, My Dear General, the orders of the Commander-in-Chief are the terror to the General ????? that I am delighted to humiliate. He is the most insolent of our enemies!
Neapolitans are among the several thousand ???(maybe men) in Maserata which increases the boldness of the Aretins (a name of local people) .
General Mylius has refused the passage of grains to Ferrara whose free circulation had been agreed to by word of honor.
The Austrians want to starve us and encourage the inhabitants against us. We have in it a hidden war, very sad. we had to stop it. If we were surprised by the bad weather in this situation, we would be in a very bad way.
The staff officers who I desire to keep are Barthelemy Chef d”Escadron, Espert, Chef de Bataillon, Martin Chef d’Escadron Piedmontese, and Dupin, Captain.
General Gobert will ask you for one or two [officers] for his particular work.
I embrace you my dear General,
Dupont
My best love to the General (I would say "my best regards to the Général Franschesci")
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Permalink Reply by Rich Matason on
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Thank you so much for your assistance. You have clarified the issues I had with this letter. I hope you would be so kind to perhaps assist me in future translations with which I experience some difficulty. Most of the time I can figure it out but occasionaly not so much. Thanks again.
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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on
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No problem, it's very interresting.
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