[Aude/militaria] Large batch of correspondence from the Esco - Lot 209

[Aude/militaria] Large batch of correspondence from the Escoupérié family, career soldiers 1836-1917 Jean-Baptiste Escoupérié spent his military career in the Narbonne gendarmerie and married Jeanne Chama. On his retirement in 1853, Jean-Baptiste bought a house in Conques, which he renovated extensively. He settled there with his wife and died on March 14, 1857. On March 28, Jacques Bellemanière, a relative of the family and chief surgeon at the Carcassonne hospice, described the circumstances of the gendarme's death. His widow wrote on her husband's tombstone: "Souvenir d'amour pour Jean-Baptiste Escoupérié, le plus regretté des époux et père, chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, capitaine de gendarmerie en retraite décédé dans sa 59e année le 14 mars 1857. Please pray for him. Jean-Baptiste and Jeanne had a son, Marius, who made a military career with the 6th squadron of the 1st Hussars. Marius frequently complained in his letters about the slowness of promotions and rank advancement. In a letter dated November 26, 1853, Jean-Baptiste tells his relative Victor Rivals that he and his wife would be "delighted to see Marius become a notary". Also, if Victor could be appointed notary, "we would be at the height of our desires, since we are convinced in advance that when our son has reached the age to manage it [the firm], you will hand it over to him". And Marius punctuates this request to his uncle with letters of greeting that are, to say the least, obsequious: "I have come today to renew the tokens of love and gratitude innate in my heart. These vain compliments, most often lavished and uttered with the tip of my lips, may seem insipid to you, but be favourable to the wishes I form for you, and be convinced that my love is strong and sincere". Victor never became a notary, however, and Marius Escoupérié continued his career with the 1st Hussars. He was appointed brigadier in 1857. He was put in charge of the general's secretariat. In a letter to his mother dated January 1, 1862, he couldn't conceal his satisfaction: "I've been appointed fourrier to the 6th squadron; I've finally reached the rank of non-commissioned officer. Marius will be universal heir to his uncle Jacques Marie Rose Bellemanière. The succession gave rise to a few squabbles, notably with a certain Xavier Bellemanière who, on January 13 1872, demanded 2,000 francs in his capacity as the doctor's heir: "I beg you to pay them to me as soon as possible. There's no need for you to come and repeat the absurd reasoning you gave me last night. You must understand that I'm not in a position to make you a gift of 2,000 francs. MLL