His Excellency General le Duc Alain de Mylcandonai, to General le Marquis Claude d'Armagnac, OC the Cavalry Division, and General le Baron Antoine Culvert d'Eau Greetings!
Generals d'Armagnac and d'Eau, His Majesty has this month published the military dispositions for the forthcoming campaign. So important does His Majesty consider the task of defending our Spanish frontier that he has assigned the Guards to the First Army which will perform this duty rather than the frontier units which I had initially envisaged. The majority of our forces, making up the Second Army, will assault the fortified positions along the frontier with the Spanish Netherlands whilst the Cavalry of the Third Army conducts a sweep in force behind these position so as to cut off any supplies and possible support. Being numbered amongst France's three foremost generals I would expect you each to be seeking an army command and wish you well in your efforts. Regretably, my duties at the Ministry of War will require my remaining here for another month or so. I intend to ask the Field Marshal to appoint a less prominent general, skilled in logistics rather than strategy, to one of the armies temporarily so that he can oversee the necessary preparations prior to my taking command before the army marches to the front. Having a not inconsiderable reputation as a successful cavalry commander, the Third Army would be my command of choice, but since the objectives of all three are equally vital to the overall strategy, should either of you gentlemen particularly desire this command I would not dream of standing in your way. I would appreciate some indication of those commands in which you both feel you could be of greatest service to His Majesty at your earliest convenience. Your Servant, General le Duc Alain de Mylcandonai His Majesty's Minister of War
