Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An original Napoleonic War letter from Lieutenant John Stedman Christie, 79th Foot, ink, four sides on a single sheet of white paper, folded to form an envelope addressed to his father, ‘Capt. Christie, 55th Militia, Mufsleburgh, Edingh.’, and bearing two red stamps and one black ‘ship’ postal stamp, together with remnants of red wax seal, dated at ‘Fredericksbourgh, 27 Aug. 1807’, the contents discussing the 79th’s disembarkation and advance on Copenhagen, with several lively skirmishes - ‘in the course of the day we popped off 12 of the Danes’ - and the marksmanship of the 60th Rifles, who ‘did not fire more than 20 shots but killed every time, which certainly astonished the Danes ... ’

tear where seal was opened with minor loss of text, generally in good condition £150-200

John Stedman Christie was appointed a Lieutenant in the 79th Foot in April 1804 and advanced to Captain in May 1811. Having served in the Walcheren expedition, he saw three tours of duty in the Peninsula (August 1808-January 1809, January 1810-May 1812 and November 1813-April 1815) and, among other actions, was present at Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor and Toulouse. Christie later transferred to the 42nd Foot and was placed on half-pay in 1815.