GAULLE Charles de. 3 L. A. S., Saint-Maixent 21, 25 and 29 January 1919, to his parents; 3, 4 and 4 pages in-8. On a training course at Saint-Maixent; Captain de Gaulle sees his military future and is interested in new machines. Captain de Gaulle was assigned to a training course for company commanders at the Saint-Maixent military academy in January 1919. 21st January. He talks to his "dearest mother" about his new posting: "My installation is complete. It's as good as it can be. [...] Classes haven't started yet. It will probably be tomorrow, but there's no hurry. Saint-Maixent is a hole where there is absolutely nothing to do but go home as soon as the service is over. He asked to be informed of his request to the Direction de l'Infanterie: "I'm bored out of my mind". 25 January. "Everything is going well for me here. From a moral point of view, I've been reborn in a way, seeing myself back in military life [...] The course is only attended by officers returning from captivity but all from the active service: battalion commanders and captains. A few lieutenants. I was one of the youngest but not the least senior. The course is well run [...] I have a lot to learn, but I am very pleased to see that the form of warfare has not changed since 1916. My studies will focus on new weapons and how they are used. When they are completed, I see myself as perfectly capable of command without any inferiority of any kind. The Colonel (Augier) in charge of the course received us individually. During my visit, he asked me what my intentions were and to tell him about my service record. He told me verbatim: "Young as you are, you are absolutely right to ask to go on campaign. [...] With the fine record you already have you can, if you want to, make a very bright future for yourself! I won't hide from you, my dearest Mum, that this - obviously impartial - assessment from a chief who knows today's managers very well has definitely lifted my spirits. I'm also very anxious to find out more about the Polish army"... 29 January. He writes to his "dear Papa": "I have come up against a new setback for the Polish army. [...] I have received a note from Captain Chassepot, telling me that the Infantry Command has returned my application because it did not go through the chain of command. [...] It's all going so slowly! [...] The further we go, the deeper France sinks into a sea of administrative stupidity, laziness and insolence. The simplest things are becoming ridiculously complicated. [...] We could really do with a Richelieu or a Louvois! LNC, I, pp. 446-449.