The highlight was a re-enactment of the battle of Borodino -- one of the most damaging clashes for Napoleon's troops -- which saw thousands in Russian and French military uniforms perform before several hundred thousand spectators.
The 1812 victory played an important role in Russia's emergence as a major world power.
Until World War I, Napoleon's Russian campaign and the ensuing wars were the largest European military face-off in history.
The letter, which is accompanied by a second decoded sheet, is estimated to fetch up to $19,500.
