My dear and honoured friend, Alexey, I wish to show you that although we are adversaries there is a genuine respect from me to the Officers of the Imperial Russian Army, in particular your good self. I was delighted to hear of both your promotion to the rank of General-Leytenant and the recognition of your battlefield prowess with the awarding of the Kulm Cross. Your exploits have obviously caught the eye of Alexander I. Dare I say, even l'Empereur has heard tell of you and the renowned Kiev Grenadiers.
Although I cannot celebrate your achievement face to face, I have given instructions for two bottles of my much loved and prized 12 year old Bunnahabhain Scottish whisky to be delivered to the Russian outposts for your consumption. I only hope that it does not cross the path of any cossack sotnias on its journey, lest it is undelivered.
I shall drink a toast to your achievement later in the evening.
I salute your achievements.
p.s. The addition of all these new feathers to your chapeau must cause you some concern in high winds or indeed when our cannon balls are flying past you thick and fast. One would not like to see such a fine horseman as yourself be brought crashing to the ground due to a lack of balance caused by such a circumstance. Perhaps it would be better for you to simply strap a duck to your head. It would certainly be more streamline and may even keep your head warm during the winter months. It would also prove beneficial in times when sustenance is difficult to find. You could simply eat your chapeau!
Encore, félicitations mon ami.