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War between France and Russia.

sacrifice will appear light to us, when it is to effect the restoration of our native country from the Dwina to the Duiester; from the Borysthenes to the Oder. One single word from your majesty will devote to you every arm, every effort, and every heart. The interest of your majesty's empire require the re-establishment of Poland, and probably the honour of France is equally interested in it. If the dismemberment of Poland was the sign of the declension of the French monarchy, may her re-establishment be a proof of the prosperity to which your majesty has elevated France. The oppressed Poland has turned her eyes for almost three centuries towards France, that great and generous nation. But fate has reserved this termination for the head of the fourth dynasty—for Napoleon the Great-before whom the policy of three centuries were but a momentary ●bject, and the space from south to north but a single point."

REPLY OF BUONAPARTE.

"Gentlemen, deputies of the confederation of Poland! I have heard with interest what you have related to me.—" Poles! I would have thought and acted like you; lik● you I would have voted in the assembly at Warsaw. Love of the country is the first duty of civilized men. In my situation I have many interests to conciliate, and many duties to perform. Had I reigned during the first, second, or third partition of Poland, I would have armed all my people to support you. Immediately that victory enabled me to restore your ancient laws to your capital, and a part of your provinces, I did it, without prolonging a war which would have continued to spill the blood of my subjects. I love your nation. For sixteen years I have seen your soldiers by my side, in the fields of Italy, as well as those of Spain. I applaud all you have done; I authorize the efforts you wish to make; I will do every thing that depends on me to second your resolutions. If your efforts are unanimous, you may conceive the hope of reducing your enemies to acknowledge your rights; but in these countries, so distant and extensive, it is entirely pon the unanimity of the efforts of the population which covers them, that you must found your hopes of success. I have held to you the same language since my first ap pearance in Poland; I must add here, that I have guaranteed to the Emperor of Austria the integrity of his dominions; and that I cannot sanction any manœuvre, or any movement, which may tend to trouble the peaceable possession of what remains to him of the Polish provinces. Let Lithuania, Samogitia, Wetepsk, Polotsk, Mobilow, Volhynia, the Ukraine, Podolia, be animated with the same spirit which I have seen in Great Poland, and providence will crown with success your holy cause: He will recompence that devotion to your country which has rendered you so interesting, and acquired you so many claims to my esteem and protection, upon which you may depend under every circumstance."

On the 1st ult. Buonaparte issued a decree constituting a provisional government for Lithuania. The members of this government published an address on the 7th, to their countrymen, in which the clergy are told, that "they may discover in the abundant harvest before them, the evident assistance afforded by providence to Napoleon the Great!!"

EIGHTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.

Gloubokoe, July 22.-The corps of Prince Bagration is composed of four divisions of infantry, from 22 to 24,000 men strong; of Platow's cossacks, forming 6000 horse; and from 4 to 5000 cavalry. Two divisions of his corps (the 9th and 15th) wished to rejoin him by Pinsk; they were intercepted, and obliged to return by Volhynia. On the 14th General Latour Maubourg, who follows the rear-guard of Bagration, was at Romanoff. On the 16th Prince Poniatowski had his head-quarters there. In the affair of the 10th, which took place at Romanoff, the General Roziniecki, commanding the VOL. IV. NO. 24. 3 N

War between France and Russia.

light cavalry of the four cavalry corps, has lost 600 men, killed, wounded, or made prisoners. We have no superior officer to regret. General Roziniecki states, that the bodies of Count Pahlen, general of division, and the Russian colonels Adrenow and Jesowayski have been recognized on the field of battle. The Prince Schwartzenberg had his head-quarters on the 13th, at Prazana. On the 11th and 12th he occupied the important position of Cinsk, with a detachment which took some men, and considerable magazines. Twelve Austrian hussars charged 46 cossacks, pursued them during several leagues, and took six of them. The Prince of Schwartzenberg marches to Minsk. General Regnier returned on the 19th to Slonim, to guarantee the dutchy of Warsaw from an incursion, and to observe the two divisions of the army which had re-entered Volhynia. On the 12th, General Baron Pajol who was at Ighonmen, sent captain Vandois with 50 cavalry to Khaloui. This detachment took there a park of 200 carriages belonging to Bagration's corps, and made'prisoners six officers, 200 cannoneers, 300 men attached to the train, and 800 fine artillery horses. Captain Vandois finding himself 15 leagues distant from the army, did not think it practicable to carry off this convoy, and burnt it. He has brought with him the horses and prisoners. On the 15th the Prince of Eckmuhl was at Ighonmen; General Pajol was at Jachitsie, having posts on Swisloch. Bagration leaving this, renounced the idea of marching to Bobrunsk, and proceeded 15 leagues lower down on the side of Mozier. On the 17th the Prince of Eckmuhl was at Golognino. On the 15th General Grouchy was at Borisons. A party which he sent on to Star-Lepel, took considerable magazines, and two companies of miners of eight officers and 200 men. On the 18th, this general was at Kokanow. On the same day at two in the morning, General Baron Colbert entered Orcha, where he took possession of immense magazines of flour, oats, and clothing. He afterwards passed the Borysthenes, and proceeded in pursuit of a convoy of artillery. Smolensko is in alarm. Every thing is removing to Moscow. An officer sent by the emperor to cause the evacuation of the magazines of Orcha, was quite astonished to find the place in the possession of the French. This officer was taken with his dispatches. While Bagration was briskly pursued in his retreat, anticipated in his projects, separated and removed from the main army, (that army commanded by the Emperor Alexander), retreated on the Dwina. On the 14th, General Sebastiani, following the rear-guard, cut down 500 cossacks, and arrived at Dronia. On the 15th, the Duke of Reggio advanced upon Dunaburg, burnt the fine barracks which the enemy had constructed there, took a plan of the works, burnt some magazines, and took 150 prisoners. After this diversion on the right, he marched on Dronia. On the 15th the enemy, who was concentrated in his intrenched camp of Drissa, to the number of from one to 120,000 men, being informed that our light cavalry did not keep a strict watch, threw over a bridge, sent across 5000 infantry, and 5000 cavalry, attacked General Sebastiani unexpectedly, drove him back one league, and caused him a loss of 100 killed, wounded, and prisoners, among whom were a captain and a sub-lieutenant of the 11th chasseurs. The general of brigade, Saint Genier, who was mortally wounded, remained in the power of the enemy. On the 16th, the Marshal Duke of Treviso, with a part of the foot guards, and the horse guards, and the light Bavarian cavalry, arrived at Gloubokue. The viceroy arrived at Dockechistie on the 17th. On the 18th, the emperor removed his head-quarters to Globokoe. On the 20th, the Marshals Duke of Istria and Treviso were at Onchatsch; the viceroy at Kamen, and the King of Naples at Disna. On the 18th the Russian army evacuated their intrenched camp of Drissa, defended by twelve pallisadoed redoubts, united by a covered way, and extending 3000 toises on the river. These works cost a year of labour-we have levelled them. The immense magazines they contained were

War between France and Russia.

either burnt, or thrown into the water. On the 19th, the Emperor Alexander was at Witepsk. On the same day General Count Nansouty was opposite Polotsk. On the 20th, the King of Naples passed the Dwina, and covered the right bank of the river with his cavalry. All the preparations the enemy had made to defend the passage of the Dwina have been useless. The magazines he has been forming, at a great expence for these three years past, has been entirely destroyed. The same has happened to his works, which, according to the reports of the people of the country, have cost the Rus. sians in one year, not less than 6000 men. One can hardly guess on what ground they fattered themselves that they would be attacked in the camp they had intrenched. General Count Grouchy has reconnoitred Babinovitch and Sienno. On all sides we are marching upon the Oula. This river is joined by a canal to the Beresina, which runs into the Borysthenes. Thus we are masters of the communication from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In his movements the enemy has been obliged to destroy his baggage, and to throw his artillery and arms into the rivers. All the Poles of his army avail them selves of his precipitate retreat to desert and wait in the woods till the arrival of the French. The number of the Poles who have deserted the Russian army, may be cal culated to amount at least to 20,000 men. Marshal Duke of Belluno, with the 9th corps, is advancing upon the Vistula. Marshal Duke of Castiglione has set out for Berlin, to take the command of the 11th corps. The country between the Oula and the Dwina is very beautiful, and in the highest state of cultivation. We often meet with beautiful country seats, and extensive convents. In the town of Gloubokoe alone there are twe convents, which may contain each 1200 sick.

NINTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.

Bechenkoviski, July 25.—The Emperor, taking the road of Ouchatsch, established, on the 23d, his head-quarters at Kamen. The viceroy occupied, on the 23d, with his advanced guard, the bridge of Botscheiskovo. A reconnoisance of 200 horse, detached on Bechenkoviski, fell in with two squadrons of Russian hussars, and two of cossacks, charged them, and took or killed a dozen men, of whom one was an officer. Le Chet d'Escadron Lorenzi praises the conduct of captains Rossi and Ferrori. On the 23d, at six o'clock in the morning, the viceroy arrived at Bechenkoviski. At ten he passed the river, and threw a bridge over the Dwina. The enemy were inclined to dispute the passage; but his artillery was dismounted. Colonel Lacroix, aid-de-camp of the viceroy, had his thigh broken by a ball. The emperor arrived at Bechenkoviski on the 24th, at two o'clock in the afternoon. The division of cavalry of General Count Bruyeres, and the division of General Count St. Germain were sent on the route of Witepsk. They reposed when they had performed half their march. On the 20th, the Prince of Eckmuhi advanced upon Mohilow. The garrison, which consisted of 2000 men had the temerity to wish to defend it, but they were sabred by the light cavalry. On the 21st, 3000 cossacks assailed the advanced posts of the Prince of Eckmull; they were the advanced guard of Prince Bagration, arrived from Bobrunsk. A battalion of the 85th arrested this cloud of light cavalry, and drove it back a considerable distance. Bagration appears to have availed himself of the little activity with which he was pursued, to advance upon Bobrunsk; and thence he returned against Mohilow. We occupy Mohilow, Orcha, Disna, and Polotsk. We are marching on Witepsk, where it appears the Russian army is concentrated. Herewith is a plan of the intrenched camp, and of the lines which the enemy had constructed before Drissa. It is a work which must have cost them much time.

War between France and Russia.

TENTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.

Witepsk, July 31, 1812.-The Emperor of Russia and the Grand Duke Constantine have quitted the army and repaired to the capital. On the 17th, the Russian army left the intrenched camp at Drissa, and marched towards Polotsk and Witepsk. The Russian army which was at Drissa, consisted of five corps-d'armée, each of two divisions, and of four divisions of cavalry. One corps-d'armée, that of Prince Wittgenstein, remained for the purpose of covering St. Petersburgh; the four other corps having arrived on the 24th at Witepsk, crossed to the left bank of the Dwina. The corps of Ostermann with a party of the cavalry of the guards, put itself in motion at day-break of the 25th, and marched upon Ostrovno.

BATTLE OF OSTROVNO.

On the 25th of July, General Nansouty, with the divisions Bruyeres and St. Germain, and the 8th regiment of light infantry, encountered the enemy two leagues in advance of Ostrovno: the action commenced: several charges of cavalry took place; all of them were in favour of the French. The light cavalry covered itself with glory. The King of Naples mentions the brigade Pire, composed of the 8th hussars and 16th chasseurs, as having distinguished itself. The Russian cavalry, of which a part belonged to the guards, was overthrown. The batteries which the enemy opened upon our cavalry were carried. The Russian infantry, who advanced to support their artillery, were broken and sabred by our light cavalry. On the 26th, the viceroy, marching with the division Delzon, as the head of the columns, an obstinate action of the advanced guard, of from 15 to 20,000 men, took place a league beyond Ostrovno. The Russians were driven from their positions one after another. The woods were carried by the bayonet. The King of Naples and the viceroy mention with praise Generals Baron Delzon, Huard, and Roussel. The 8th light infantry, the 84th and 92d regiments of the line, and the 1st regiment of Croats, distinguished themselves. General Roussel, a brave soldier, after being the whole day at the head of the battalions, was visiting the advanced posts at ten at night, when a sentinel took him for an enemy, fired upon him, and the ball shattered his skull. He ought to have died three hours sooner, on the field of battle, by the hands of the enemy. On the 27th, at day-break, the viceroy made the division Broussier file off in advance. The 18th regiment of light infantry, and the brigade of light cavalry of the Baron de Pire, wheeled to the right. The division Broussier marched by the great road, and repaired a small bridge which the enemy had destroyed. At day-break, the enemy's rear-guard, consisting of ten thousand cavalry, was perceived drawn up en echellon on the plain; their right resting on the Dwina, and their left on a wood lined with infantry and artillery. General Count Broussier took post on an eminence with the 53d regiment, waiting till the whole of his division had passed the defile. Two companies of voltigeurs had marched in advance, alone; they skirted the bank of the river, advancing towards that enormous mass of cavalry, which made a forward movement, and surrounded these 200 men, who were thought to be lost, and who ought to have been so. It happened otherwise. They concentrated themselves with the greatest coolness, and remained during a whole hour, hemmed in on all sides; having brought down more than 300 horsemen of the enemy; these two companies gave the French cavalry time to debouche. The division Delzon defiled on the right. The King of Na ples directed the wood and the enemy's batteries to be attacked. In less than an hour, all the positions of the enemy were carried; and he was driven across the plain, beyond a small river which enters the Dwina below Witepsk. The army took a position on the banks of this river at the distance of a league from the town. The enemy displayed in

War between France and Russia.

the plain 15,000 cavalry, and 60,000 intantry. A battle was expected next day. The Russians boasted that they wished to give battle. The emperor spent the remainder of the night in reconnoitring the field, and in making his dispositions for next day; but at day break the Russian army was retreating in all directions towards Smolensko. The emperor was on a height near the 200 voltigeurs, who alone on the plain attacked the right of the enemy's cavalry: struck by their fine conduct, he sent to inquire what corps · they belonged to: they answered, "To the 9th, and three fourths of us are lads of Paris." "Tell them," said the emperor, "that they are brave fellows, and they all deserve the cross. The fruits of the three actions of Ostrovno are ten pieces of cannon of Russian manufacture taken, the cannoneers sabred; 20 caissons of ammunition, 1500 prisoners, 5 or 6000 Russians killed or wounded. Our loss amounts to 200 killed, 900 wounded, and about 50 prisoners. The King of Naples bestows particular praise on Generals Bruyeres, Pire, and Ornano, and colonel Radzevill, commandant of the 9th Polish lancers, an officer of singular intrepidity. The red hussars of the Russian guard have been cut up: they lost 400 men, many of whom were prisoners. The Russians had three generals killed or wounded. A considerable number of colonels, and superior officers of the army remained on the field of battle. On the 28th, at day-break, we entered Witepsk, a town of 30,000 inhabitants: it has 20 convents. We have found in it some magazines, particularly one of salt, valued at 15,000,000. While the army was marching on Witepsk, the Prince of Eckmuhl was attacked at Mohilow. Bagration passed the Beresina at Bobrunsh, and marched upon Novoi-bickow. At day-break on the 23d, 3000 cossacks attacked the 3d regiment of chasseurs, and took 100 of them, among whom were the colonel and four officers, all wounded. The generale was beat; an action commenced. The Russian General Sieverse, with two select divisions, began the attack. From eight in the morning, till five in the afternoon, the firing was kept up on a strip of wood, and at a bridge, which the Russians wished to force. At five, the Prince of Eck muhl caused three chosen battalions to advance, put himself at their head, overthrew the Russians, carried their positions, and pursued them for a league. The loss of the Russians is esti mated at 3000 killed and wounded, and 1000 prisoners We lost 700 killed and wounded. Bagration repulsed, retired upon Bickow, where he passed the Borysthenes, to advance towards Smolensko. The battles of Mohilow and Ostrovno have been brilliant and honourable to our army. We never have had engaged more than half of the force which the enemy presented, the ground not being suitable for greater developments. [The following proclamation of the Emperor Alexander, to the Russian army, dated Wilna, June 25, 1812, is subjoined to this bulletin:]

"For a long time past we had remarked the hostile comportment of the French Emperor towards Russia; but we still hoped, through moderate and pacific measures, to avert hostilities. At last, notwithstanding all our wishes to maintain peace, we witnessed an incessant repetition of open outrages, which compelled us to arm, and to assemble our troops; though still, while we could flatter ourselves with the hope of reconciliation, we remained within the confines of our empire; and without violating peace, were prepared for defence. All these moderate and pacific measures could not secure to us the tranquillity of which we were desirous. The French Emperor, by an attack upon our troops at Kowno, has already commenced war; and consequently nothing farther remains for us but, while we invoke the aid of the Sovereign of the Universe, the Author and Defender of Truth, to place our force in opposition to the force of the enemy. It is unnecessary to remind our generals, our chiefs, and warriors, of their duty, and of their valour. In their veins flows the b ood of the Sclavonians, so highly renowned of old for their victories. Soldiers! You are the defenders of religion, your country, and independence. I am with you. God is on your side, ALEXANDER."

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