CHAPTER VII.

Military Operations in Russia and Poland-Napoleon's Depart ure from Paris-Treaty with the Emperor Francis of AustriaCauses that led to the War between Russia and France-Passage of the Niemen-Battles of Ostrovno-Sufferings of the French-Mischief introduced by Marauding Battle of Daw-lensk-Battle of Valutina-General Kutusow takes Command of the Russians-Battle of Polotsk-Remarks by General Rapp and Lucien Bonaparte-Military Movements continued Different Condition of the Russian and French Armies-Battle of Moskwa, or Borodino-The French enter Moscow-Napo leon's Account of the Burning of that City-He solicits Peace, and is rejected Affair of Winkowo-Battles of Malo Jaroslawitz and Viazma-Setting in' of the cold Weather-Retreat of the French Army-Arrival upon the Banks of the Berezina-Buttle-Dreadful Passage and Burning of the BridgeNapoleon at Warsaw-His extravagant Reflections upon his Reverses-His Arrival at Paris-His Answer to the Address of the Senate.

THE military events of 1812, especially in Russia and Poland, were of an unprecedented nature in the history of warfare.

On the 9th of May, Napoleon set off from Paris, attended by his "right-hand," Berthier, and accompanied as far as Metz by the new empress; from whence the royal pair again set out for Dresden, where a meeting took place with the emperor and empress of Germany, and where these august personages remained some time.

Napoleon, finding his armies well advanced, suddenly quitted his imperial festivities at Dresden, and proceeded on the 7th of June to Dantzick, on a tour of military observation; partly in hopes of facilitating a meeting which he was endeavouring to procure with the emperor Alexander, but at

which the ministers of the latter persuaded him not to be seen.

Still anxious to bear down every thing before him with a military force, he had negotiated a treaty with his father-in-law, by which Austria was to furnish 24,000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, and 60 pieces of artillery, whenever he should call on them to act as auxiliaries.

Without entering at any great length into the causes that led to the war between Russia and France in 1812, it may be sufficient to observe, that, till January, 1811, the negative relations of harmony, which had existed since the peace of Tilsit, continued. The cabinet of St. Petersburgh had entered into a negotiation with England, Sweden, Austria, and Prussia. For the first time for

more than an age, the Swedish nation seemed to have forgotten the reverses of Charles the Twelfth. Napoleon, having put his army in motion, notified to the emperor Alexander, that he was ready to enter into a negotiation upon the points in litigation. He consented to modify the continental system with regard to Russia, and proposed a treaty of commerce, which, without annulling the ukase of December, 1810, should conciliate the interests of both nations. Hitherto facts speak in favour of Napoleon; and, in spite of prejudice, it is impossiblé not to acknowledge, on this important occasion, a spirit of moderation seldom found among monarchs habituated to victory. On the 30th of April, the Russian ambassador, in answer to these proposals, demanded, as preliminary conditions, the complete evacuation of the Prussian estates, and all the strong places in Prussia, as they were at the first period of their occupation by the French troops;

the diminution of the garrison of Dantzick, and the evacuation of Swedish Pomerania. Napoleon, supposing the Russian minister had exceeded his instructions, ordered Count Lauriston, his ambassador at Petersburgh, to wait upon the emperor Alexander in person at Wilna; but this sovereign refused to enter into any explanation. Arrived upon the banks of the Niemen, Napoleon sent Count de Narbonne, one of his aids-de-camp, to make a last effort; but this was attended with as little success as the former. War was finally declared: its real motives originated in the influence that the cabinet of St. James had obtained over that of St. Petersburgh, and in the wishes which the latter still indulged, to revenge the humiliation of Russia by the French, in the campaign of 1807.

Napoleon, having repaired to Gumbinnen, quitted it on the 20th of June, when the imperial headquarters were established at Wilkowiszki.

On the 23d of June, 1812, the French army, consisting of three hundred and fifty-five thousand infantry, fifty-nine thousand five hundred cavalry, and nearly twelve hundred pieces of cannon, was in position, and ready to pass the Niemen,

When the French troops arrived on the banks of this river, which, five years before, had been the scene of their victories, they raised shouts of joy. Napoleon, disguised as a chasseur, proceeded to the advanced posts in company with General Haxo, reconnoitred the banks of the river, and gave orders for throwing bridges over it. The pontons were laid at midnight, and at one o'clock the army was on the right bank of the Niemen, and General Pajol took possession of Kowsno without a blow. A few pulks of Cossacks were seen blending with the line

of the horizon, and the French, advancing through Lithuania, arrived at Wilna, where they found its immense magazines in flames, which they extinguished, and saved the greater part of the provisions.

On the 25th of July, General Nansouty, with the divisions under him, came up with the enemy within two leagues of Ostrowno. The battle commenced; the Russian cavalry, a part of which belonged to the guard, was overthrown. The enemy's batteries were carried by the French cavalry; and the Russian infantry, that advanced to support their artillery, was broken and sabred, and the enemy compelled to retire, after sustaining a considerable loss. On the 26th, in the morning, the army continuing to advance, another obstinate combat took place a league beyond Ostrowno, where the French advanced guard engaged with the corps of Osterman, which was beaten at all points, and forced to retreat.

On the 27th, the French, under Prince Eugene and the king of Naples, attacked the enemy's positions, and he was driven across the plain, beyond a small river which enters the Dwina below Witespk. The army took a position on the banks of this river, a league distant from the town.

The enemy displayed in the plain 15,000 cavalry and 60,000 infantry. A battle was expected next day the Russians boasted that this was their wish. The emperor spent the night in reconnoitring, the field, and in making his dispositions for the next day; but at day-break the Russian army was retreating in all directions towards Smolensk.

On the 28th, at day-break, the French entered Witespk, a town of thirty thousand inhabitants, and

containing twenty convents.

Some magazines,

particularly one of salt, were found here, of considerable value.

Previously to the arrival of the French troops at Wilna, the roads had been broken up; the men were losing themselves in the mud, and already perishing in the bogs and quagmires of Pultusk from hunger and fatigue. Ten thousand horses died in the course of a few days; the soldiers, continually sliding on the clayey ground, were exhausted in fruitless endeavours to proceed. Unable to keep up, many lagged behind, especially the allies. Many, probably, as well as some of the generals, foresaw that the issue of the war would be disastrous. But after leaving Wilna, the French soldiers that could not keep up with their corps visibly increased; they even encumbered the rear.

In consequence of the wretched state of want, to which the country was reduced by the war, the different corps of the French were allowed to make excursions, to provide for themselves from what they could obtain from the inhabitants. The whole army soon after received an order to furnish themselves with provisions for fifteen days. In executing this, it was impossible to avoid great abuses and enormous dilapidations; the emperor's orders were only executed upon paper, and from that which the military commissioners laid before him, he was made to believe that the army was amply provided with subsistence till the 25th of August, and the march to Smolensk was determined upon. However, at this epoch the French army was already reduced to two thirds of the effective force that passed the river Niemen.

The French army was again put in motion on