part of the 2d corps that remained on the of the 25th, marched upon the village of warm. The enemy wishing to turn our Studzeanea, and caused, in spite of an ene-right, General Doumere, commanding the my's division, and in its presence, two 5th division of cuirassiers, which made bridges to be thrown over the river. The Duke of Reggio passed, attacked the enemy, and led him, fighting, two hours. The enemy retired upon the léte-du-pont of Borisow. General Legrand, an officer of the first rate merit, was badly, but not dangerously, wounded. During the whole days of the 26th and 27th, the army passed.The Duke of Belluno, commanding the 9th corps, had received orders to follow the movement of the Duke of Reggio, to form the rear guard, and keep in check the Russian army from the Dwina, which followed him. Portaunaux's division formed the rear-guard of this corps.On the 27th, at noon, the Duke of Belluno arrived with two divisions at the bridge of Studzeanea. Portaunaux's division set out at night from Borisow. A brigade of this division, which formed the rear-guard, and which was charged with burning the bridge, marched at seven in the evening, and ar, rived between 10 and 11 o'clock; it sought its first brigade and its General, who had departed two hours before, and which it had not met with in its route. Its researches were in vain; some uneasiness was then conceived. All we have since been able to learn is, that the first brigade set out at five o'clock, missed its way at six, went to the right in place of proceeding to the left, and marched two or three leagues in this direction; that during the night, and benumbed with cold, it rallied Ón the 30th, the head-quarters were at seeing the enemy's fires which it mistook for those of the French army. Thus at Plechnitsi; on the 1st Dec. at Slaike, surrounded it was taken. This cruel and on the 3d, at Molodetschno, where mistake must have caused us a loss of the army received the first convoys from 2,000 infantry, 300 cavalry, and three Wilna. All the wounded Officers and pieces of artillery. Reports state, that the soldiers, and whatever else could be of General of Division was not with his co- embarrassment, with the baggage, &c. lumn and had marched alone.All the were sent off to Wilna.To say that army having passed on the morning of the the army stands in need of re-establishing 28th, the Duke of Belluno guarded the its discipline, of refreshing itself, of re téle du pont upon the left bank; the Duke mounting its cavalry, completing its arof Reggio, and behind him all the army, tillery, and its materials, this is the result the right bank of the Borisow, of the Exposé which has just been made. having been evacuated, the armies of the Its repose is of the first necessity. The Dwina and Volhynia communicated: they material and the horses are coming in; planned an attack on the 28th, at break of General Boureier has already more than day. The Duke of Reggio caused the Em-20,000 remount horses in different depots. peror to be informed that he was attacked. Half an hour afterwards the Duke of Belluno was on the left bank. The Duke of Elchingen immediately followed the Duke of Reggio, and the Duke of Treviso, the Duke of Elchingen. The battle became was upon -The artillery has already repaired its losses. The Generals, Officers, and soldiers have suffered greatly from want. Numbers have lost their baggage by the loss of their horses, and several by the effect of the Gossacks' ambushes. The incidental to the state of war, into which the United States have been forced by the perseverance of a Foreign Power in its system of injustice and aggression. Previous to its declaration, it was deemed proper, as a measure of precaution and forecast, that a considerable force should be placed in the Michigan territory, with a general view to its security; and, in the event of war, to such operations in the uppermost Canada, as would intercept the hostile influence of Great Britain over the savages; obtain the command of the lake on which that part of Canada borders; and maintain co-operating relations with such forces as might be Cossacks have taken numbers of isolated | prosperity, there is just occasion also for persons, of geographical engineers, who our mutual congratulations and thankfulwere taking positions, and of wounded ness. With these blessings are naturalOfficers, who were marching without pre-ly mingled the pressures and vicissitudes caution, preferring running the risk to marching slowly, and going with the convoy.The reports of the General Officers commanding the different corps will make known what Officers and soldiers have chiefly distinguished themselves, and the details of these memorable events.--In all these movements the Emperor has been continually marching in the middle of his guards. The cavalry commanded by Marshal Duke of Istria, and the infantry commanded by the Duke of Dantzic.His Majesty has been well satisfied with the fine spirit shewn by his guards. They have always been ready to shew themselves every where that their presence was need-most conveniently employed against other ful but circumstances have always been such that their appearance alone was sufficient, and that they never were in a case which required them to charge.-The Prince of Neufchatel, the Grand Marshal, the Grand Equery, and all the Aids-de-Camp and Military Officers of the household, have always accompanied His Majesty.Our cavalry was dismounted to such a degree, that it was necessary to collect the Officers, who had still a horse remaining, in order to form four companies of 150 men each.-The Generals there performed the functions of Captains, and the Colonels those of Subalterns. This sacred squadron, commanded by General Grouchy, and under the orders of the King of Naples, did not lose sight of the Emperor in all these movements. The health of His Majesty was never better. AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. parts. Brigadier-Gen. Hull was charged with this provisional service, having under his command a body of troops, composed of regulars and of volunteers from the state of Ohio: having reached his destination, after his knowledge of the war, and possessing discretionary authority to act offensively, he passed into the neighbouring_territory of the enemy with a prospect of an easy and victorious progress. The expedition, nevertheless, terminated unfortunately, not only in a retreat to the town and fort of Detroit, but in the surrender of both, and of the gallant corps commanded by that Officer. The causes of this painful reverse will be investigated by a military tribunal. A distinguishing feature in the operations which preceded and followed this adverse event, is the use made by the enemy of the merciless savages under their influence. Whilst the benevolent policy of the United States invariably recommended peace, and promoted civilization amongst that wretch Washington City, Nov. 4.-The Presi-ed portion of the human race, and was dent of the United States this day communicated to Mr. Coles, his private Secretary, the following Message to Congress :Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives, On our present meeting, it is my first duty to invite your attention to the providential favours which our country has experienced in the unusual degree of health dispensed to its inhabitants, and in the rich abundance with which the earth has rewarded the labours bestowed on it. In the successful cultivation of other branches of industry, and in the progress of general improvement favourable to the national making exertions to dissuade them from has not scrupled to call to his aid their taking either side in the war, the enemy ruthless ferocity, armed with the horrors of those instruments of carnage and torture which are known to spare neither age nor sex. In this outrage against the laws of honourable war, and against the feelings sacred to humanity, the British Commanders cannot resort to a plan of retaliation; for it is committed in the face of our example. They cannot mitigate it by calling it a self-defence against men in arms, for it embraces the most shocking butcheries of defenceless families; nor can it be pretended that they are not answerable for the atrocities perpetrated, since the savages are employed with the knowledge, and even with menaces, that their fury could not be controled. Such is the spectacle which the deputed authorities of a nation, boasting its religion and morality, have not been restrained from presenting to an enlightened age. The misfortune at Detroit was not, however, without a consoling effect. It was followed by signal proofs that the national spirit rises according to the pressure on it. The loss of an important post, and of the brave men surrendered with it, inspired every where new ardour and determination. In the states and districts least remote, it was no sooner known, than every Citizen was eager to fly with his arms at once to protect his brethren against the blood-thirsty savages let loose by the enemy on an extensive frontier; and to convert a partial calamity into a source of invigorated efforts. This patriotic zeal, which it was necessary rather to limit than excite, has embodied an ample force from the states of Kentucky and Ohio, and from parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is placed, with the addition of a few regulars, under the command of Brigadier-General Harrison, who possesses the entire confidence of his fellow-soldiers; among whom are citizens, some of them volunteers in the ranks, not less distinguished by their political stations than by their personal merits. -The greater portion of this force is proceeding on its destination towards the Michigan territory, having succeeded in relieving an important frontier post, and in several incidental operations against hostile tribes of savages, rendered indispensable by the subserviency into which they had been seduced by the enemy; a seduction the more cruel, as it could not fail to impose a necessity of precautionary severities against those who yielded to it. At a recent date an attack was made on a post of the enemy near Niagara, by a detachment of the regular and other forces, under the command of Major-Gen. Van Renssellaer, of the Militia of the State of New York. The attack, it appears, was ordered in compliance with the ardour of the troops, who executed it with distinguished gallantry, and were for a time victorious; but not receiving the expected support, they were compelled to yield to reinforcements of British regulars and savages. Our loss has been considerable, and is deeply to be lamented. That of the enemy, less ascertained, will be the more felt, as it includes among the killed the Commanding General, who was also Governor of the province; and was sustained by veteran troops, from inexperienced soldiers, who must daily improve in the duties of the field. Our expectation of gaining the command of the Lakes, by the invasion of Canada from Detroit, having been disappointed, measures were instantly taken to provide on them a naval force superior to that of the enemy. From the talents and activity of the Officer charged with this object, every thing that can be done may be expected. Should the present season not admit of complete success, the progress made will ensure for the next a naval ascendency where it is essential, to a permanent peace with, and a control over, the Savages. Among the incidents to the measures of the war, I am constrained to advert to the refusal of the Governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut to furnish the required detachments of militia towards the defence of the maritime frontier. The refusal was founded on a novel and unfortunate exposition of the provisions of the Constitution relating to the militia. The correspondence which will be before you, contains the requisite information on the subject. It is obvious, that if the authority of the United States to call into service and command the militia for the public defence can be thus frustrated, even in a state of declared war, and of course under apprehensions of invasion preceding war, they are not one nation for the purpose most of all requiring it, and that the public safety may have no other resource than those large and permanent military establishments which are forbidden by the principles of our free government, and against the necessity of which the militia were meant to be a constitutional bulwark.- -On the coasts and on the ocean, the war has been as successful as circumstances inseparable from its early stages could promise. Our public ships and private cruizers, by their activity, and where there was occasion, by their intrepidity, have made the enemy sensible of the difference between a reciprocity of captures, and the long confinement of them to their side. Our trade, with little exception, has safely reached our ports, having been much favoured in it by the course pursued by a squadron of our frigates, under the command of Commodore Rodgers; and in the instance in which skill and bravery were more particularly tried with those of the enemy, the American flag had an auspicious triumph. The frigate Constitution, commanded by Captain Hull, after a close affairs with France retain the posture which they held at my last communication to you. Notwithstanding the authorized expectation of an early as well as favour have been procrastinated to the latest date. The only intervening occurrence meriting attention, is the promulgation of a French decree, purporting to be a definitive repeat of the Berlin and Milan Decrees. This proceeding, although made the ground of the repeal of the British Orders in Coun cil, is rendered, by the time and manner of it, liable to many objections.The final communications from our special Minister to Denmark, afford further proofs of the good effects of his mission, and of the amicable disposition of the Danish Government. From Russia we have the satisfac tion to receive assurances of continued friendship, and that it will not be affected by the rupture between the United States and Great Britain. Sweden also professes sentiments favourable to subsisting harmo ny. and short engagement, completely disabled and captured a British frigate; gaining for that officer, and all on board, a praise which cannot be too liberally bestowed,not merely for the victory actually achievable issue of the discussions on foot, these ed, but for that prompt and cool exertion of commanding talents, which, giving to courage its highest character, and to the force applied its full effect, proved that more could have been done in a contest requiring more.Anxious to abridge the evils from which a state of war cannot be exempt, I lost no time after it was declared, in conveying to the British Government the terms on which its progress might be arrested, without waiting the delays of a formal and final pacification: and our Chargé d'Affaires at London was at the same time authorized to agree to an armistice, founded upon them. These terms required, that the Orders in Council should be repealed, as they affected the United States, without a revival of the blockades violating acknowledged rules; that there should be an immediate discharge of Ame rican seamen from British ships, and a stop to impressments from American ships, with an understanding that an exclusion of the seamen of each nation from the ships of the other should be stipulated, and that the armistice should be improved into a defini. tive and comprehensive adjustment of depending controversies. Although a repeal of the orders susceptible of explanations meeting the views of this Government, had taken place before this pacific advance was communicated to that of Great Britain, the advance was declined from an avowed repugnance to a suspension of the With a view to that vigorous prosecupractice of impressment during the armis- tion of the war to which our national facultice, and without any intimation that the ties are adequate, the attention of Congress arrangement proposed with respect to sea- will be particularly drawn to the insuffimen would be accepted. Whether the ciency of the existing provisions for filling subsequent communications from this Go- up the military establishment. Such is the vernment, affording an occasion for recon- happy condition of our country, arising sidering the subject on the part of Great from the facility of subsistence, and the Britain, will be viewed in a more favour-high wages for every species of occupation, able light, or received in a more accommodating spirit, remains to be known. It would be unwise to relax our measures, in any respect, on a presumption of such a result.The documents from the department of State, which relate to this subject, will give a view also of the propositions for an Armistice, which have been received here; one of them from the authorities at Halifax and in Canada, the other from the British Government itself, through Admiral Warren; and of the grounds upon which neither of them could be accepted. Our With the Barbary Powers, except. ing that of Algiers, our affairs remain on the ordinary footing. The Consul General residing with that Regency, has suddenly, and without cause, been banished, together with all the American citizens found there. Whether this was the transitory effect of capricious despotism, or the first act of predetermined hostility, is not ascertained. Precautions were taken by the Consul on the latter supposition.--The Indian tribes, not under foreign instigations, remain at peace, and receive the civilizing attentions which have proved so beneficial to them. that, notwithstanding the augmented inducements provided at the last Session, a partial success only has attended the recruiting service. The deficiency has been necessarily supplied during the campaign by other than regular troops, with all the inconveniences and expenses incident to them. The remedy lies, in establishing more favourably for the private soldier, the proportion between his recompense and the term of his inlistment: and it is a subject which cannot too soon or too seriously be taken into consideration. The same insuf : it less so, that penal enactments should be provided for cases of corrupt and perfidious intercourse with the enemy, not amounting to treason, nor yet embraced by any sta tutory provisions. -A considerable num→ ber of American vessels, which in England when the revocation of the Orders in Coun ficiency has been experienced in the provisions for volunteers made by an Act of the last Session. The recompense for the service required in this case, is still less attractive than in the other: and although patriotism alone has sent into the field some valuable corps of that description, those alone who can afford the sacrifice, can rea-cil took place, were laden with British sonably be expected to yield to the impulse. manufactures, under an erroneous impresIt will merit consideration also, whether, sion that the Non-Importation Act would as auxiliary to the security of our frontier, immediately cease to operate, have arrived corps may not be advantageously organized, in the United States. It did not appear with a restriction of their services to parti- proper to exercise on unforeseen cases of eular districts convenient to them; and such magnitude, the ordinary powers vestwhether the local or occasional services of ed in the Treasury Department, to mitigate marines or others in the sea-port towns, forfeitures without previously affording under a similar organization, would not be Congress an opportunity of making on the a proper addition to the means of their de- subject such provisions as they may think fence. I recommend a provision for an in- proper. In their decision, they will, crease of the General Officers of the army, doubtless, equally consult what is due to the deficiency of which has been illustrated equitable considerations, and to the public by the number and distance of separate interest.- -The receipts into the Treasury commands, which the cause of the war, during the year ending on the 30th of Sept. and the advantage of the service, have re- last, have exceeded 16 millions and an half quired: and I cannot press too strongly on of dollars; which have been sufficient to the earliest attention of the Legislature, the defray all the demands on the Treasury to importance of the re-organization of the that day, including a necessary reimburseStaff Establishment, with a view to render ment of near three millions of the princimore distinct and definite the relations and pal of the public debt. In these receipts responsibilities of its several departments are included a sum of near 8,850,000 rethat there is room for improvements which ceived on account of the loans authorized will materially promote both economy and by the Acts of last Session. The whole success, in what appertains to the army sum actually obtained on loan amounts to and the war, is equally inculcated by the 11 millions of dollars, the residue of examples of other countries, and by the ex- which being receivable subsequent to the perience of our own. A revision of the 30th of September, will, together with the Militia Laws, for the purpose of rendering current revenue, enable us to defray all the them more systematic, and better adapting expenses of this year.The duties on them to emergencies of the war, is at this the late unexpected importations of British time particularly desirable. Of the addi- manufactures will render the revenue of the tional ships authorized to be fitted for ser- ensuing year more productive than could vice, two will be shortly ready to sail; a have been anticipated. The situation of third is under repair, and delay will be our country, fellow citizens, is not without avoided in the repair of the residue. Of its difficulties, though it abounds in ani, the appropriations for the purchase of ma- mating considerations, of which the view terials for ship-building, the greater part here presented of our pecuniary resources is has been applied to that object, and the an example. With more than one nation purchases will be continued with the ba- we have serious and unsettled controversies; lance. The enterprising spirit which has and with one powerful in the means and characterized our naval force, and its suc-habits of war, we are at war. The spirit cess both in restraining insults and depre- and strength of this nation are nevertheless dations on our coasts, and in reprisals on equal to the support of all its rights, and the enemy, will not fail to recommend an to carry it through all its trials. They can enlargement upon it.- -There being rea- be met in that confidence. Above all, we son to believe, that the Act prohibiting the have the inestimable consolation of know acceptance of British licenses is not a suffi-ing, that the war in which we are actually cient guard against the use of them, for purposes favourable to the interests and views of the enemy; further provisions on that subject are highly important. Nor is engaged, is a war neither of ambition nog vain glory; that it is waged, not in violation of the rights of others, but in the (To be continued. |