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War between France and Russia.

more than 150,000 quintals of flour, an immense supply of forage and of oats, and a great mass of articles of clothing, were burned. A great quantity of arms, in which Russia is in general deficient, and of warlike stores, was destroyed and thrown into the Vilia. At mid-day the emperor entered Wilna. At three o'clock the bridge over the Vilia was re-established. All the carpenters of the city repaired to it with zeal, and constructed a bridge, while the pontoneers at the same time constructed another. The division Bruyeres followed the enemy by the left bank. In a slight affair with their rear, about 80 carriages were taken from the Russians; there were some men killed and wounded; among the latter is the captain of hussars, Segur. The Polish light horse of the guard made a charge on the right bank of the Vilia, put to rout, pursued, and made prisoners a good number of Cossacks. On the 25th, the Duke of Reggio had crossed the Vilia, by a bridge thrown over near Kowno. On the 26th, he marched upon Javon, and on the 27th on Chatoui. This movement obliged the Prince of Wittgenstein, commandant of the first corps of the Russian army, to evacuate all Samogitia, and the country lying between Kowno and the sea, and to retire upon Wilkomir, after obtaining a reinforcement of two regiments of the guards. On the 28th, a rencounter took place. The Marshal Duke of Reggio found the enemy drawn up opposite Develtovo. A cannonading commenced; the enemy was driven from one position to another, and passed the bridge with so much precipitation, that he could not set fire to it. He lost 300 prisoners, among whom are several officers, and about 100 killed or wounded. Our loss amounts to about 50 men. The Duke of Reggio praises the brigade of light cavalry, commanded by General Baron Castex, and the 11th regiment of light infantry, composed entirely of Frenchmen, from the departments beyond the Alps. The young Roman conscripts have shown a great deal of intrepidity. The enemy set fire to his grand magazine at Wilkomir. Up to the last moment the inhabitants were pillaging some barrels of flour; we succeeded in recovering a part of it. On the 29th, the Duke of Elchingen threw a bridge over the Vilia opposite Souderva. Some columns received a direction of march by the roads of Grodno and Volhynia, for the purpose of coming up with various Russian corps that were cut off and scattered. Wilna is a city containing from 25 to 30,000 souls, with a great number of convents, fine public buildings, and inhabitants full of patriotism, Four or five hundred young men of the university, above eighteen, and belonging to the best families, have requested to form a regiment. The enemy is retiring upon the Dwina. A great number of officers of the staff, and of estafettes are daily falling into our hands. We are obtaining proofs of the exaggeration of all that Russia has published with regard to the immensity of her means. Only two battalions to each regiment are with the army: the third battalions, the statements of the situation of many of which have been found in the intercepted correspondence of the officers of the depôts, with the regiments, do not amount for the most part to 120 or 200 The court set off from Wilna twenty-four hours after being apprised of our passage at Kowno. Samogitia, Lithuania, are almost entirely liberated. The centralisation of Bagration towards the north, has very much weakened the troops which were to defend Volhynia. The King of Westphalia, with the corps of Prince Poniatowsky, and the 7th and 8th corps, must have entered Grodno on the 29th. Different columns have set out to fall upon the flanks of the corps of Bagration, which, on the 20th, received orders to proceed by forced marches from Proujenoui towards Wilna, and the head of which had already arrived within four day's march of the latter city; hut events have forced it to retreat, and it is now pursued. Hitherto the campaign has not been sangui. nary; there have been only manœuvres; we have made in all 1000 prisoners. But the enemy has already lost the capital, and the greater part of the Polish provinces, which

men.

War between France and Russia.

are in a state of insurgency. All the magazines of the first, second, and third lines, the result of two year's care, and valued at more than twenty millions of rubles, are consumed by the flames, or fallen into our power. In fine, the head quarters of the French army are in the place where the court was for six weeks. Amidst the great number of intercepted letters, the following are remarkable: the one from the intendant of the Russian army, who communicates, that Russia having already lost all her magazines of the first, second, and third lines, is reduced to the situation of forming new ones in all haste; the other from Duke Alexander of Wirtemberg, which shews, that after a campaign In of a few days, the provinces of the centre are already declared in a state of war. the present situation of things, had the Russian army believed that they had any chance of victory, the defence of Wilna would have been equivalent to a battle-and in all countries, but particularly in that where we now are, the preservation of a triple line of magazines should have determined a general to risk the chances of it. Manœuvres, then, alone, have placed in the power of the French army, a considerable portion of the Polish provinces, the capital, and three lines of magazines. The magazines of Wilna were set on fire with so mcuh precipitation, that we have been able to save a great many things.

FIFTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.

Wilna, July 6, 1812.-"The Russian army was posted and organized in the following manner, at the commencement of hostilities:-The first corps, commanded by the Prince Wittgenstein, consisting of the 5th and 14th divisions of infantry, and one division of cavalry, amounting, in the whole, to 18,000 men, including artillery and sappers, had been a considerable time at Chawli. It had since occupied Rossiena, and was, on the 24th of June, at Reydanoui. The second corps, commanded by General Baggawort, consisting of the 4th and 17th divisions of infantry, and one division of cavalry, constituting the same force, occupied Kowno. The third corps, commanded by General Schomoaloff, composed of the first division of grenadiers, of one division of infantry, and a division of cavalry, amounting to 24,000 men, occupied Nov-Trocki. The 4th corps, commanded by General Tutschkoff, composed of the 11th and 23d divisions of infantry, and one division of cavalry, in the whole 18,000 men, was stationed on the line from Nov-Trocki to Lida. The imperial guards were at Wilna. The 6th corps, commanded by General Doctorow, consisting of two divisions of infantry, and one of cavalry, amounting to 18,000 men, had formed a part of the army of Prince Bagration In the middle of June this corps arrived at Lida from Volhynia, in order to re-inforce the first army. It lay, at the end of June, between Lida and Grodno. The fifth corps, composed of the second division of grenadiers, of the 12th, 18th, and 26th divisions of infantry, and two divisions of cavalry, was on the 30th at Wolkowisk. Prince Bagration commanded this corps, which might probably amount to 40,000 men. Lastly, the 9th and 15th divisions of infantry, and a division of cavalry, commanded by General Markow, was at the extremity of Volhynia. The passage of the Vilia, which took place on the 25th of June, and the movement of the Duke of Reggio upon Janow, and towards Chatoui, obliged the corps of Wittgenstein to proceed towards Wilkomir and on its left; and the corps of Baggawort to make for Dunabourg by Mouchnicki and Gedroitse.These two corps were thus cut off from Wilna. The third and fourth corps, and Russian imperial guards, retired from Wilna upon Nementschin, Swentzianoui, and Vidzoni. The King of Naples pressed them vigorously along both banks of the Vilia. The tenth regi ment of Polish hussars, which were at the head of the column of the division of Count Sebastiani, came up near Lebowo, with a regiment of Cossacks of the party which co, vered the rear-guard, and charged at full gallop, killed uine, and made about á dozen

War between France and Russia.

prisoners. The Polish troops, which up to this moment have engaged in a charge, have shown rare resolution. They are animated by enthusiasm and passion. On the 3d of July the King of Naples marched upon Swentzianoni, and there overtook Baron Tolly's rear-guard. He gave orders to General Montbrun to charge, but the Russians did not wait the attack, and retired with such precipitation, that a squadron of Hughlans, which was returning from a reconnoisance on the side of Mihailetki, fell in with our outposts. It was charged by the 12th chasseurs, and the whole either taken or slain. Sixty men were taken with their horses. The Poles, who are amongst these prisoners, have applied to serve, and have been taken, full mounted in the Polish troops. On the 4th, at daybreak, the King of Naples entered Syentzianoui, the Marshal Duke of Elchingen entered Maliatoni, and Marshal Duke of Reggio entered Avanta. On the 30th of June, Marshal Duke of Tarentum arrived at Rossiena; he proceeded beyond that to Ponevieji, Chawli, and Tesch. The immense magazines which the Russians had in Samogitia have been burned by themselves, which has occasioned an enormous loss, not only to their finances, but still more to the subsistence of people. The corps of Doctorow, however, viz, the 6th corps, was still, on the 27th of June, without any orders, and had made no movement. On the 28th it assembled and put itself in motion, in order to proceed to the Dwina by marching on its flank. On the 30th its advanced guard entered Soleinicki. It was charged by the light cavalry of General Baron Borde. Doctorow perceiving that he was anticipated, turned to the right, and made for Ochiniana. General Baron Pajol arrived at that place with his light cavalry at the moment when Doctorow's vanguard entered it. General Pajol charged. The enemy was sabred and overthrown in the town; he lost 60 men killed, and 18 prisoners. General Pajol had five men killed and some wounded. This charge was made by the 9th regiment of Polish lancers. General Doctorow, seeing his route intercepted, fell back upon Olchanoai. Marshal the Prince of Eckmuhl, with a division of infanty, the cuirassiers of the division of Count de Va lance, and the second regiment of light cavalry of the guard, moved upon Ochmiana, in order to support General Pajol. The corps of Doctorow, thus cut off and driven towards the south, continued to prosecute the movement on the right by forced marches, with the sacrifice of its baggage, upon Smoroghoni, Danowchoff, and Robouilucki, whence he made for the Dwina. This movement had been foreseen. General Nan souty, with a division of cuirassiers, the division of light cavalry of Count Bruyeres, and Count Morand's division of infantry, advanced to Mikailitchki, with a view to cut off this corps. He arrived on the 3d at Swin, at the time when it passed that place, and pushed it very briskly. He took a large number of waggons, and obliged the enemy to abandon some hundreds of baggage carts. The uncertainty, the anxiety, the marches, and counter-marches which these troops had endured, the fatigues which they had undergone, must have made them suffer severely. Torrents of rain fell during thirty-sin hours without intermission. The weather has suddenly changed from extreme heat to very severe cold. Several thousands of horses have perished by the effects of this suddes transition. Convoys of artillery have been stopped by the mud. This terrible storm, which has fatigued both men and beasts, has unavoidably retarded our march; and the corps of Doctorow, which successively fell in with the columns of General Borde, Soult, of General Pajol, and General Nansouty, has narrowly escaped destruction. Prince Bagration, with the 5th corps, stationed more in the rear, marches towards the Dwipa. He set out on the 30th of June from Wilkowiski to Minsk. The King of Westphalia entered Grodno the same day. The division Dombrowski passed it first. The Hetman Platow was still at Grodno with his Cossacks. When charged by the light cavalry of Prince Eoniatouskie, the Cossacks were dispersed in every direction. Twenty were killedy

War between France and Russia.

and sixty were made prisoners. At Grodno were found materials for 100,000 rations of bread, and some remains of the magazine. It had been foreseen that Bagration would have fallen back upon the Dwina, by drawing as near as possible to Dunabourg; and the general of division, Count. Grouchy had been sent to Bogdanow. He was, oi the 3d, at Trabmi. Marshal the Prince of Eckmuh), reinforced by two divisions, wat on the 4th, at Wichnew. If the Prince Poniatowski had vigorously pressed the rear guard of the corps of Bagration, that corps would have been endangered. All the ene my's corps are in a state of the greatest uncertainty. The Hetman Platow was still ignorant, on the 30th of June, that Wilna had been two days in the possession of the French. He took the direction towards that city, as far as Lida, at which place he changed his route, and moved towards the south. The sun, during the whole of the 4th, re-established the roads. Every thing is now organizing at Wilna. The suburbs have suffered by the vast crowds of people that rushed into them during the continuance of the tempest. There was a Russian apparatus there for 60,000 rations. Another has been established for an equal number of rations. Magazines are forming. The head of the convoys arrived at Kowno by the Niemen. Twenty thousand quintals of flour, and a million rations of biscuit have just arrived here from Dantzic.

SIXTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.

Wilna, July 11, 1812.-The King of Naples continues to follow the enemy's rearguard. On the 5th, he met the enemy's cavalry in a position upon the Dziana. He caused it to be charged by the brigade of light cavalry commanded by General Baron Subervie. The Prussian regiments, the Wirtembergers, and Poles, which form a part of this brigade, charged with the greatest intrepidity. They overturned a line of Russian dragoons and hussars, and took 200 prisoners with their horses. When they arrived on the other side of the Dziana, they broke down the bridges, and shewed a disposition to defend the passage of the river. General Count Montbrun then brought up his five batteries of light artillery, which, during several hours carried destruction into the ranks of the enemy. The loss of the Russians has been considerable. General Count Sebastiani arrived on the same day at Vidzoni, whence the Emperor of Russia had departed on the preceding evening. Our advanced guard is upon the Dwina. General Count Nansouty was, on the 5th of July, at Postavoni. In order to pass the Dziana, he proceeded six miles farther on the right of the King of Naples. The general of brigade Roussel, with the 9th regiment of Polish light cavalry, and the 2d regiment of Prussian bussars, passed the river, overthrew six Russian squadrons, sabred a great number, and took 45 prisoners, with several officers. General Nansouty praises the conduct of General Roussel; and mentions with commendation, Lieutenant Borke, of the Prussian hussars, the sub-officer Kranse, and the hussar Lutze. His majesty has granted the insignia of the legion of honour to General Roussel, and to the officers and sub-officers above named. General Nansouty took 130 Russian mounted hussars and dragoons prisoners. On the 3d of July the communication was opened between Grodno and Wilna, by Lida. The Hetman Platow, with 6000 Cossacks, when driven out of Grodno, moved towards Lida, and found there the French posts. He descended to Ivie on the 5th. General Count Grouchy occupied Wichnew, Traboni, and Soubotnicki; General Baron Pajol was at Perchia; General Baron Borde Soult was at Blakchtoni; Marshal the Prince of Eckmubl was in advance of Bobrowitski, pushing heads of columns in every direction. Platow retreated precipitately on the 6th, to Nikolaew. Prince Bagration having set out in the beginning of July from Wilkowiski on his route for Wilna, was intercepted in his march. He turned ck with a view to reach Minsk: anticipated there by the Prince of Eckmuhl, he altered

War between France and Russia.

his direction, gave up his intention of proceeding towards the Dwina, and moved towards the Boristhenes by Bobruisk, across the marshes of Beresia. Marshal the Prince of Eckmuhl entered Minsk on the 8th. He found there considerable magazines of flour, hay, clothing, &c. Bagration had already arrived at Novoi-Sworgiew: perceiving that he was anticipated, he sent orders to burn the magazines; but the Prince of Eckmuhl did not give time for effecting these orders The King of Westphalia was, on the 9th, at Nowogrodek; General Regnier at Konina; magazines, baggage-waggons, quantities of medicines, and straggling parties, fall into our hands every instant. The Russian divisions are straying in these countries without any previously arranged route, pursued on every side, losing their baggage, burning their magazines, destroying their artillery, and leaving their places without defence. General Baron Colbert took, at Vileika, a magazine of 300 quintals of flour; and a hundred thousand rations of bread, &c. He found also at Vileika a chest containing 200,000 francs, in copper money. All these advantages bave scarcely cost the French army a man. Since the opening of the campaign there have been but about thirty killed in all the corps, about 100 wounded, and ten prisoners; whilst we have already taken from 2000 to 2500 Russians prisoners. The Prince of Schwartzenberg passed the Bug at Droghitschin, pursued the enemy in different directions, and made himself master of many baggage-carts. The Prince of Schwartzenberg praises the reception he has met with from the inhabitants, and the spirit of patriotism which animates these countries. Thus, ten days after opening the campaign, our advanced posts are upon the Dwina. Almost the whole of Lithuania, containing four millions of inhabitants, has been conquered. The operations of the war commenced at the passage of the Vistula. The projects of the emperor were from that time plainly unfolded, and he had no time to lose in carrying them into execution. Thus, the army has been making forced marches from the period of passing that river, in order to advance by means of manœuvres upon the Dwina; for the distance between the Vistula and the Dwina is greater than that between the Dwina and Mosiere or Petersburgh. The Russians appear to be concentrating themselves upon Dunaburg; they give out that it is their intention to wait for us, and to give us battle before we enter their ancient provinces, after having abandoned Poland without a contest, as if they were constrained by justice, and had wished to restore a country badly acquired, inasmuch as it had not been gained by treaties, or by the right of conquest. The heat continues to be very violent. The people of Poland are in motion on all sides. The white eagle is hoisted every where. Priests, nobles, peasants, women, all call for the independence of their nation. The peasants are jealous of the happiness of the peasants of the Grand Duchy, who are free; for, whatever may be said to the contrary, liberty is considered by the Lithuanians as the greatest blessing. The peasants express themselves with a vivacity of elocution, which would not seem to belong to the climates of the north; and all embrace, with transport, the hope that the result of the struggle will be the re-establishment of their liberty. The peasants of the Grand Duchy have gained by their liberty; not that they are richer, but that the proprietors are obliged to be moderate, just, and humane; because otherwise the peasants would quit their lands in order to seek better proprietors. Thus the noble loses nothing; he is only obliged to be just, and the peasant gains much. It must be an agreeable gratification for the heart of the emperor, to witness, in crossing the Grand Duchy, the transports of joy and gratitude which the blessing of liberty, granted to four millions of men, has excited. Six regiments of infantry are just ordered to be raised by a new levy in Lithuania, and four regiments of cavalry have been affered by the nobility.

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