ARDS the close of the year 1810, Russia her political system. Her ukase of De19 destroyed the commercial relations of with that empire, and admitted English 'ce, contrary to treaty, into her ports; her , which commenced in 1811, threatened ision of the duchy of Warsaw; and, finally, test respecting Oldenburg annihilated the of alliance between France and Russia. nger existed when on both sides armies orming for reciprocal observation. The of the last mentioned year was spent by in conference and negociation with Rusthe hope of withdrawing, if possible, the of Petersburgh from the war, upon which ared to be resolved, and to obtain a knowof its real intentions. It was proved to the ty of evidence, that that power proposed same time to depart from the conditions of aty of Tilsit, to place herself in peace with nd, and to menace the existence of the of Warsaw, making use of the pretexts of nities claimed for the Duke of Oldenburg. February, 1811, five divisions of the Russian quitted the Danube by forced marches, and ded to Poland. By this movement Russia ced Moldavia and Wallachia. When the an armies were united and formed, a progainst France appeared, which was transI to every cabinet. Russia by that anced, that she felt no wish even to save apnces; and all means of conciliation employed e part of France were ineffectual.

wards the close of that year, six months it was manifest in France that all this could only in war, preparations were made for it, the consequent divisions of the French ies were, of course, more favorable to the nish cause. The garrison of Dantzig was reased to 20,000 men. Stores of every desstion were conveyed to that place; and conerable sums of money were placed at the dis

CHAP. I.

1812.

posal of the department of engineers, for the aug- BOOK X. mentation of its fortifications. The French army was placed on the war establishment. The cavalry, the train artillery, and the military baggage train, were completed. In March, 1812, a treaty of alliance was concluded between France and Austria, by which the latter was to furnish 30,000 men; the preceding month a treaty had been concluded between France and Prussia.

The following ukase was published by the Russian government at this time:

"By the grace of God, we, Alexander the first, emperor and autocrat of all the Russias, &c.

"The present situation of Europe requires the adoption of firm and strong measures, as well as indefatigable vigilance and energetic exertions, so as to fortify our extensive empire, in the most formidable way possible, against all hostile enterprize. Our bold and courageous Russian nation has been accustomed to live in peace and harmony with all the surrounding nations; but, when storms have threatened our empire, patriots, of all ranks and stations, were ready to draw the sword for the defence of their religion and laws.

"Now there appears to be the most urgent necessity to increase the number of our troops by a new levy. Our strong forces are already at their posts, for the defence of the empire; their bravery and courage are known to all the world. The confidence of their emperor and government is with them. Their faith and love to their country will make them irresistible against a far superior force. With the same paternal care have we adopted all defensive measures to secure the safety and welfare of all and every one; and therefore order, 1st, To raise in the whole empire, from each 500 men, two recruits; 2dly, To commence in all our governments two weeks after the receipt of the ukase, and to be finished in the course of a month; 3dly, To conform to the regulations laid down, with respect to the levy of recruits, by an ukase presented to the senate, and

Several applications had, at this period, been made to the Emperor Alexander, by the French government, to give Bonaparte an interview, which the former very wisely declined.

In April, the first corps of the French graud army marched for the Oder; the second corps to the Elbe; the third corps to the Lower Oder; the fourth corps set out from Verona, crossed the Tyrol, and proceeded to Silesia. The guards left Paris. On the 22d of April, the Emperor of Russia took the command of his army, quitted St. Petersburgh, and moved his head-quarters to Wilna. On quitting St. Petersburgh, the Emperor Alexander was hailed by the acclamations of the inhabitants of his capital. War with France was by no means unpopular in Russia, for it was generally looked upon as inevitable.

Some days before the emperor's departure, Lauriston endeavoured to detain him, pretending that the French troops had advanced towards the Russian frontiers without orders from Bonaparte; and adding, that with the permission of his imperial majesty, he would send one of his aides-de-camp to direct them to countermarch. The answer of Alexander was, that the French marshals were not in the habit of acting without orders; that he (Lauriston) might act as he thought proper,- -but his own resolution was irreversibly taken. It is supposed that this answer decided the departure of Bonaparte from Paris.

In the commencement of May, the first corps arrived on the Vistula, at Elbing and Marienburg; the second corps at Marienwerder, the third corps at Thorn, the fourth and sixth corps at Plock, the fifth corps assembled at Warsaw, the eighth corps on the right of Warsaw, and the seventh corps at Pulawy. The French emperor set out from St. Cloud on the 9th of May; crossed the Rhine on the 13th, the Elbe on the 29th, and the Vistula on the 16th of June.

All the means of effecting an understanding between the two empires became impossible. General Narbonne, aid-de-camp to the French emperor, was dispatched to Wilna, and could remain there only a few days. By that was gained the proof, that the demand which had been made by Prince Kurakin, and in which he declared, that he would not enter into any explanation before France had evacuated the territory of her own allies, in order to leave them at

the mercy of Russia, was the sine qua non of that cabinet.

The first corps advanced to the Pregel. The Prince of Eckmuhl had his head-quarters, on the 11th of June, at Konigsberg.

The Marshal Duke of Reggio, commanding the second corps, had his bead-quarters at Wehlau; the Marshal Duke of Elchingen, commanding the third corps, at Soldass; the prince Viceroy, at Rastenberg; the King of Westphalia, at War. saw; the Prince Poniatowski, at Pultusk. The French emperor moved his head-quarters, on the 12th, to Konigsberg, on the Pregel; on the 17th to Insterburg; and on the 19th to Gumbinnen.

A slight hope of accommodation still remained. The emperor had given orders to Count Lauriston to wait on the Emperor Alexander, or on his minister for foreign affairs, and to ascertain whether there might not yet be some means of obtaining a reconsideration of the demand of Prince Kurakin, and of reconciling the honor of France, and the interest of her allies, with the opening of a negociation.

The same spirit which had previously swayed the Russian cabinet upon various pretexts, prevented Count Lauriston from accomplishing his mission; and it appeared, for the first time, that an ambassador, under circumstances of so much importance, was unable to obtain an interview, either with the sovereign or his minister. The secretary of legation, Prevost, carried this intelligence to Gumbinnen; and the emperor issued orders to march, for the purpose of passing the Niemen. Napoleon then caused a proclamation to the soldiers to be inserted in the orders of the army; in which it is said, "At Tilsit, Russia swore eternal alliance with France, and war with England. England. She now violates her oaths. She refuses to give any explanation of her strange conduct, until the eagles of France shall have repassed the Rhine, leaving, by such a movement, our allies at her mercy."

On the 23d of June, the King of Naples, who commanded the cavalry, transferred his headquarters to within two leagues of the Niemen, upon its left bauk. The marshal Prince of Eckmuhl, commanding the first corps, moved his head-quarters to the skirts of the great forest of Pilwisky. The second corps, and the imperial guards, followed the line of march of the first corps. The third eorps took the direction of Marienpol; the viceroy, with the fourth and sixth corps, which remained in the rear, marched upon Kalwarry. The King of Westphalia proceeded to Novogorod, with the fifth, seventh, and eighth corps. The first Austrian corps, commanded by the Prince of Schwartzenberg, quitted Lemberg, made a movement on its left, and drew near to Lublin. The pontoon train, under the orders of General Eble, arrived on the 23d within two

leagues of the Niemen. On the 23d, at two in the morning, the French emperor arrived at the advanced-posts near Kowno, took a Polish cloak and cap from one of the light cavalry, and inspected the banks of the Niemen, accompanied by General Haxo, of the engineers, alone. On the 24th, he proceeded to Kowno.

At this period the Emperor of Russia was at Wilna, where he had been for sometime with part of his court and guards, and one part of his army occupied Ronikontoni and Novtroki. The Russian General Bagawout, commanding the second corps, and a part of the Russian ariny, having been cut off from Wilna, had no other means of safety than by proceeding towards the Dwina. Several Cossack officers, and officers charged with dispatches, were captured by the French light cavalry.

The Niemen, it should be observed, is navigable for vessels of two or three hundred tons, as far as Kowno. The communications by water are also secured as far as Dantzic, and with the Vistula, the Oder, and the Elbe. The Wilia, The Wilia, which flows by Wilna, is navigable for very small -boats from Kowno to Wilna. Wilna, the capital of Lithuania, is also the chief town of all Polish -Russia. Wilua contains from 25 to 30,000 inhabitants, with a great number of convents and fine public buildings. About twenty-four hours after the Russians received intelligence that the French had passed the river at Kowno, the Russian court left the place.

The following were the general orders of his Russian imperial majesty to the armies, given at Wilna, June 13 (0. s.) 25.

"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 blood of the Sclavonians, so highly renowned of old for their victories. Sol

advanced-posts, and put the army in motion for On the 27th the French emperor arrived at the the purpose of approaching Wilna, and attacking the Russian army at day-break of the 28th, should it wish to defend Wilna, or retard its capture, in order to save the immense magaziues which it had there. One Russian division occupied Troki, and another division was on the heights of Traka. At this time the Emperor Alexander issued the following proclamation to his subjects:

"The French troops have passed the borders of our empire-a complete treacherous attack is the reward of the observance of our alliance. For the preservation of peace I have exhausted every possible means consistently with the honor of my throne and the advantage of my people. All my endeavours have been in vain. The Emperor Napoleon has fully resolved in his own mind to ruin Russia. The most moderate proposals on our parts have remained without an answer. This sudden surprise has shewn, in an unequivocal manner, the groundlessness of his pacific promises, which he lately repeated-There therefore remain no further steps for me to take, but to have recourse to arms, and to employ all the means that have been granted me by providence to use force against force. I place full confidence in the zeal of my people, and on the bravery of my troops. As they are threatened in the middle of their families, they will defend them with their national bravery and energy. Providence will crown with success our just cause. defence of our native country, the maintenance of our independence and national honor, have compelled us to have recourse to arms. I will not sheath my sword so long as there is a single enemy within my imperial borders. (Signed)

The

"ALEXANDER."

At day-break of the 28th, the King of Naples put himself in motion with the advanced-guard, and the light cavalry of General Count Bruyeres. The marshal Prince of Eckmubl supported him with his corps. The Russians every where retired. After exchanging some cannon-shot, they crossed the Wilia in haste, burned the wooden bridge of Wilna, and set fire to immense magazines, valued at many millions of rubles; more than 150,000 quintals of flour, an immense supply of forage and oats, and a great mass of articles of clothing, were burned. A great quantity of arms and warlike stores was destroyed and thrown into the Wilia. At mid-day the French emperor entered Wilna. In the afternoon

CHAP. I.

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BOOK X. the bridge over the Wilia was re-established, and another constructed.

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1812.

The division of Bruyeres followed the enemy by the left bank. In a slight affair with their rear, about eighty carriages were taken from the Russians. The Polish light-horse of the guard made a charge on the right bank of the Wilia, put to rout, pursued, and made prisoners, a considerable number of Cossacks.

On the 25th, the Duke of Reggio crossed the Wilia; and next day he marched upon Javou, 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 opposite Develtovo. The Russians were driven from one position to another; and passed the bridge with so much precipitation, that they could not set fire to it. The Russians lost 300 prisoners, among whom were several officers, and about 100 killed or wounded. The French loss amounted to about fifty men, as they said.

The Russians then set fire to their grand magazine at Wilkomir; but a part of it fell into the hands of the French.

Hitherto the campaign had not been sanguinary; and in all the skirmishes the French did not make above 1,000 prisoners. But the Russians lost the capital and the greater part of the Polish provinces. All the magazines of the first, second, and third lines, the result of two years care, and valued at more than 20,000,000 of rubles, were consumed by the flames, except that part which fell into the power of the French. In short, the head-quarters of the French army were now in the place where the Russian court had fixed its residence for six weeks.

In consequence of the destruction of the triple line of magazines, the Emperor Alexander gave orders for the speedy establishment of magazines at Witepsk, Ostrow, Weliki-Louke, and Pskoff.

The Russian army was still posted and organized in a very advantageous manner. The first corps, commanded by Prince Wittgenstein, consisted of 18,000 men, including artillery and sappers. The second corps, commanded by General Bagawout, consisted of the same numerical force. The third corps, commanded by General Schomaloff, amounted to 24,000 men. The fourth corps, commanded by General Tutschkoff, consisted of 18,000 men. The imperial guards were at Wilna. The sixth corps, commanded by General Doctorow, consisted of 18,000 men; this corps afterwards formed a part of the army of Prince Bagration. The fifth corps was com

5

manded by Prince Bagration, and amounted to 40,000 men.

Notwithstanding this immense army of the Russians, the French continued to advance, and the Russians to retreat, destroying almost every thing in their way. The immense magazines which they had in Samogitia were burned by themselves, which occasioned an enormous loss, not only to their finances, but still more to the subsistence of the people.

The corps of Doctorow, however, (viz. the sixth corps,) was, till 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. On the 30th, its advanced-guard entered Soleinicki. It was charged by the light cavalry of General Baron Borde Soult, and driven out of the village. Doctorow, perceiving that he was anticipated, turned to the right, and made for Ochmiana. General Baron Pajol arrived at that place with his light cavalry, at the moment when Doctorow's vau-guard entered it. General Pajol charged. The Russians were sabred and overthrown in the town. General Doctorow, perceiving that his route was intercepted, fell back upon Olchanoui. Marshal the Prince of Eckmuhl, with a division of infantry, the cuirassiers of the division of Count Valence, 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 a sacrifice of its baggage, upon Smoroghoui, Danowcheff, and Robouilnicki, whence he made for the Dwina. This movement had been foreseen by the French; and General Nansouty, with a division of cuirassiers, the division of light cavalry of Count Bruyeres, and Count Moran's division of infantry, advanced to Mikailitchki, with a view to cut off this corps. He arrived on the 3d of July at Swin, at the time when it passed that place, and pushed it briskly. He took a large number of waggons, and obliged the Russians to abandon some hundreds of baggage-carts. From these incessant skirmishes Doctorow's army suffered in a very severe manner.

Torrents of rain fell at this time during thirtysix hours, without intermission. The weather suddenly changed from extreme heat to extreme cold. Several thousands of horses perished by the effects of this sudden transition; and convoys of artillery were stopped by the mud. By this terrible storm, the march of the French army was retarded.

Though the French troops were assembled by the end of April, warlike operations did not commence till the 12th of June. These operations lasted five days, but were productive of no attack. In the several skirmishes which took place, the

Grand Cossacks distinguished themselves. The Russian troops had been ordered to concentrate, in order to avoid a general engagement, until Prince Bagration's approach.

Major-general Korf, commanding the rearguard of the 2d and 3d corps, repulsed all the attacks of the enemy, in the road to Dosna, and the horse-artillery, under the command of General Count Kutusoff.

On the 18th of June, o. s. (June 30,) Captain Galewa, of the regiment of Polish Hulans, was sent on a reconnoitring party, with a squadron intrusted to him, by the orders of Major-general Korf. On the evening of the 20th, he received orders to pass the village Lantupa, and to take his course to the town of Swenziany. On the morning of the following day, having collected his out-parties, he set out with a view of returning to his regiment; but all the places through which he had to pass were already occupied by three regiments of the enemy's cavalry. Captain Galewa seeing himself thus : cut off, formed his squadron in column, and cut his way through the enemy's troops. Having succeeded in dashing through these, he was a second time met, in a wood, by a party of chasseurs, who endeavoured to intercept his route ; -but he quickly put them to flight. His loss consisted in one officer, and forty-six privates; and that of the enemy in two chiefs of squadron, and a considerablo number of Hulans, grenadiers, and chasseurs, killed.

At the commencement of the Russian campaign, the French, according to their bulletins, won every victory, and the Russians, according to their accounts, sustained no loss. The latter had, indeed, to repel an atrocious invasion under great disadvantages. The population of the Russian empire has a character peculiarly its own. It is spread over such a vast surface and extent of country, that it is a point of time and difficulty to collect it into a given place of union. When such a power, therefore, was invaded by a strong and even numerous army, the first difficulty was to collect such a force as might meet

The CHAP. I. No

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the inroad. Russia got over this difficulty, and BOOK X. very wisely appointed commanders, well known for their skill, experience, and fidelity. Cossacks were also useful men in the field. thing can elude a Cossack's activity, escape his penetration, or surprise his vigilance. Mounted on a very little ill-conditioned, but well-bred horse, which can walk at the rate of five miles an hour, with ease, or in his speed dispute the race with the swiftest; with a short whip on his wrist, armed with the lance, a pistol in his gir dle, and a sword, he never fears a competitor in single combat. The Cossacks act in dispersion, and when they do re-unite to charge, it is not with a systematic formation, but en masse, or what in Germany is called the Swarm attack. No cavalry has power, like them, to march for days and nights, climbing hills, swimming rivers, and winding through valleys without interruption. The defeat of Marmont, by Lord Wellington, on the plains of Salamanca, served as a stimulus to the Emperor Alexander, and this glorious achievement was very properly celebrated at this period, by illuminations in England. A prayer of thanksgiving for the same, was also read in all churches and chapels throughout England and Wales. The victory of Salamanca confirmed the Emperor Alexander in his generous purpose of making another venture for the safety of Europe. It strengthened the hands and coun cils of the Russian ministry, and provided them with strong arguments to oppose the peaceparty of the court of Petersburgh. No victory, in the course of the war, happened more opportunely for every interest-for England, Spain,, and the northern allies; and no defeat was attended with more serious consequences to the now-declining hopes of the French emperor.

Moscow had contributed towards the war 3,000,000 of silver rubles, and 100,000 men equipped. At St. Petersburgh immense subscriptions were made, and 70,000 men were there organised.. The enthusiastic patriotism of all ranks in Old Russia, in succouring the army, was beyond description.

THE first Russian army, after passing Polotzk, made forced marches towards Witepsk. The corps of Lieutenant-general Count Wittgen

stein, which had been strengthened with some battalions of reserve, remained at Drissa, in order to observe the movements of the enemy, as welli