Star. — London, England, 1813-01-18 00:00:00

that cffect from the Commander in Chief of the smies. eport from the General of Cavalry Count Wittgenstein to his bnperial Majesty, dated En Bivouac, near Kamen, Dec. 4. Immediately after Napoleon had effected his pas sge over the Berezyna, near Stoudenzie, I bent off the Late-de-Camp General KutusofF, who had just ar ived, the whole of his corps of light cavalry to .epel, in order that, after having crossed the river, he night be enabled to act on the enemy's flank, and at he same time keep observing the remains of the Ba ►arians, under General Wrede, and who were at DoktschitEe. Arrived at Lepel, he learned that these Bavarians had already quitted the place, and were marching by Dolginoff and Wileyka, and en deavouring to unite themselves with the main body of ' the army at Smorgonia. In consequence of this in- formation, he sent after them a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Testenborn. The latter reports to me, on the 94:1 inst. that having overtaken their rear guard at Dolginoff, it had been beaten, and 26 officers and one thousand privates had been taken prisoners ; and that In consequence of the occupation of Dolginoff by our troops, the intended junction of this corps had been entirely prevented. Admiral Tchitc,hagoff being in pursuit of the enemy by the road to Molodetschno, and in order that our troops should not press one another on the same road, and by that means retard our movements, I am taking the direction of Kostenewitsch, Na rotsch, and Nestawischky, thus acting on the flank of the enemy, and endeavouring, particularlyantith my Cossacks, even to cut him off entirely. At Nomentschin I shall be enabled to act in con cert with Admiral Tchitschagoff ; and at the same time to keep in check Macdonald's army. The enemy's loss, during the three days I have pnrsued him, and from the difficulties I opposed to him in crossing the Berezyna, must be above twenty thousand men ; as I have already sent off as priso ners thirteen thousand, and his loss in killed, woun ded, and di owned, must amount to more than seven thousand. Independently of the twelve pieces of can non taken from the enemy, and of which I have al. ready most humbly made my report, he has lost three others, besides one eagle, which I have hereby the ho nour to lay at the feet of your Imperial Majesty. St. Petersburg!), December 16. ►, JAY Lon—ln my dispatch of the 12th instant your ',Lordship would find bulletins, containing reports of Major General Kutusoff of the 2d December, and of Count Wittgenstein of the 4th December. These re ports described Bonaparte, with the remains of his army, as marching from Zembine upon Wilna, through Vileika ; the Admiral and General Count Wittgenstein moving upon the same point of Wilna, the former through Molodetchno, the latter by Na- notch and Nementchina. 4n this part of the pursuit, the Russian corps have stuck very close to the enemy ; but the light troops which got before him, were not of sufficient force to stop him. His course was altered in consequence of some of flank attacks, and he arrived at Molodetchno in- tead of Veleika ; and having gained some time by lostroying the bridge, he coruinued his march through imorgono to Wilna, which place he appears to have reitched -on the 10th December. The advanced guards of the several Russian co lumns arrived in the immediate neighbourhood of Wilna nearly at the same time, and the retiring army was compelled to continue its retreat from that town, almost without a halt. It is said, that an Aide-de-Camp of Marshal M ust was sent to order the rear guard to defend tselt before Wilna as long as possible ; but instead of the French rear guard, this officer found the Rus ;jail advanced guard, which made him prisoner, raving already demolished, or sent to the rear, the whole of the French rear guard. Thanksgiving and Te Deum will form part of the lurch service to-morrow (being the festival of Saint gicholas), for the defeat of the French army, the :apture of one hundred and fifty pieces of ordnance, Ind several general officers, together with the occu- a;icn of Wilna. I have the honour to inclose three reports, being he journal of military operations from the 20th to lthe 26th of November old style ; Marshal Prince Kutusnfrs Report of the 25th of November, from Illadaschkewich, and his intermediate report of the occupation of Wilna, and continuation of the pursuit Dt - the enemy. ' The further report is not yet arrived, but 'I under tand the magazines of all sorts to have been well tored, the quantity of ordnance to have been consi eralt, and that among the prisoners (not less than wenty thousand, many of whom are sick or wonn ed) there are several General Officers, or officers of istinctiou, who were under cure, and could not be oved. Two General Officers were taken in activity. The me, I understand to be General Le Fevre, who was t prisoner of war in England on parole, the other an Ad Polish General. The apparent direction of ;be enemy's retreat is to rards Kovno ; perhaps a column may take the road Olita. From the state of the weather, it is possible the fiemen may not be passable, in consequence of boating ice. The Commanding Officer at Riga reports, on the 12th December, that Marshal Macdonald has made io variation in his position, I am not sure that the number of pieces of ord kance, mentioned in the notification of the Te Deum o Foreign Ministers, refers to what was taken at Vita; exclusively, or whether it does not include • . • what has been taken since the last general statement that was published.--I have the.honour to be, &c. (Signed) CATHCART. I Continuation Of the Journal of the Military Operations, from 2d to Sib December. Lieutenant-General Schepeseff reports, on the 2d December, that Count Godovitch was marching with the militia under his orders, seventy thousand men, strong, upon Mohelew. Admiral Tchitschagoff reports, on the Ist Decem ber, that he was pursuing the enemy in the direction of Sembini and Viamen to Plestschenitza, while the detachment which he had sent in advance to destroy the bridges, annoyed him jp flank. The enemy lost on the 30th November, seben pieces of cannon, and on the Ist December two pieces ; besides a great many prisoners, which are hourly augmenting. Head-quarters of the army atMajvenitza, Decem ber 3d.—Major-General Toutschakoff reports, on the 17th December, that he arrived on the 3th December with his cotps at Bobruisk. General Count Platoff reports, on the Ist Decem ber, that in pursuing the enemy he had taken one cannon, and made three hundred prisoners, and some officers. The Aicf-de-Camp General Count Oscharoffsky was on the 2d December with his detachment at Lo goiski. The General of Infantry arrived this day with the advanced guard at Kosino. Admiral Tchitschagoff reports, on the 2d Decem ber, that Major-General Lanskoy, whom he had sent with a detachment by Jourieff to Plestschenitza, on the 29th November, had fallen in with a detachment of the enemy, occupying quarters for the Emperor Napoleon, and had made prisoners General Kamin sky, thirty officers belonging to the Staff, with others, and two hundred and seventeen soldiers. The ap proach of the enemy's columns compelled him to quit this spot, and to move to the left, in order to im pede the enemy, and to put as many obstacles as he could to the continuation of their march. Admiral Tchitschagoff having surrounded the enemy on the Ist of December, entered with him into Chotinisschi, took five pieces of cannon, seven officers, and above five hundred prisoners. The road by which the ene my is retreating, is covered with the dead bodies of men and horses, and we have found there thirty ar• tillery tumbrils and many waggons. The main army halted at Ravenitza, December the 4th. Major-General ToutschakofFreports, on the 2d, that he arrived with his corps from Bobruisk on that day, at Golinki. General Field-Marshal Prince G. Kutusoff Smolensko, wishing to approach the army under Admiral Tchitschagoff, has removed, to-day, his head-quarters to Koino. December sth.—General Count Platoff reports, on the Ist, that he had joined the advanced guard of Admiral Tchitschagoff, and was at Chotinitsche.— Having the same day pursued the enemy, he took one piece of cannon, and about one thousand pri soners. The French officers, who have been made prisoners, confirm, that on the 28:11 of November Generals Oudinor, Dcmbroffski, Sayontschick, and several other Brigade Generals, %vele dangerously wounded. Head-quarters at Beloroutschie. December 6.—Head-quarters at Modaschkowitsch December';.—Admiral Tchitschagoff reports, on the 4th, that the advanced guard, wh►le pursuing the enemy as far as Latagal, Major-General ttrourka's detachment took from the guards two pair of colours, ore piece of cannon, and, without reckoning the in valids and the wounded, made one thousand five hundred prisoners, amongst whom were a great many officers of all ranks, and General Preysiny. In this affair Count Platoff himself headed his regiment of Cossacks. The commander of a party, Colonel Besslavin, re ports, that, having made a successful attack upon Sabress, he made General Dorgeusal prisoner, and eleven officers of different ranks. and that he was marching direct upon Wilna, in order to overtake the enemy upon his march, and attack" him at the head of his columns. General Count Platoff reports, on the .sth Decem ber, that during his pursuit of the enemy, and upon driving him from Molodetschina, he took six pieces of cannon, and five hundred prisoners, and that Colonel Kaysaroff, whom he had detached with a strong party, had attacked the enemy's cavalry of guards, who were escorting the baggage of Napol.on, killed about five hundred of them, took one standard, and a part of the baggage, together with some papers of great importance. The head-quarters is with the ad vanced guard of General Miloradowitsch, in order to be near the centre of the military operations/ Colonel Koussiny reports, that he found at Minsk, besides a considerable quantity of bread, about three thousand excellent French muskets, fabricated at Liege. Report of the Commander In Chief of the Army, General Field Marshal Prince Kutusoff Smolensko, to his Imperial Majesty, dated Head-quarters at Radaschkewitsch, the 7th Dec. 1812. The French army having passed the Berezyna, that of Admiral Tchichagoff pursued it without in termission, and gained repeated advantages over the enemy, who retired by Pletschenitza, Molodetschno, and Smorgoni, to Wilna. Major-General Lanskoy, who had been sent on the 2Gth November by Fou rieff to Pletschenitza, alter having gone twelve miles by cross roads, on the morning of the 29th fell upon the advanced guard of the enemy at Pletschenitza, while it was preparing quarters for the Emperor Na.. poleon. The fruits of this unexpected attack were the capture of General Kaminsky, two Colonels, two Lieutenant-Colonels, two Majors, 24 Officers of dif ferent ranks, and 217 soldiers. The advanced guard of Admiral. Tchichagoff, in vigorously pursuing the enemy to Chotinitichi, tc.ok from them five cannons. one Colonel, s;x Officers, and above 500 prisoners. —Besides an inconsiderable loss of men on our side, M. , jor-General Grekoff was slightly wounded by a Lail in the head, The enemy, still pursued by the advanced guard of Admiral Tchtchagoff, was, on the 3d December, overtaken at Litigal, and vigorously attacked by Major-General Count Ozouzk I, when two Saxon standards were taken (which I have now the honoar to lay at your Imperial Majesty's feet by the hands of the Sub-Lieutenant orthe Guards Feutsch) ) and one cannon 3 and more than 1.500 Frisoacrs s among w ham are several Officers, and one General, whose name I have not yet been informed. The troops of General Count Platoff took a very active part in this affair. The advanced guard of Admiral Tchichagoff havhtg approached Molodetschno on the 4th Decem ber, found the bridge destroyed by the enemy ; who having quitted this place about midnight, continued his marsh to Smorgoni. Major-General Count Oxnuzka continued his pursuit, took 500 prisoners and six cannon ;—besides which, two cannon were found at Molodetschno. By the report of Admiral Tchichagoff, of Lieute nant-General Sacken's engagement with the corps of General Regnier, which forms the rear gutard of Prince Schwartzetaberg, the Austrian troops which were advancing to Slnnim, are again returned to Tsabeline, to reinforce General Regnier. This move ment induced Lieutenant-General Sacken to retire upon Scheremoff, in order to be always in the rear of the enemy, in case this last should attempt to march towards Wilna. By this movement your Imperial Majesty will perceive, that the Prince of Schwartz e enberg retires from, rather than approaches towards Wilna. How ever, in order to be quite certain of the direction which he takes, I have ordered the corps of Count Oscharoffky to manoeuvre on the side of Slonim. this instymt received a report from Count Platoff, accompanied with a Polish standard, which 1 have the honour to send with this report to your Imperial Majesty. Report of the Commander in Chief of the Russian Armies, Field-Marshal Prince Kutussiff Smolensk°, to his Imperial Majesty, of the 12th December. After a slight resistance the enemy was obliged yesterday, to abandon the city of Wilna, which the troops of your Imperial Majesty under the command of Admiral Tchitchagoff immediatel+ took posses sion of. The enemy had not had time to destroy the considerable magazines which he had prepared there ; we have taken from him a quantity of can non. The advanced guard and all the army under Admiral Tchitchagoff are in. - pursuit of him. lam myself at the distance of twenty versts from Wilna ; but I will not fail to transmit to your Imperial Ma jesty a detailed report, as soon as I shall arrive there. Extract of a Dispatch from General Viscount Cathcart, dated St. Petersburg's, December 2.1. I have the honour to transmit herewith transla tions of the continuation of the journal of tuditxry operations from the Bth to the 13th December, and of Marshal Prince Kutu soff Smolensico's report, dat ed 14th December. Continuation of the lournal of Military Operations from the Bth to the 13th December. DECEMBER B.—Admiral Tchichagoff, in his first report of the .sth, states, that Major-General Count Orourka had pursued the enemy to Molodetschno, taking 500 prisoners and e'gi.t I , '-ces of cannon.— By his scull.] report of tie 7th Dekember, it appears that his vanguard, under the orders of Major-Gene ral Tchablitz, had pressed so dose upon the enemy's rear, as to carry off his piquets, and subsequently entirely to. destroy that corps near Sworgoni, at which place their main body halted, and were not a little surprised to see our Cossacks appear, when they immediately fled with such precipitation as to leave all their magazines. The enemy's loss en this occa sion amounted to 25 pieces of cannon, and 5000 prisoners. Head-quarters, Molodetschno, 9th December. The enemy was pursued from this place on the 7th by Count Ornurka as far as Belitzi, with a loss of nine pieces of cannon, and above one thousand pri. soners, a great number of tumbrils, and other car. riages. In consequence of the extreme cold, and the great want of provisions, the number of persons pe rishing along the high roads have considerably in cr eased, amongst whom are noticed many of Napo leon's guard. Aid de-Camp General Count Oschsroffsky reports, under date Woloschna, 7th December, that on that day he arrived there, and proposed following the grand army in a parallel line, endeavouring at the same time to cover its lett flank, and to observe the movements of the corps under Prince Schwartzenber l i. Admiral Tchitchagoff reports, on the fith, that his van guard, commanded by Major-General Tchaplitz, continuing to pursue the enemy and to press him closely, had compelled him to abandon sixty-one pieces of cannon. Colonel Mordegnasse, Aide-de- Camp-General of the Staff, the Aide-de-Camp of Marshal Davoust, and two thousand men, were made prisoners in this affair. The whole of the road from Smorgonie to Oschnisany was so completely strewed with dead bodies and dead horses, and so covered with artillery waggons, tumbrils, and carriages, that it was rendered almost impassable. The dissatisfaction amongst Napoleon's troops, has increased to such a pitch, that they with one voice charge him as the author of all their misery. Head-quarters, Smorgonie, December 10.—Colo. reel Knofring reports, under date of the Bth, that he detached some squadrons to watch the enemy's mo tions on the side of Novaswerskena and Stalbzeff. General Count Wittgenstein states, that keeping with his corps to the right of TchitchagofPs army in a parallel line ; he was on the 9th at Nestawischkach. His van guard at Swiranke, and his cavalry under the command of Aide-de-Camp General Ktitusoff, and Major Ciscneral Borosdin at Nementschine. 9th December.—The partizan colonel of the guard, Sesslavin, reports, that having come up rich the enemy's cavalry, he immediately attacked them— they were overthrown, and he entezed Wilms as it were on their very shoulders. In this attack he took six pieces of cannon and one eagle. Having after wards joined the detachment under Major General Landskoy, an attempt was made to carry the town itself; but finding themselves too weak for the enemy's infantry, dispersed throughout the houses, they were under the necessity of waiting the arrival of the ad vanced guard of Tchichagoff's army. Admiral Tchichagoff repot ts, on the 10th of De cember, that Major-General Tschablitz, regardless of all obstacles, and profiting of the disorderly flight of the enemy, had pursued them into Wilna, taking 31 pieces of cannon ; and that the suburbs had been occupied i anJ 4)iiurts poled mod the body of the town, under the orders of Mapr-Generals Orourka and Laskine. Head-quarters, Oschnisani, llth December.—Ma jor-General Ignatseff detached, on the 6th of Decem ber, eight battalions from Bobrouisk to Minsk. Admiral Tchichagoff reports that Major-General Tschablitz diAodged the enemy from Wilnt, on e 10th December, where they left a great number of cannon, and very considerable magnazines, but tin): did not permit to furnish the details. Head-quarters, Wilna, 12th December.—Count Wittgenstein reports, under date of the 10th Decem. ber, that having sent out several detachments of ea. valry in pursuit, one of these, commanded by Aide. de-camp General Kutusoff, had taken a corps of EA. varians prisoners, consisting of 126 officers, and 2024 men, part of which consisted of an entire bane ' lion, which having been surrounded by the able m 7. nceuvres of Lieutenant-Colonel Tettenbach, had laid down their arms without firing a shot. The requisi tions of every description which the enemy had le vied upon the inhabitants were recovered, and with these all the meags of subsistence for their troops.— On the 9th, Lieutenant-Colonel Tettenbach entered the suburbs of Wilna, notwithstanding the enemy were in possession of the body of the place. Major. General Borosdin, who commandea the other detach. meat, made many prisoners at Nementchina, tlok also a considerable number of baggage-waggons. Demo BER 11.—General Count Piatoff reports, that in passing near Walla, he had driven the enemy back five versts, as they were defiling in column by Pogoitlanka, and having allowed the first column to pass (with which Count Orloff Denisoff had already been engaged), he had directed Major-General Nach mend' and Count Orloff to attack the ca-my with spirit from our right flank —and Prince Kasatkin Ros. toffsky, with some regiments of hussars and dragoons, from our left. The column of the enemy was di. vided into two, and entirely destroyed. General Lau lan was made prisoner; thirty other efficei s, upwards of one thcusand men, and we to tk two pt:r of colours and two standards. The remainder of tl.e enemy was pursued, by the horse-artillery, to the mottle ains of Ponary, near which anotlier cot m t was nearly destroyed by the :Ware and bayonet ; 28 p'eces of cannon, as many tumbrils, with their train corn. plete, fell into our hands near tbis spot. Head-quarters of Field-Marshal Kutusoff, at Wilna. On the evening of the sth December, the pat tzars Sesslavin penetrated into the town of Oschnisar.i, where the enemy, consisting of nine battalions 11l in fantry, and above one thousand horse, were preparing quarters fair that night. The infantry had already p led their arms, when the hussars of Achtirsky upon them, sword in hand, from all quarters. The whole of the Comn.andant's guard was cut to pieces, and he himself owed his safety to the darkness of the night. The magazines were at the same moment set on fire by shells ; the enemy, dismayed and in confu soon, fled to the outside of the town, where his infan try vias drawn up in order of battle ; but being pur sued by our cavalry, they retired with the greatest precipitation to Tabarschki. The inhabitants of this tawn unataimatisly declare that Napoleon was there in person ; but that having keen informed of his dan ger by some of those who ware devoted to him, he had changed his dress, and fled at full gallap to wards Wilna. The enemy has lost in prisoners within the space of five days, viz. from the Bth to the 13th December, as follows : one General, 156 officers, and 9574 sol• diets, independent of wounded and sick, of whom great numbers were Lund in the villages near the high road-168 pieces of cannon, two pair of colours, two standards, and an eagle, have llewise fallen into our hands. Report of the Commander in Clad of the Armies, General Field-Marshal Prince Kutusoff Smolensk°, so his Imper. 4 Majesty. recember 11, 1812. At tie time of the capture of Wilna by our troops. on the 10th of December, the enemy defiled through the streets,. whilst Count Platoff, in order to cut off his retreat by the road to Kowno, occupied it with all his Cossack regiments, as well as with those of the hussars of Olvtepole, and the dragoons of Shitomir and Arsamas. Having let pass the first of the ene• tny's columns, Count Platoff ordered Count Orloff Denizoff to attack it with spirit, at the same time he himself attacked with impetuosity the ether columns; the artillery under Colonel Prince Koudascheff kept up an incessant fire. Count Platoff afterwards or. dered Count Orloff Denis , ff to pass in the rear of the enemy, to poa detachments on his flanks, and to prevent his arriving at the Nionntains of Ponary. The large columns were completely routed by thc well-directed fire of our artillery, and afterwards en• tirely destroyed. One General, thirty officers, and more than a thousand soldiers were made prisoners; twenty-eight pieces of cann'n were taken, and a number of waggons and carriages. The loss on our side was very inconsiderable. Colonel Flowaisky, and Lieutenant-Colonel Bibikoff, were dangerously wounded. After the capture of Wilna, I employed every possible means to re-est:NA order, and to inform myself of every thing : but the shortness of the time does not permit me to present to your Imperial M. jesty with this report, a detailed iLventory of all We have found here, especally as the quantity of port sions of every sort, as well the number of prismers, is so great, that it will take a considerable time t 4 make an exact account. During my stay here, the Chief of the Staff, Genc. ral Stawrakoff, and Major• General Besrodni, have co:lected trom the different magazines of the 14,000 tscht tweit of barley, 5000 tschetnert of h cult and flour, an immense number of uniforms, int;;• kets, pouchcs, saddles, great-coats, and other artic , of equipment, We have made prisoners seven Generals, Vivier, Goitsse, Normand, Gouliot, Le Fevre, nolsky, and Sajono•chik ; eighteen Staff Officers, on) hundiel and twenty-four superior officers, nine thee sand five I:ondred and seventeen soldiers, and tire thousand one hundred tnd thirty-nine sick, were inund in the hospitals, A great number of prisoners continue 1.1 be m a,',e in the neighbourhood ; and several magazines 1:•lv'e been taken, i which we have not had time to certify. As soon as the' reports shall be drawn up, 1 A'! l have the happiness to submit them to your Invr •d Majesty, 0 am cu thi ini 1...., r . MN... rou At at