The Sun. — London, England, 1812-11-28 00:00:00

his advanced guard, to place himself - behind the defile of Winkowo, in order that his movements - . .. might. not .be, perceived. • .After Moscow had - ceased to exist, the Emperor had determined either to abandon this heap of ruins, or only.occupy the 'Kremlin with 3000 men, but the Kremlin, after fifteen days labour, was not judged sufficiently, strong to be abandoned, for twentyor thirty days,, to its own forces, It would have weakened and incommoded the army in.its movements, without giving a great advantage. ' It was wished to pro tect Moscow from the beggars and plunderers, 20,000 men would have been necessary. Moscow . . . Is at present an unhealthy and impure sink,' A population of two hundred thousand, , wandering . in the neighbouring woods, dying with, hunger, ;come to these ruins to seek what.remains of vege-, .. ' tables- inthe gardens to support life. It appear ! • ed useless to . compromise any thing whatever for an object which was of .nor military .import 7 ' ance, and which, has become now of no political. importance; ' , All the magazines Which' werp in the city having been; carefully examined, the others emitied, the Emperor caused the Kremlin to be mined; the. Duke of Istria caused it, to be blown up,•at two o'clock p l . m. on the 23d, the ar - renal, barracks, magazines, all were destroyed. This ancient citadel, which takes its date from the foundation of the monarchy—this first palace -..- of the Czars has been destroyed ! The Duke of Treviso has Marched for Vireja. The Emperor of Russia's Aid-deCamp, BaronWinzingerode, - having on the 22d attempted to penetrate at the head of 500 Cossacks, was repulsed, and taken : 7 . prisoner, with a young Russian Officer ,named ... islauskin. ' , " On the 19th, the . head-quarters were in the Castle of Troetskoe ; they ,remained there on the ; 20th: On the 21st they were at Ignatien, the 22d IL. ~. , at Pominskovv, all the army having . made two flank marches; and the 23d at Borowsks. ," The Emperor reckons upon marching, on the 24th ta.gain,the Dwina, and taking a position Which will bring him within eighty leagues of Pe tersbilrgh and Wilna, a dOuble advantage; that is to say, twenty marches nearer his means and his object. " Of 4000 stone-houses which were _in, Mos cow, not; more than 200 remain.. It has. been said a fourth remained,. because in, that calculation 800 churches were comprehended, a partof which , are undamaged. Of 8000 houses of wood nearly. 600 remain. • ' : " It was proposed to the Emperor to burn what remained of the city, to treat the Rc..,sians in their • . ovin way, and to extend this measure round Dios . cow. There are 2000 villages, and as many coun try houses- and chateaux. It was proposed to foim • four columns of 2000 men each, and charge them 'with burning every thing for 20 leagues round Aloscow. • ''That will learn the Russians, said they, to make war according to rule, and not lik e Tartars. If they burn a village, or =house, We must make them answer for it by burning one • • -hundred.' The Emperor refused to allow these measures, which would have aggravated the mis- • fortunes : of this population. Of nine thousand proprietors whose castles would have been burned, an hundred, perhaps, would have been 'sectaries of 'the Marat of Russia ; but 8,900 are brave rnen, already too' much the victims of some 'Wretched men. To ,punish one hundred guilty persons, 8,900 would have _been ruined. NiTe must add, that it would absolutely have left without resources 200,000 poor boors, innocent of every thing. , The Emperor, therefore, contented hirn . Self with Ordering the destruction of the citadel and military establishments, according to the usages of _war, without doing any thing to ruin individuals, already too unhappy by the conse quences of this war. , " The inhabitants of Russia do not recollect • such a season as' we have had for 'the , last twenty days • Pountainbleau. The army is in an _extremely rich country; 'it may be compared to the best in Prance or Germany." ' TWENTY-SEVENTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND ARMY. VEREIA, OCT. 27.—0 n the 27th Prince Po tiatowski marched upon Vereia. " The 23d the army was about to follow this tnovement, but in the afternoon we learnt that the enemy had quitted his intrenched camp and was on march to the little to.vn of Malcarostavitz.--a It was found necessary to march after him, and obstruct his intentions. " The Viceroy received orders to march. " Delzon's divisions arrived on. the 23d, at six in the evening, on the left bank, took possession of•the bridge, and caused it to be repaired. In the night; between the 23d and 24th, the Russian division arrived in the town, and took possession of the heights On the right bank, which are ex tremely advantageous. " On the 24th, at day-break, the battle corn __ 611‘1 tneneeel. buying this time tne enemy's army ap , peared quite entire, and took a position behind the town ; the divisions Delzon, Broussier, and Piuo, and the Italian.guard were Successively engaged. .f‘ This engagement does the greatest honour to the Viceroy, and the 4th corps of the army.— Two-thirds of the enemy's army were engaged tb maintain his position ; but this was in vain, for the. town was taken as well - as the heights. The enemy retreated so precipitately that he was ob liged to throw twenty pieces of cannon 'into the river. Towards night Marshal Prince Eckmuhl .debouched with his, 'corps.; and, all the army was in battle ,with its ,artillery, on the 25th, in the position which the enemy occupied the night before., " The Emperor moved his head-quarters on the 24th to the.village of ,Ghorodnia. At seven in the morning 6000 Cossacks, who had stepped 'into the wood, made a general huzza in the rear ;of his position; and took six pieces of cannon which were parked. The Duke ot Istria set ofl at a gallop•with all the Horse Guard-a; this horde, was sabred, brought back, and ;thrown into the river. , The artillery,it had taken was recovered, captured.--- Six several of his ,Waggons . were Bix . hundred of these Cossacks were killed, wounded, .or taken; thirty men of the , Guaids were wounded, and three killed.. The General of Division, Count Rapp, had a horse killed 'under ,The intrepidity, of. which this General has given so many proofs, is sbewn on every occa sion. At the commencement of the charge, the Cossack Offieers,called the Guard, which they re membered (Mucci dins de Paris) Paris .dainties.— The Major-General of Dragoons, Letort, dis tinguished himself. At eight o'clock order 'was re-established. The EmperOr marched to Mal6iarostavetz, reconnoitred, the position of the enemy, and or dered an attack for the next morning; but in the night the enemy retreated. Prince Eckmnhl fol lowed him for six hour. The Emperor then 'let him go, and directed the movement upon Vereia. " On the 26th bead-quarterswere atTorowsk, and the 27th at Vernia.. '• . " Piinee Eckmuhl is to night at Borowsk ; the Duke of Elchingen at Alojaisk. - '" It is beautiful weather ; the roads are excel lent ; it is the end of autumn. The weather will last eight days longer, and at that period we,shall have arrived in our new position. " In the battle of Maloirost'abitz, the Italian guard distinguished itself. I took the .position, and maintained The General Baron DelzonS, a distinguished Officer, was killed with three balls. Our loss was 1500 men killed or wounded; that of the enemy is six or 7000. We found on the field of battle 13 00 Russians, amongst whom were 1100 recruits, dressed in grey jackets, hav ing hardly served two months. The old Russian infantry is destroyed ; the Russian army would have no consistence but for the numerous reinforcements 'of Cossacks recent ly arrived from the Dow. Well informed persons assure us, that in the Russian infantry the first rank only is composed of soldiers, and that the Second and third ranks. are filled with recruits and militia, and who; notwithstanding the promise made them, are incorporated. The Russians had three Generals killed. General Count Pico was slightly wounded. PARIs, Nov. 21. 2 —News has been received from the Grand Anny, under of the Gth of November. His Majesty then had his head-iOrters at Mich te bov4 ; continued to enjoy the very best health. nyitts,'Nov. 23.—The last accounts from the Grand Army are• of the 7th of November. The movement which it,had commenced was ctintinu 7 ed with •the most perfect order, .• The EMperor, who continues to ,enjoy the best health, is expect ed at SmOlensko on the Bth. (FURTHER EXTRACTS.) • Paris, Nay. 22, FRENCH ARMY OF THE :FORTH OF SPAN. Extract of a Letter from the General in Chief, Count CAFFARELLI, to his Excellency the Duke de PELTRE.,. Minister at :War : " Burgos, Oct. 23. MONSLIGNEUR.—I had the , honour to an nounce to your Excellency, that we were expect- ing, from one moment to another, a favourable opportunity to advance and relieve the fort of Burgos. "SOn the , 20th we made a reconnoissance, of which I have had the honour of giving you an account. Oir the 22d, several corps of cavalry and infantry, among which are the 15th 'regiment of mounted chasseurs, the Berg lancers, and the gendarmerie legion, belonging to the Ariny of the north, as well as the Ist regiment of. hussars and 37th regiment of chasseurS, were placed at the extreme right of the army, the infantry of the Army of the North, had its heal at Briviesca, and its left at Pancorbo ; .\the last troops of the Army of Portugal were but half `a league 'from Briviesco. I expected from one instant to another that General SOUHAM would determine- to attack the English army. " Yesterday mornipg, at eleven .o'clock, we were informed, it was in full retreat :. we imme diately put' ourselves in motion. About five in the evening an affair with the rear-guard took place before Burgos, awl we made some prisoners. " The enemy, on raising- the sie i ge of Burgos, abandoned two 6-pounders and a spiked howitzer. " Yesterday evening I arrived in Burgos.—l met on the road a courier from General SounAm, charged with proceeding and announcing to your Excellency that the enemy were in retreat. I did not allow myself to stop him, to write to your Elicellency, and particularly to announce to you the raising of the 'siege of turgos ; t would have been able to have done ttlis had his departure been • retarded. "It appears that the enemy were determined upon a retrograde movement, by the arrival of the suc cours of the Army of the North, and, by the intel, ligence they received of a battle having been lost by Gen. HILL ,upon the Tagus, ' " I can hardly describe to yotir Excellency all the joy I experience at again seeing the garrison. of the fort, of,Burgos,"and the brave General Du ,,BRETON, who commanded it.. I have walked over • the ,ground : 'every step 'affords proof of what troops, well directed and animated by a good spirit, cab do. Ever/thing necessary to the de, fence was foreseen ; and every thing was employed, because the orders - Were given with discernment ,and their execution pursued with perseverance' ; every one was eager to obey by duty, by honour, by zeal, by attachment and devotion to his Ma jesty: General DunanTorr and the garrison of the fort deserve rewards ; I solicit them from your Excellency. The journal which lam going to lay before you, Monseigneur, will prove to you what titles the officers arid soldiers of this garrison have to the benevolence of his Majesty. " This morning I expect the arrival of two di visions of infantry and artillern• and I am going, to continue to support the Army of •Poytugal, un til know that it no longer wants my assistance. "‘ have the honour . ,to be, (Signed) . "General Count CAFFARELLI." EXTR 4CT OF. ANOTHER' LETTER FROM THE GE- NERAL-IN-CIIIEF CAFFARELLI, TO THE MINISTER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT. " Burgos, 0ct,,23. " iY LORD,--Your E xcellency knows, that the fort of Burgos is built with earth. This fort has sustained a siege of 35 days ; and if it had been attacked by the means prqscribed by the common rules, this fort would have fallen. " enemy haVeinade breaches, by means of shells, and favoured by the, disorder occasioned by the explosion of'the shells, therattempted to make five assaults. I, can say, with truth, that the defence was so obstinate that a part of the palisades of the entrenched camp were entirely cut by the balls at a foot and a half from the ground, and that it was merely through the bravery of the troops that this part, which was the weakest of the entrenched camp, was not carried by the enemy, who were lodged on the ridge of the glacis. " I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) ".Gen.Count CAFFERELLI." N.B. Orders have been given by GeihCount CAP FARELLI to M. PINOT . , Chief ola Battalion, and Director of the Engineers at Burgos, for the re-: ID - airs of the fort of the entrenched camp, and of Mount St. Michael.—(Joiirnal de Paris, Nov. 24.) EXTRACT, FROM A THIRD DISPATCH FROM GENERAJ. IN CHIEF COUNT CAFFARELLI TO THE MINISTER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT, DATED CIGALEI; NEAR VALLADOLID, OCT. 30. • MY LORD,-1 have had the honour of ren dering your Excellency an account of the raising the siege of Burgos, and of the retreat of the English army from before that city, on the 2 - ).d-of this month. "The army of Portugal put itself in motion to pursue them, and I directed its motions. From the evening the cavalry were formed in line. The 23d, this cavalry, 'and two other reOnents which belong to the army of ,the North, the light ca valry, and the dragoons of the army of Portugal, fell in with the rear-guard of the enemy near to Villadrigo. They were charged vigorously by the Gendarmerie, the 15th chasSeurs, acid the lancers of Berg. Never was a more brilliant charge made, or one more decisive.. The attaek- was dreadful, and cost the enemy above 300 men. " By some wnaceountable fatality, the division of dragoons which was in Lime to the right of these corps, and should have sustained them, took itself off to the ikiglit,at full trot,. and disappeared . If they had been supported •bythis division, the English cavalry would have been destroyed ; the English cavalry 'which was formed in square' in Villadri . go would have been taken, an it is as sured that Lord WELLINGTON' and the Prince of ORANGE were within the square. " Notwithstanding this misfortune, our cavalry continued fighting with the greatest success, forced the two lines, made some prisoners, and when they rallied and 'would have made a second charge, the enemy refused it, and retires in the greatest haste. They had amongst them the best of the English cavalry." Upon the right, the 'lst Hussars and the 31st regiment of chasseurs manceuvred .between the enemy's left. The bads of the road and ground only allowed the first to charge the IGth Light Dragoons, of whom they took some prisoners, among others the ,Colonel, and put them to flight: Your Excellency will judge Of the great fdry with which they fought, when you, are informed, 'that the brave Celot;e: BEKELLE, and six officers of the Gendarmerie Legion, have been wounded; Oat e 1.5 re giment of chasseurs, the Colonel and all cie offi cers, except two, received sabre cuts. or contu sions, and that the Berg Lancers had, in their squadron,, several officers wounded. I have de sired the names of the' soldiers who particularly distinguished themselves ; • I shall have the ho- ; aiour . of §nbinittiug them to y•Our Excellency:. All the army bestows the, highest eulogiunfs upon the Army 'of the North, I will only allow mySelf to speak of it ; the General in Chief of the Army, of Portugal will (in' detail) . inform your Excellency of what relates to. his artpY. . ." On the 25tb, AL de TOLL, 'Chef 4'Escadnin of the Berg Lancers, met near Palencia the tail of a convoy, • defeated, it, and carried of; 400 men and much baggage. • • The enemy, in retreating from Torvemada, took a position behind the Carrion,' and Pisuegra destroyed all the three bridges. They afterwards Marched behind Cabezon,' a formidable position,; broke down the bridge at Valladolid ; collected their forces at Cabezon, and caused their baggage to file by Picehte de Duero, and towards Tudela. The foras of the Pisuegra had been sounded ; the infantry would be up to their shoulders in water- We manoeuvred upon Semanias and Torae sillas, and then Lord WELVINGTON decided to evacuate Cabezon, the bridge of which he )'ester day morning blew up. lam going to Valladolid, the bridge belonging to laid) is being repaired ; that of Cabezon will require some time, because the arch is, at least., 55 feet, and there are neither t - materials nor workmen to be found there. " The Army of Portugal marches to-day to take a position upon the•Duero.—l. have followed it to this place. In two or three days I will set out on my return for the territory of the Army. , " I have the honour to be, FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME. " BURGOS, Nov. 8.-4 yesterday learned that the Cohrier who carried the dispatches I bad the honour to address to your Excellency on the 23d, was intercepted by a party of Brigands; who in fest the high road from the side of Villa Real ; as it is possible the dit4patches- of Gen. SOUHAXI may have .been intercepted, I take the liberty df send ing to your Excellency M. D'HERVELTY, niy Aid-de-Carpp, who haS followed all the move ments of the army.' " Since the siege of Burgos,. the enemy have retired upon the high road by Valladolid. There was on the 23d October, at Valladolid, an erlgage ment between the cavalry of the Army of the North, joined to that of the Army of Porto pi, mid all the English cavalry, in which the latter was completely beaten. Since that time the enemy have continued their retreat, in defending, but very weakly; the bridge of Torque mado. They afterwards placed themselves be bind the Carrion, Arlanca, 'and. Pisuegra, taking, care ,to destroy the bridges of Tanugo, Villamurul, and St. Isadbr. There was, from the side of the bridge Of Villammul, an engagement on the other side;the river v ;which our troops passed by fording, and in, which the enemy lost more than 900 men. " A .division had marched upon Palencia, the bridge of which that Was about to be blown up we were able to save. A cletachtheut of light ca valry belonging to the, army T of Portugal, coin- mantled by the Chef d'tseadronToLL, debouched by this bridge, tell iiptha the rear of a convoy, took 400 prisoners, and carried off 100,000 rations of bis cuits, and a great quantity of baggage. The' ext day the enemy evacuated Buenas, and esta blished themselves between Cabezon, which posi tion they strongly occupied, and Valladolid, the bridge of which city they blew up. As they only held this position to give themselves time to sure the means of a retreat," they bl ew up the bridge :of Cabezon, at the same time they destroyed that of Samanias, and marched by Puente Duero, whose bridge they likewise de stroyed. That of TOrdeSillas, those of Tudela and Toro, have also been ruined ; as, perhaps, that of Tornio za. All these- events took place be-. tweet) the 23d and 29th of last month. rill the bridges have been re-established. The Army of Portugal was posted on the. Duero, having its right at Toro, and its left towards Tudela. Foei• divisions of the. English army are in front of Tor desillas, " During their retreat . the enemy lost at least 7000 men ; killed, wounded; taken, or de- 7 serted.—The fort of Burgos, according to their own confession, cost them 3000 ; by their own account, they Last 6000 in the battle of .Sala►nanca. They have only received a reinforcement of 1600 men. Thus this army is considerably weakened : the greater part of their wounded have perished in the long marches from Burgos to Salamanca. " Suck. was, Monseigneur, the situation the Army of Portugal on the 3d inst. -The health of the soldiers was excellent, and they are ani mated by the West spirit. " I have the honour. 484 ‘c CAFFARELLI.' Nov. 23.)