The Sun. — London, England, 1812-09-09 00:00:00

recompences on thC field of batik, to all the re giments which had distinguished themselvet j and as the 127th, which is a hew.regiinerit;: had be.. hayed itself well, his Majesty granted this regi went the right:of carrying an eagle ; a privilege it had not before enjoyed, never having, until this time, been present in any battle. These recoin pences, given on the field of battle, in the midst Of the dead, the dyin., the wounded, and the tro phies of victory, offered a spectacle truly 'military and imposing. . The enemy, after this battle,, has, precipitated his retreat in such a manner, that, on the 20th, our troops:marched 20 leagues without being able to find the Cossacks, and every where picking up the wounded and the stragglers. Our loss in the battle of Valentina has been 600 killed, and 2,600 wounded. That of the enemy, as the field of battle shews, is triple. — We have taken 1000 prisoners, mostly wounded. Thus the only two Russian divisions which had not suffered by the preceding combats of Mo bilOw, of Ostrowno, of l'irasnor, and of. Smo lensko, have now done it by' the battle of Va lentina. All the intelligence received confirms.the ac count of the enemy running in full. drive for. Mos _ _ cow ; that his army has suffered much ,in the pre ceding engagements, and, besides this, experi ences a great desertion. The Poles' , say to them, when deserting, `.` You have abandoned us with out fighting, what right then can yoti have to ex act from.us to remain under your colours?" , The Russian soldiers of the provinces'of Mohilow and of Smolensk° likewise take advantage of the proximity of ttieir villages to desert, and return to repose themselves in their own countries. The division of Gudin attacked with so much intrepi dity, that the enemy were persuaded' it was the Imperial. Guards: It is .in one wordlti 3ronounee the finest eulogy on the 7th Regiment . o f Light In fantry, and on the 12th, 21st, and 127tii of the line, who composed thiS division. The combat of Valentina may likewiie be called a battle, as more than 80,000 men were engaged. it was at least an affair of the van-guard of the first rank. General. Grouchy, who was sent with his corps 'an the route to Deukovuhena, found all the vil lages filled with d l ead and worindee, and has taken three carriages containing 900 wounded. The Cossacks have surpxised, at Leosna, an hospital of 200 sick Wurternburg troops, which, through negligence, had not been forwarded to Witepsk. For the rest, in the.midst all these disasters, the Russians never cease to chaunt Te Deums, they convert every, thing into a victory 5 but in spite of the ignorance and brutality of these peo ille, this begins to appear ridiculous to them, and even too gross. .• REPORT TO THE MAJOR-GENE ;' "MY LORD,--I suppose that theDultit of Reg= zio will have rendered your Highness an account of the day of ,the 17th, or .at least up to the mo . Bent when his wounds forced him to quit the field -of battle; during-the .renlairider of that day, 'the troops continued their _successes, and. at nine in th e evening . the Russians' were -repulsed. at every point,. atter having suffered she most considerable osscs, having, attempted, iu the course of the. day, six .or 'seven attacks, which were repulsed . . .with a bravery superior to the infatuation which brought them thither. This affair Alircr,vg the highest honour on the division of Le Grand,whipli Novas placed at the branching of the roads tcp and to Nevil, and,on the Bavarian carps placed • • on the left bank of the Pelota, in the tear of the village of Spas, which the enemy was dttermined to retake, notwithstanding his having beeti : driven out of it five or six times ; and the 20th. division, as also Genera De Wrede who commanded it, have covered themselves with glory. The Bava rian General, Vincenti, who' is entitled to praiSe for the manner in which he conducted himself, was there wounded. " In the evening of that day I feltthe necessity of attacking the enemy. I took •my measures for Making the attack on the 18th, at four o'clock in the afternoon. I have performed impossibilities • to deceive the enemy concerning my intentions. . Towards one o'clock, I caused the equipage of the army, which was in the rear of Polotsk, to file off on the left bank of the Dwina, on the road to . Oulu. I made an appearance as if I would cause this movement to be covered and protected by the troops, which - Marshal the Duke of Reggio had caused to repass-to the left bank. In the night between the 16th and 17th, they reunited bellind l'olotsk, at the tail of the, equipages ; the divi alon. of cuirassiers arrived there from Serneneta ; • and the brigade of light cavalry of Generartastex, from Rondina. r. • " At three in the afternoon the column'of bag , gage had filed in sight of the enemy; and the troops above -mentioned repassed the Dwina with the greatest part of the French artillery, and entered Qlotsk. About five o'clock, all the troops and artillery were in a position to debouche upon the enemy without their even. having observed our Preparations. At. five precisely, all jlie artillery °Pened its fire, and our columns of infantry de uouched under its protection to attack the enc-. FY's left and centre. Wrede's division debouched to the right of the village of Spas, and 'attacked W ith great bravery and skill the enemy's left ;IGe neral Deroy's division debouched .by the Same v illage of Spas ; Le Grand's division on the left of that village, connecting itself by its left to Ver dict's division, a brigade of which observed the enemy' s right, which was placed upon the road of `nhenzili v a. Merli.'.s: division' covered the front Polotsk, and part of its rear. The enemy, - n° ugh completely surprised, quite confident of th eir superior force and immense artillery, coin :Posed of 180 pieces, at . first, received our attacks With infinite calmness and sang froid,'but before • llght their left was completely forced,:and their centre totally routed, after having, defended their U s itiOn:with much bravery and great slaughtei. e would h ave made a great number of pri , " Boners,--'lf the woods. had, not been so near their Positio n . t { e " The 'enemy abandoned to us the field of bat covered with an immense number of their - killed, twenty pieces of cannon, and 1000 pri -ontr3.• On our side wt have bad wale killed and u'~'l... and RacloVitSbi and Colonel Cologne, commanii - log the Bavarian artillery. "I Cannot sitfficientlyeulogj 71C Legrand, tSTr.:,!e, Deror, Itaelokrittch, and the Gene al: of artillery, Aubrey, 'Who directed the artillery of . the 2d corps with great distiriction General Merli, 'With only a part of his division, reimlsed, with great an attack' ikhich 'the enemy made on our..left, to protect their retreat to the wood. The Croat's distinguished themselves in the Charge,. supported by a part of General CaSteiek cavalry ; in general I demand the consideration of his Majeity.s; the . troops have merited encouragement and rewards. ,His Majesty will 'give me great pleasure by dis pensing his favour on M. - De Maelle, my Aide-de - - Camp, the bearer of this letter, hose. zeal I haVe every reason for praising. I have also nothing but eulogiums to bestow upon the Chiefs Of the 2d and Gth corps. 1 have the .horiour tr? be; " Your Highness!s most obedielit, ". And very humble servants Count GAUVIAN SAINT SEPT. 4.- have received letters df the 24th, giving fresh details respecting the battle of Smolensko. These letters -speak of a Bulletin, which can only have been retarded by some.un foreseen circnmstakces.: we ithpatiently expect it. What is certain is, that the battle and capture of Smolensk.° will figure with eclat among the most brilliant, exploits of. our brave 'men, and ' must throw the Russians into consternation and despair BERLIN, AUG. 25,- 7 -Our situation is always the same ; we daily see arrive and depart from hence French and Allied troops; theyare lodged with the inhabit:nits,. with whom they appear extremely well contented. [FURTHER EXTRACTS.] REPORT OP THE PRINCE OF ECKMUHL TO TUR PRINCE MAJOR-GENERAL DOUBROWNA, THE-7TH AUGUST. MONSEIGNEUR, I have the hononr to lay before your Highness the report of the affair which took place on the 23d July, in front of Mohilow, between a part of the troops belonging to the Ist corps, and the Russian corps under Prince BA RATION. I entered Alohilow on, the 20th, and on the 2lst the 3d regiment of chassenrs were attacked by the vanguard of PrinceBAG'gATION, who wished to occupy this important town. Pie regiment lost 100 men, and were driven out. On the 22d .1 placed in po4tion the 83d regi ment of infantry of the line, commanded' by Gen. FREDERICK. General 13,‘GRATIoN was arrived at Novoi 13rickow ; lie intended giving battle, in order to enter Mohilow ; he had four divisions of infantry, 5000 Cossacks, and 8000 cavalry, being in tbe whole 35,000 men. I had at, Nlohilow, only the 57th, - 6lst, and 111th ecgiments of the division of Campans (the 23d,. together with the brigade of PajOland the Ist of chassenrs, I had left on the Berezira to cover Minsk), the 83th and the 108th of the Division DEssmx, General VALnNge's Division of Cuirassiers, and the third' of Horse Chassenrs. The position of Salta Naecla, of :which I here With transmit youk Highness a sketc appeared to me a proper place for. duly receiving the enemy. In the night of the Vjd, I caused the bridge which lies on the grand route to • be. harrica,doed, and destroyed the inn which is situated next to it. The . mill-bridge on the right was cut 'by a company of Sappers, and the houses in, the neighbourhood pulled clown. , The 85th was charged with .the defence of these posts, and in case of being tacked, to keep them . , in order to give thne'Thr the other troops stationed between this place and Mohilow to arrive, • These .dispositions being taken, I myself re tired to Mobilow; to press the arri-al of the di viSion Claperede, and of the troops detached by General Pivot,. On the 23d, at 7 o'clock in the morning, I_ re-.. ceived a report of the advanced posts being attack ed. At 8 o'clock I found the 83d regiment very spiritedly attacked ; - General FREDERICK, who commanded it, had taken good dispositions, and during the whole of the day has shewn much Cool ness and great intrepidity. The light artillery of his division, and that of the 85th,-had been disposed on the' preceding evening. Their fire was very mischievons, and in about an hour after the combat began they had already killod. above .500 - Russians. Twelve or fif te©n pieces of Russian artillery came out of the • wood, and were ranged in order of battle on the mill plain, where the bridge had been destroyed. The Russian regiments of infantry formed them selves. A battalion of the 108th was sent to sustain the companies of the 85th, which were on the bridge. Some pieces of artillery were opposed to those of the Russians. The combat became exceedingly lively on this side, and the enemy's force increased with every I.llolTiein. The battalion of the 108th, which had repulsed the 'Russians, was obliged to yield.to numbers. General GUYARDET, with two batta lions of the 61st, stopped the 'enemy's pursuit, and caused the Russians to repass the ravine, who had crossed it in pursuing the battalion, of the 108th. tVhilst these !lainp were passing on the right, fc7l.ed the debouche of the great roact.with.inuch to cause one battalion of the 108th; and c6:lopanies'of the klib; to pass the defile and charge-. the enemy's -cannon. Movement, which Was executed with great precisicm, .titd di= rected by .Colonel ACiLiizii Of the 108th regimeut, had a great effect i on the motions Of the. enemy's left, which found itself obliged to make a retro! Bade movement: The battAion cbminanded by , Colonel AcH Atn had taken : prisonerS ,olie of the. enemy's battalions, .but Which was afterwards de= livered: The Colonel i'as wounded by a ball across'hii arm, and could not sustain Himself on 100 heights Which be had occupied. The enemy had caused a ennSiderahle body to advance; formed in a closeedlunin, again to un dertake forcing the defile of the bridge. Thii found itself: in the directiOn' Of the Chef D'Es cadidn • Pot.siky, who 'had stopped it by a Vert lively fire, and caused it to s6taiti a, great The enemy'i.nuinber in dead, which at this point wag very Considerable, was thereby doubled. The action was continued with great heat on both sides; and with. a great inferiOrty_ on - our 'side: The other troops were in reserve On our right; where it was to be presumed that the enemy would' bring forward his force, and inoie espe'cial ly his numerous cavalry. Towards six o'clock- in the evening all my reconnoitring parties oii the right not having seen the enemy, the troops Which 'bad been there kept in - reserve, and in par ticular the 111th, were directed to take the great road. Gen. FREDERICK' received orders to renew his attack. A battalion of . the 35th .which since . evening -4a4: been` placed at the extremity of the right wing, and one of the 61st, attacked the left of the enemy. The two attacks Were attended with sue- Cess. The enemy drew back his artillery, and his troops followed the'movement at all Points. The 111th regiment and the 6lst of the sth division, led . by General COMPAINTS; were. charged to pursue the enemy as far as Novosieleke ; the night put an end to the pursuit at this place. I owethe great est eulogiums to the- condnct : of the troops, and particularly to that of the 85th regiment. Not one soldier ever quitted hiS- post to conduct the wounded, and both, the young soldiers and the 'old ones have shewn the greatest %valour. The ancient soldiers have given their youthful cOmrades the honourable testimonial of not having any con . - scripts More in their regiments.. The loss . ot the enemy has been great. They left more than 1,200. (lead on the field .of battle, exclusive of leaving 4000 wounded, 7 or 800 of whom have remained in our hands. Our loss, aecoyding, to the state of the corps, amounts to 900 men killed, wounded, and made prisoners. I reiterate the enlogies . v. - hich I owe to the con duct of 'General FREDERICK, to all the Officers of the General Staff who have paid.well in their per:- - sOns .. .. One of' thew, Aid . -de-Ca'mp to General LIAx.o, was .killed. • I take advftntage of this occasion to beg your HighneSS would request his Majesty to grant re . - cqulPences.for several of.them,,and herewith join the state of them to that of the' officers, sub officers, and privates of the 4th and sth di-Visions, who have:merited to be cited with distinction .-- I solicit your Highness- to lay 'these statements before his'Majesty, and to request his , favour in their behalf. I MD, &C. &C. „ (Signed) The Marshal Prince d'EcKminn. • . REPORT OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE misTßrAk ARMY. The enemy, forced into the defile of K i asibrad, marched the whole of the night, between the 10th and I lth, towards Horodetzka ; he was joined en his retreat by the troops which he had sarawn from KOhryn,-as likewise by the detachment of Knor ring, and after having passed the defile of lioro detika, he placed himself on the heights beyond that place. • The right flank and the front of this position were covered by a mora_ 4 l which was: impassable for more than a thousand paces in breadth, and left only "two poipts open to get at the enemy; that is the dike, which- at Horodetska forms the post road. This post is near to that of Podubno, its left touched this la.st village, and he had cut up, by his artillery, the entrance to the two de files. On the 11th I marched to Horodetska, and oc cupied the head of the defile; the 7th corps, rein forced by two regiments of cavalry and two bat teries upon Szabra. They reconnoitred die ene my. The reports of prisoners and deserters state , .theu force at 5%000. They certainly were at "least 35,000, with 60 pieces of cannon. Ton thsow commanded in person. General REGNIER, who Was charged with reconnoitring the left of the enemy, found that they had neglected to oc tent with observing a wood thi•ough which the roLd passes From Szews ft en .toKobryn, in place Of leaning UpOn that town. _Remade baste in takingativatiiiige of this double fault, in taking possession of Po dubno; with a division Of Chassears; and it WU - 3 agreed between us; that he should clebOuch with the 7th corps, and reinforcements Which I bad as.: signed him, by the wood to attack and turn the enemy's left, Whilst I sh6tild sUppOrt hi 3 move. ments by feigned attacks Upon ll6rOdetska and lioduhno. At the same time; vision, previously detached to 111alitz; lc.'aving battalion and some Cavalry to observe that part; to protect our rear, and cOncealed Our March froth the enemy; rejoined the corps, d'arthee; and Wai Placed in .reserve, of the 7th near Szalthi: On the lth, we reniarked at break of d 4, that . , the enemy, front whom none of oar Movements could be congealed; because they Occupied the commanding heights had placed the greater part of their forces opposite - the debauch of .Podubna, and whilSt the 7th corps, to Which - WO joined LtLIENECEG'S lifigade; cOitimenced its Moverneutl toward:; the wood updn its left, and hastily formed With the 2d line a parallel flank to the d,etiOtichei from that wood: About ten in tile morning, the.ith corps reached 'the skirts of the wood, and rapidly advanced - to gain the ground necessary for deploying, which it effected in the greatest Order under a edntituai aud dreadful fire froni the enemy; who, on bit part, did not cease to reinforce atid extend their flank; that it touched our right, which took from us all hope of turning it, reducing all Our efforts to repulse their reiterated attacks; - and driVing them :back upon their centre. The battle ;juickly-became 'general at PlOraditt Va, - Podubna,and Upon' all the right: It was con tested With great slaughter , the,,eneMy redoubled their efforts, and made several very brisk attacks to drive us into 'the wood ;- they were constantly repulsed with loSs; I Seized the critical moment, when their attack upon our right was briskest, td pass over the marsh, which they considered im practi.cable; a battalion of Colloredo, above and On the right Of POdUbna. This battalion ef fected its , passage in front, up to their knee; in nice; scaled the oppbsite heights; and petuouSly attacked the enemy who were on its summit. This iiiieXpeeted attack bn the lank fa= , cilitated that of our. right, Which; quickly' rein-. forced by the 2d battalion of Colloredo, was not long in repulsing the enemy to the height of Po , dubna... . They nevertheless aternpted, at the extremity of, the left, a last effort,. and made with a mass of cavalry, very superior, a-dernier attack upon that of our right, which. firmly expected it, and whilst the Austriancavalry took them in flank, POLENTZ'S Saxon brigade charged them in front; arid instantly drove them behind their infantry. Night put aft end to the battle ; the enemy took advantage - of it to file off his artillery and Main part of his troops upon Kobryn, and abandoned to us, the field of battle ; another hour's daylight, they woi.!',d have lost their communication and been drove upon the marshes. On the 13th'I pursued, with all the cavalry and light artillery, the enemy's van-guard, composed o'ffrom 7 to .8000 cavalry, and dismounted chas seurs, with some artillery. We found upon tilt field of battle a great number of dead And dying, and notwithstanding the celerity of our pursuit, we could not reach the rear-guard till near the village of Sttichou, *here it made a demonstra tion of defending-itself ; but they were instantly overthrown, and owed their salvation alone to the marshes, .which' in these.. countries intersect in a parallel direction froM place to place their roads, and fOYm . so niathy 4".efiles, that it it impossible to come near them. • About 1 o'clock 'we. arrived dt Karyii ; the enemy had deploYM a numerous cavalry before that tdwn ; some .discharges of artillery were suf ficient to drive them away. On retiring; they set fire to the bridge of Muchaveu ; our tiralleues arrived in sufficient time to preserve it.. BIANCHI'S diVision occupies Kobryn ; the 7th .eorps is encamped on the right ; the Austrizius oht the-left of that town; behind the Mtichaven; the enemy are in full retreat towards Ratnel and its marshes. The .different: reports not haVing reached hid; I cannot very exactly estimate the enemy's loss.-:-r It at least amounts to 3000 Men killed and wounded; and 500 prisoners ; that on our side consists of 1000 men killed or Wounded, BiRAEISG NEAR'KOLRYN I AL'G. 13, 1812. . REPORTS FROM THE STAFF oF THE 7TH CORES REPORT OF AUGUST l i• The 7th corps set out from Pruszany at noon l tai pass the defile of .Kosebrod after the Austrian divisions which Marched upon i - ioroditzka. After baying passed the defile at Kosebrod i it took the road of Bizese by Zabra, where it took a position. At the commencement of night the advanced guard advanced to Podubna, and occupied the small dike which crosses the marshes to the firm ground at Podubna, and which is not passable for artil lery, it dr6ve off the 'enf.'my's posts of cavalry which Observedithe passage, and established poses in advance of the inaiSb, which extend froth be- , yond Horoditska•to the entry of the woctl of Pa= darn%