The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-17 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF MOSKOWA.

Under the first Empire there was a great battle
fought between the French and Russians, which
presents some analogy with the sanguinary com-
bats which bare led to the fall of Sebastopol. It
was the battle of the Moskowa in the campaign
of 1812, and which took place on the 7th of
September, just 43 years and one day before
the attack on the Malakhoff fortress. On both
occasions the forces opposed to each other along
the entire line were pretty nearly equal. Na-
poleon had 140,000 men, and the Russians num-
bered 160,000. At the Moskowa, as at Sebas-
topol, the attack was directed against formidable
positions, behind which the Russian army had en-
trenched itself after a continuous retreat from Smo-
lensko, and which they had covered with a nume-
rous and formidable artillery. Then, as at the Ma-
lakhoff, the principal redoubt was taken by assault,
and after a sanguinary combat, which decided the
victory. The total loss of the French army on
that day amounted to more than 23,000 hors de
combat, among whom were nine Generals killed,
and 39 wounded. Their names are as follows :

Generals of Division Killed.—Montbrun, Cau-
laincourt.

Generals of Brigade Killed.—Romeuf, Lanabert,
Marion, Compere, Huard, Plauzonne, Damas.
Generals of Di vision Wounded.—Morand, Friant,
Dessaix, Compans, Scheler, Tharreau, Rapp,
Belliard, Nansouty, Saint-Germain, Bruyere, Pajol,
Defrance Grouchy, and Chastel.
Generals of Brigade Wounded.—Gratien, Bon-
namisßoyer, Dupelin, Teste, Gengoult, Mourier,
Almeras, Boyeldseu, uyon, Guilleminot, Krasin-
sky, Borstill, Quenot, Roussel, Subervie, Burthe,
Dommanget, Chonard, Lacroix, Thery, Borde-
soulles, Leppel, and Bessieres.

The Russians had 50,000 men hors, de combat,
according to Colonel Boutourlin, and to Napoleon
himself, who went over the field the next day.
The following are extracts from the Itineraire de
Empereur Napoleon pendant la Campagne en
1812, published by the Baron Dennire, Military
Intendant, who made the campaign of Russia as
Inspector in Chief, and attached to the Prince of
Neufchatel, the Major-General of the Grand
Army, and who was consequently in a position to
be well informed :

"On the 7th, the Emperor mounted on horseback be-
fore daybreak, and rode in front of the redoubt taken
on the sth by the 57th Regiment. He was suffering se-
verely from a migraine. The cannonade did not open
till 7 o'clock in the morning, in order to leave Prince
Poniatowski time to execute his movement. The sky
was covered with clouds, the wind was driving right into
the enemy's face, and clouds of dust, mingled with
smoke, darkened the horison. The Emperor remained
an hour at the redoubt, and then descended towards a
sort of ravine, where he passed the greatest part of the
day. From this point he could only discover a por-
tion of the field of battle ; nevertheless, some shells and
balls passed over his head. The enemy's line was
covered by formidable positions, by redoubts and redans,
which crossed their fire. Both sides were soon en-
gaged on every point. The Old and the Young Guard
were drawn up in reserve in order of battle. Scarce
had the 2d corps of reserve deployed on the plain
than its commander, General Montbrun was kill, d.
The Emperor at once sent General Auguste Caulaineourt
to take the command. Come on ! ' cried Caulaincourt,
' let us avenge his death !' His own hour was fast a! -
preaching. Some moments after it was announced to
the Emperor that the Wince of Eckmuhl was severely
wounded, and that his Chief of the Staff was killed. A
few minutes after an officer gallopped up to say that
the Prince was at the head of his troops—he only re-
plied,l' Gnd be praised ! ' No alteration nar disquietude
hetrayed his inward feelings. The Emperor remained
iuira tat.le, even when he was informed that the Poli,h
corps had returned without being able to execute its
movement. The defence made by the Russians, was most
obstinate ; but it was at the centre that they opposed
the greatest resistance ; that terrible redoubt was
mowing dowh our ranks. It was taken, re-taken, and
again disputed. Impatient to put an end to so much
carnage, the Emperor gave the order to take possession
of that gigantic battery, with its epaulements and ditches.
To obey this order General Caulaineourt, judging that
the infantry needed to be roused, disposed his troops,
turned the battery, dashed along at the head of the sth
Regiment of Cuirassiers, and fell mortally wounded at
the moment he entered the defences. The infantry sup-
ported the movement. Rage was in every heart ; every
regard was laid aside, everything forgotten except
the necessity of wresting the victory from the
hands of the enemy. The Russians defended them-
selves like lions ; the French fought like heroes ; while
a storm of iron covered the plain. The batteries on the
right annihilated the 3d and Bth corps, but the Ist
corps soon won them. The cavalry executed brilliant
charges, with Murat at their head. At that important
hour of the day (it was then two o'clock) Nay sent
word to the Emperor that the succour of the Guard
would determine the rout of the enemy. The Emperor
bad not quitted the position he oc3upied from the
commencement of the battle. The trumpets of the
cavalry sounded to horse. Those noble squadrons ad-
vanced slowly—the destiny of the world seemed to hang
upon them, and respect, fear, and hope filled every
heart. The cavalry suddenly halted, for the Emperor
countermanded them. The Prince had just got into
line with his Poles. All manoeuvring was then at an
end, and masses were opposed to masses. Rage, des-
pair; and necessity impel the soldier—he had no alter.
native but to conquer or die.
"The night at last came on, and covered over so
much horror, for fatigue alone stopped the carnage.
The fires of the bivouacks were lighted up one by one,
and the deep silence of midnight was only troubled by the
groans of the wounded and the dying. Exhaustion
brought on sleep, and the sleeper lay side by side with
the dead. The awakening was cruel, for it was forced
by hunger T' ere was no food, but the soldier did not
murmur; the desire of vengeance was still at his heart.
The day broke over a battle field covered over with
50,000 killed and wounded, 12,000 horses extended help-
less or dragging themselves along with difficulty, and
200 waggons, gun carriages, or guns dismounted. The
statements T have prepared from those communicated
to the Major-General by the chiefs of the staff of the dif-
ferent corps, and the exact amount of which the Prince
of Neufchatel forbade me to reveal, were as knows :-48
general officers kilted or wounded (9 killed), 37 colonels
(10 killed), 6,547 officers, sub-officers, and soldiers killed,
21,453 wounded. The originals of these statements, in my
handwriting, are in the archives of the War-office. The
loss of the Russians was 50,000 men. As to the enor-
mous consumption of powder the statement communi-
cated by Gen. Count Lariboisiere, First Inspector-General
of the Artillery, show that 60,000 cannon shots werefired
and 1,400,000 cartridges burned on that single day, the
7th of September. The battle lasted about 10 hours,
which gave 100 cannon shots per minute, and 2,300 mus-
-11 ket shots—without speaking of the fire of the Ru'ssians."

The Emperor of Russia has conferred the order of St.
Ann of the Ist class on Major-General Kornsine, head
of the reserve cavalry artillery, for distinguished ser-
vices, and especially for the manner in which he carried
out the defence works at Odessa.—Journal de St.
Petersbourg.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—We under-
stand that the dividend to be declared at the approach-
ing meeting of this compaey will be at the rate of 2 per
cent.—Scotsman.
ENTERTAINMENT TO THE LOSD MAYOR OF LONDON
AT CONGLETON.—Tho Lord Mayor of London, Sir. F.
Moon, being on a visit to Mr. Thomas Johnson, of
Bugalton, an old, friend of his lordship's, the good- and
loyal people of Congleton seized upon the opportunity
as a favourable one for the exercise of hospitality,
and invited his lordship to an entertainment of cakes
and sack at tho Town-hall, at 2 o'clock on Friday.
Accordingly his lordship arrived at the Town-hall at
the appointed hour, and was introduced to the coun-
cil-room, when, in the absence of the Mayor from
family affliction, Alderman Hogg presided. After an
introductory speech from the chairman, Alderman
Goode proposed, and Alderman Sutton seconded, the
preeentation of an address to the Lora Mayor, which
proposition being unanimously approved the address
was read and suitably acknowledged by his lordship.
The Corporation and guest then adjourned to the As-
sembly-room, where a handsome collation was prepared,
consisting of the time-honoured cakes of Congleton, and
dessert and wines of the very first quality.
CLOSE OF THE HERRING FISHERY.—The herring
fishery is now over for the season. On the Caithness
coast it has been most successful. At Wick the take is
much above the average. On the south aide and east
coast the take is under an average ; but, on the whole,
the catch exceeds that of any year for, the Tait ten
yam