The National Register.
London, England, 1813-02-28 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER._

531

crowned during the last two months. Mackin aid's corps is pursued
by Wittgenstein'; and Tschitschaotc 's army by cliagmal ,
The Commander in Chief cf the Armies, Field- Mcr,hal General
.
Prince K tit usoti of Smolensko, has transmitted to your Imperial Ma-
jesty.the tollowing report fro:n head-quarurs, at the village of Mc-
retsch, ja'ated.29th Dec. (loth jan.):—
" I have the happiness of most submissively informing your Im-
perial Majesty, that previonly to our taking possession of the city of
Konigsberg, the van guard of General Count Wittgenstein, under the
cotnynand of Major-General Scbcpiliti, whilst continuing to int. sue
the enemy from Tilsit, came ui. with him on the 23d instant (Itit Jan.)
near Labraw.
" The enemy had here taken a very advantageous vesition, and the
:•ngagement, in which he lost three cannon and about 300 mea of
lower rank, continued li:Of a day After that the enemy was com-
pletely beaten. He commenced his retreat to Knitigsbetg. Major.
General Sehepilitf seized on this opportunitt., drove the enemy six
German miles before him, and forced himself on their shoulders into
Konigsberg, which was taken possession of by our trones at two
o',lock after mitl•lpht on the 25th of Dec. (Jan. 6) ; 1300 men
were made prisoners in the city itself.
" The enemy rAreated with uch haste, that he threw 90 pieces
-f cannon with cartridge boxes into the river, and left behind him
8000 men, who were wearied out, and who were made prise ers by
our troops. Very considerable quantities of provision and forage have
fallen into our hands at Konigsberg. The guns which w.-re thrown
into the water are of the same number ot' those which were in Cour-
land, and are now drawn out again by the inhabitants.
" This success, although of so mucli consequence, has nevertheless
not detained Major. General Sche;.iliff in the further pursuit of the
enemy. General Count Wittgenstein attributes it tathe wise measure*
of General Schcpiliff, his dispatch, and determined bravery."
REPOKT FROM FIELD-MARSHALL PRINCE KUTUSOFF OF SMOLINSEO,
TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, DATLD HEAD QUART/11S, LTCH,

JAN. 6 (18).
" Admiral TsChist.hagoffrepnrts to me, that on the 2d (14th) Jan.
the enemy was driven behind the river Nogat, and that Eibine, lvl-
riente•frg, and Marienwerder, were taken by your llnperial Majesty's
troops.
" Count Prato& still pursues theenemv cn the road from Marienberg
towards Dantzic. In the mean time Lieut.-General S.:henna has
-tressed the Nogat, near Sommerau, sell molests the enemy on that
side. The enemy left behind hiri seven pieces of ordnance, in the
road from Truentz to Damerau. As soon as I sh*'l obtain a more
• particuthr account of this, 1 shall have the honour to report it to
your Imperial Majesty."
REPORT FROM TilE SAME TO THE SAME, JAN. 7 (19).
ei I have the honour to report most humbly that alter the taking
of Elbing on the 31st Dec. (Jan. 1.2), the enemy was driven from
Marienberg. Near Dershau its attempted to keil possession of a tete
du punt, but Lein g also defeated there, lie commencyd his retreat to
two columns, in the direction of Dantzic and Stutgard. Count Flatoff
continues to pursue him conjointly with the corps of Lieut.-General
Schepila. Near blarienherg we took upwards of 300 pris ;
hers ard
in Dershau above 9.00, together with a ..snsiderable 'limber of
muskets.
" The enemy left in the hospitals of Marie: burg 40 Oflieers and
726 rank and file. The first day of this year
.!(.). S.) was crowned w;tti
!noble success. The Adjeroit-General ot your !imperial Majesty,
Cliermiskis, arrived on the 30th Dec. (Jan. 11) tri tee neighbourkocat
of Marienwerder ;. the following day he attacked the enemy at day
break, and drove him from his position with so mach success, that he
took one General and scone Oflicers, and upwords f 400 rank and
file, and also 15 pieces of ordnance that were on the tete (I,i pout.
" The enemy was obliged to leave in NI rienwerder coesidcrable ma-
gazines and hospitals. After this sncticet:s, h
tAe djutant-G
of theneiae enem l Cher-
nisheff crossed the Vistula, and continued pursuit y
towards Neunberg where the latter hat 4 a most advantageow; position ;
he, therefore, sent out a Corps of Cossacks, in order to get int.) his
rear, and to occupy the roads from N .utiburg to Bronh rg,
and Tuchel, and by this in.orement be forced the enemy to retreat.
" Thus your Imperial Majesty's gloriotts•tro,:ps eetered un the Ist
(1310 Tan. Marienberg, the firLt town on ,the lett bank of the Vis-
'Tula."
The Commander in,Chief of the Armies, Fick!. Marshal General
Prince.K Musa', of Smolensk°, has en the Wilt January of this year,
transmitted to his Imperial Majesty the tollowing Report, from his
head-quarters at the village of Merestesck :
" In all accounts received from ;he army, statements have been
given of the extraordinary yeeat losses sustaioed by the Frenco arely
within the borders of Russia in the c. urse of the pre,ent c.eiteaien.
kati, may Such pub at times appear to he exr,ggerated, or ioser
through partiality ; but in conti: illation of them, the origotal report
on the condition of even the Frei;ch region:los of the. Guar It
hen lately fallen into the hands ct the General of cavaliv, Ceont Witt-
~s laid
genstein, since the expulsion of the French over our bottle's,
which it cl
before yew Imperial Nlajesty, from earls; ;eon 0.4
the confession from the enemy himself, shov.'s his own ruie ,tilt


. THE NATION

.

more dreadful light, and serves as a substantial proof of the total de-
struotion of his army as likewise of every thing else that has.before
been made public."—(Supplement to the St. Petersburg Gazette,
1 7th (29th), Jan.)
The Commander in Chief, Field Marshal Prince G. Kotusoff of
Smolensko has laid before his Imperial Majesty the continuation of
the operations at -War, from the 2.1 d to the 29th Dec. (4th so 10th
January).
" DEC. 23 (JMZ. 4.l—Gen. Count Wittgenstein reports under date
the I9th (91st) inst. that in the direction which he had taken towards
Prussia to act against the cores of Marshal Macdonald, he had over-
come all the difficulties in his way on the country roads, and come,up
with the enemy already at Tilsit. lie immediately surrounded Mac-
donald', troops of the van with his cavalry, and separated him from
the 'Prussian troops under the command of General D'York, by
.the
detachmentof Major-General Dubilsch, whom he at the same time
instructed to enter into a negotiation v. ith that General.
.04 On the 18th (30th) of this month Lieut.-General D'Ynrk signed
an agrement to remain neutral with the troops under his command,
consisting of thirty battalionsof infantry and six squadrons of cavalry,
with thirty pieces of artillery. -By this means, Macdonald has not
more than about 5000 men of all descriptions with him, and twenty
pieces of artillery.
" Adjutant-General Wassiitcbikoff, reports on the 19th (31st) Dec.
that the Austrian troops continue their retreat, having divided them-
selves into three.columns and directed their march towards Warsaw,
and that he is at Menshenin, with his detachment.
" General Count Platoff continues his march towards Inglerburg,
with the regiments of Don Cossacks, under his command.
" Admiral Tschitschagoffhaxsent in three Reports. altof the 20th
inst. (Jan. 1). In the first he states, that he had detached Major-Ge-
neral 'Lanskow from the vanguard-tenth the Alexandrian and White
Russian regiments of hussars, the Livonia!' regiment of dragoons, and
the third Otiral regiments' with orders.to march to Augustow. lii
the second, that he arrived on the 21st inst. (2d Jan.) in the village of
Werbalin, from whence he will proceed in three marches to luster-
burg, and that General Count Platotf marches before the army with
his regiments. In his third he states, that all the Prussian inha-
bitants are well satisfied with the approach of the Russian troops,
and every where received them with joy.
" Lieut.-General Doren Sacken writes under date of Dec. 21 (Jan.
2), that he has pursued General Re pier's corps as far as the ug,
and that the enemy had 1,..5t within that time upwards of 'l,OOO men
in prisoners, and an metal number of sick whom they had left behind
iodi&rent places. Lieut.-General Sackett, with his corps, is at pre-
sent between Grannym and Thoren, in which latter place he has the
left wing of his army.
" Dec. 24 (lAN. s).—General Count Wittgenstein reports, under
date of the Q 431 inst. (Jan. 3), that when the Prussian troops, 18,000
men strong, with 60 pieces of artillery, were obliged to conclude the
agreement of becoming neutral, Macdonald finding himself separated
from the Prussians, determined on making a speedy retreat with the
remainder of his troops. The cavalry pursued him vigorously, and
on the first day took several °dicers and about 800 men of the lower
ranks prisoners. Count Wittgenstein having, in the meanwhile, ob-
tained intelligence that the enemy's troops which had been in Dantzic
were marching to Taplakin and Wetnaw, probably with intent to
strengthen Macdonald or to cover his retreat, he turned with his corps
against them, and Lieut.-General Count Stenheil was, on the 22d
December (3d Jan.) already in Taplakin and •Wehlaw. He likewise
sent a strong party ot cavalry into the low country behind Konigsberg,
and towards Elbing, for the purpose of depriving the enemy of all
means ofcollecting provisions ; as, according to accounts received, he
is driving in corn of different kinds. Admiral Tschitschagoff states,
that on the 22d(Sd Jan.) his headmost troopsentered into Insterburg.
Lieut.-General Tschaplitz's vanguard entered Gumbinnen; and Ma-
jor-General Count Woronzow marched into Memersdortt.
General Tschaplitz informs, that Major-General Count Oruk was,
on his entrance into the village of Stalupenen, received by the inha-
bitants with undissembled joy and transport ; they all unanimously
exclaimed, " May the Emperor Alexander be the protector of the
innocent suffering nation ;" and immediately went to procure pfbvi-
;ions and forage for our. troops...
II I D ite. 25 (JAN, 6.)—Adjutant-General Wassiltachigoff reports,
under date the st Dec. ( jan. 2), that according to certain intelligence
obtained from the inhabitants, the whole -French Army has passed
through Insterburg on its retreat; there was not at that time left of
the whole French Guards more than IWO men. The 27th Dec.
( Jan. 8), General Count Witgenstein reports, •under date of the Toth
inst. ( Jan. 6), that his van-guard, under the command of Major-Ge-
neral Scheptleff, on the 2,3 d ( Jan. 4), came up with the enemy near
Labrau, where they had taken ar tvantageous position, ancfclefended
themselves obstinately. The battle continued till noon. and after the
enemy were drivers out of their position they retired towards Konigs-
berg, into which place Major-General Schepilefr's van-guard was
carried on their shoulders. The enemy lost three pieces of csyuon in
this engagement, and had several Officers, and about SOO men of in-
ferior ra_nk, made prisoners. Major-General Schepilettook posses-
.
agsberg with the van guard of the Army, in the night of
Ir. 4). His Majisty the Emperor's head-quarters, and
k Mild Marshal were on that day alt the village of °tasty.

L RgGISTER,

FEB. '2B

" REC. 28 JAN. 9).—General Count Wittgenstein reports, under
date the 26th inst (Jan. 7), in completion of his former statement con-
cerning the taking possession of the city of Konigsberg, that the elle.
my were driven out of that city by the four regiments of Cossacks,
viz. that of Major-General Radium', of Lieut.. Colonel Tscherniss-
bow, of Major Tschtschilen, and of Major Selewanow—ali under the
command of Colonel Riedeger. They had observed the envoy's
movements from the commencement of the evening. and notwith-
standing the darkness of the night, took advantage of every step he
made for his retreat. On 22d of this month (Jan. 4), at two o'clock
after midnight, Colonel Riedeger, with the Cossacks before mentioned,
pushed vigorously forward, and after an obstinate fire of musketry.
entered on the enemy's shoulders into the city, in which about 1300'
men were made prisoners. The celerity _with which our troops
forced their way into the city, obliged the enemy besides this to leave
about 8000 of his exhausted troops behind them, and to sink about SO
pieces of artillery, with the cartridge boxes, which belonged in the
besieging train that was in Courland, and which the inhabitais . are
now employed in getting out. Besides this several Russian staff and
other officers and privates who had at difibrent times been made pri-
soners were again restored to liberty, and a considerable quantity of
provisions and forage were likewise found in the magazines. After
taking possession of she•city, Colonel Riedeier again set out with the
aforesaid cavalry, without making the least delay, in pursuit.of the
enemy. In the course of our pursuit of the enemy from Tilsit to
Konigsberg, and after taking possession of the city, he has lost 51
pieces of cannon in the whole. Adjutant. General Wassiltschikow
states, under' date the Ilth inst. ( Jan. 5) that the Austrian troops,
after strengthening their advanced posts. had drawn themselves to..
wards Warsaw. The head-quarters of his Majesty the Emperor anel
of the Field-Marshal arrived this day in the village of Meretsch.".
(Petersburg Gazette, Jan 7-19.)

WILNA. Dze. 30, (lAN. 11.)—On theday before his Majesty the
Emperor's departure from this place, namely on the 25th Dec. (Jan.
6), the following Order was issued from his Itnperial Majesty to the

MOTS,.
44 SOLDIERS ! Your valour and perseveracre have been rewarded.
by a renown which will never .clie among posterity ; your names
and deeds will pass from mouth t,l mouth, from your sons to your
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to the latest posterity.
" Praise" he to the Most High ! The hand of the Lord is with us.
and will not forsake us. Already there remains not a single enemy
on the fact of our county)... You have reached the borders of the Em-
pire over their dead bodies and bones. It still temains for you to go
forward over the tame, not to make conquests, or to carry the war
into the countries of our neighbours, but to obtain a wished-for and
solid peace. You go to procure rest for yourselves, and freedom and
independence for them.—May they become our friends.
" The acceleration of peaCe will depend on your conduct. You are
Russians! You areChristnins! Is it necessary, in addition to those names.
still to put you in mind, that it is a soldier's duty to be valiant in battle,
and peaceable on the march and during your residence in'peaceable
countries. I do not threaten you with punishment because I know that
many among you well deserve it. You have seen in our own court,
try, the robbers who plundered the houses -of the innocent peattan-
try. In your just emotions of revenge against them, you have pu-
nished those villains who would resemble them. Should such a one
contrary to expectation, be found, he cannot be a Russian, he will be
driven from amongst you! •
" Soldicrs this is demanded and expected from you, by your true
religion. your native country, and your Czar.".—(St. Petersburg Ga-
zette, Jan. 10-22.)

LETTER FROM GENERAL YIELD MARSHAL PRINDL M. Go KUTDIOTIP
OP SMOLENSK°, TO MS EMINENCE AMBROSIUSI METROPOLITAN
OF NOVGOROD AND SIG IPITERCEURGH, DATED DEC. 23, 1812—
(JAN. 4.)
" Bestow your benediction on this present offered by our warriors,
to the giver of victory, the brave Don Cossacks : restore to God the
treasure plundered from his temples.. They have entrusted me with
the duty of transmitting to your Eminence this silver, which was once
the ornament of the images of the Saints, afterwards the prey of bar-
barous rubbers, and at length wrested from their gripe by the brave
Don Cossacks. The leader of this corps of Cossacks, Count M. J.
Plato''. all his brave warriors, and myself, wish that this plate, which
in weight amounts to forty pounds, shall be made into images of the
four Evangelists, and adorn the Church of the Mother of God, of Ka-
sen, in St. Petersburgh. All the necessary expences of casting these
holy images we take on our 'account your Eminence will have the
goodness to order that able. artificers may be employed to fulfil the
pious wish of our warriors, by casting these images of the Holy Evan-
' gelists, which they offer in their zeal tor the Temple of God. As
soon as you shall inform me what the expense will be, I will remit
to you the money. It appears to me that these images would be ap-
propriately placed; close to the door of the sanctuary, and before the
great Communion table, that they may strike the eye of the devout
when they enter the temple. On the pedestal of each of these images
musrbe engrave** the foll Owing inscripti4n:-lihe zealous offering of
the Corps of Don Cossacks.
" Hasten to e:ect in the temple of God this monument of battle
and vi‘tury, and while you erect it say with thankfulncso to Yrovi.

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