The National Register.
London, England, 1814-04-03 00:00:00

FOREIGN OFFICE, ArtiL 2, 1814.

A dispatch from Sir C. Stewart, dated Bar.sur-Aube, March te,
encloses Vie following :
Colonel Lowe to The Hon. Sir C. Stewart, dated head quarters of the,
Combined Army under Field-Marshal Blucher, Laon, March 16.
SlR—Nothing of material importance has occitrred in this army
since the battles of the 9th and 10111, except the affairs that have
occurred at Rheims.—The reports of your Aid decamp, Captain
Harris. who was with General Count St. Priest at the capture and
loss of the town, render it unnecessary for nie to enter into any de-
tails regarding them. The loss of the town has been prothictive of
some inconvenience, in suspending our enninumication with the
grand army, of whose present situation or movements we are with-
out any accurate information ; hut I suppose, from the main body
of the eneaT.,.'s army, and Iltionaparte himself being in this vicinity,
it is continuing its advancelewords the capital.
The tinny here has for some aso past been occnpiritig liweittiodied
lino from Manny to Coiibcny and Craone. with• odsomees posted
tnrward towards Soissonu, principally with the slew of collectiog
provisions and forage from the rear and right flank. It is now
again concentrating.
Buonaparte, by the reports of deserters and ether information, is
at Rheims and has his guards with Wine
rield-Biarshal Blucher's head-quarters still remain here.
I have the honour to be. &e.
(Signed) IL LOVE, Colonel.
Report from Captain Harris, dated Laon, Marc+ 14.1814.
Stn,—The corps of Lieut.-Gen. Count St. Priest remained
timing the night of the 12th in the town of Rheims. Between
ten and eleven o'clock in the morning of yesterday. it was re-
ported that the advanced posts on tile road to Soissone were
attacked and obliged to retire, and that the enemy were ad-
vancing in force lion) that direction.
The troops were immediately moved from the town into
position on the high ground on each side of the Chatissee
leading to Soissous. aAd about a quarter of a mile from
Rheims, in front of Which were posted strong parties
of cavalry, infantry, and\artillery. The enemy were seen
advancing in heavy masses of cavalry and a numerous
artillery, which they formed into two lines, when within
about a mile and a half of the position of the Allies ;
the advance of both armies were immediately engaged, and
for several hours cannonading and skimishing in the plain
between the two positions was constant ; during this time
the enemy made no other movement than that of extending
their line to both flanks; they seemed to be waiting the
aa rival of the infantry, which bad not yet appeared. About
four o'clock the columns of cavalry with artillery were ad-
vanced, a heavy cannonade opened, and a very vigorous
attack was made on two Russian battalions who were placed
in advance; the rea.diness of these troops defeated this
attempt ; the t4enty were repulsed, and suffered very
considerably from the fire of the infantry, who retired to the
position withont JO”.
Thy enemy moyed forward a line of artillery cover
ceexxi.

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their columns of cavalry ; a tremendous cannonade w•s
opened on both sides. The Allied troops were for a long
tune exposed to the galling fire ofa very superior arthlery„
but they remained firm on their ground.
Tlt* enemy were seen to move a large column of cavalry
to their right. At this moment, Count St. Prest (who had
been constantly in the most exposed situations, setting a
brilliant example to-his troops), was struck from his horse
by a cannon-ball, and obliged to be carried from the field.
Such a loss at so critical a moment, was particularly unfor-
tunate; during the short interval that occurred before he
was replaced in his command, the enemy were making their
greatest efforts.
General Emanuel's brigade of Russian cavalry, supporting
the infantry on the left, was attacked by a large mass of the
enemy's cavalry ; nothing could he more gallant than the
resistance made by these troops, but they were overpowered
by a force four times their number, and suffered very
severely. The enemy were at the same time prts-
sing upon the centre and right, and the unavoid-
able event was the retreat of the whole corps through
the town of Rheims. Such * retreat before an enemy s:r
superior in Cavalry, could not be effected without l' s. bit;
it has been much less than might be expec.tcll. The co-
lumns retired by the road of Berri au BAC. Tile entrance
into Rheims was delendcd by a small parry of infiti:try tu•
two hours, and the enemy did not get possession of the
town till ten o'clock; they had however crossed their cavalry
round to the right cif the town, and pushed on the road to
Berri au-Bac : this movement cut off the retreat of a .sioal
column by that roakl, and obliged them to retire by the runt(:.
of Neufclotel. The whole of the corps hare this mornii-,,,
joined the army of Field Marshal Blucher in the neighboul,
hood of Laon.
I am not able to state the exact loss of the Allies in tint
affair of yesterday, but I understand it does not excecti two?
thousand men. Seven Prussian and one Russian gun were,
left in the possession of the enemy. • The cannon t‘ken.ott
the 12th inst. at Rheims, were removed to tiefore
the town was re-occupied by the l'reneh troops.
• The loss of the enemy, in killed and wounded, cannot
but have been very considerable. It is said thrl. 400nal-a;
was himself present (luting the whole of Ow day.
1 have the honour to be, etc.
(Signed) 1:1-10S, INDE), HARR IS,
Aid dc-.Carup.
Arei4, March to, 1814..

My LORD—Tn consequence of successes obtaincl by
Marshal Blucher's army, Deist Lam], Prince Schwartzenherz
carried his head-quarters on the nth to Pontliu:-.;:.;eif.1,-,
and. with the view of assuming the offensive, directed Cho
4th, sth, and 6th corps to pass the Stine, an 4 eudeavoe,
to establish themselves at Villeneuve, Provint, anti Bros.
white the 3d corps established itself at Sens. Before
movements, however, were cart ied into conwletc
tion, the news of the defeat of a Nrt of General St. Prit.,r-ii
corps on the 14th, and the occupation of ltheiins
by tl.ir
eprniy, arrived.
Prince Sehwartaenberg determined to suspend the nlov, .
5..9); pit be had commenco bp brought is haad quartets
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