The National Register.
London, England, 1813-01-03 00:00:00

THE -NATIONAL -11EGISTEk.

perial Majesty's arms in the affairs of the 17th and 180, in the former
of which Marshal Dayoust's division was defeated and dispersed with
great loss, Brunie parte and the Marshal flying front the field of battle ;
and in the latter Marshal Ney's division near the same place, said to
have consisted of eighteen thousand men, appears to have been com-
pletely accounted for by the numbers killed and wounded, in addition
to those who afterwards laid down their arms. I also stated the ge-
neral distribution of the armies as they stood at that time.
I have now the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that General
Field-Marshal Prince Kutusoff*Smolensko reports, on the 23d of No-
vember, from Laniky Farm, that Buonaparte, with his guards, left
Orcha on the 20th of November, and marched on the road to Koclia-
noff ; and that on the 41st the remaining troops of the enemy matched
out of the former place, leaving twenty-six guns, and some hospitals,
in which were upwards of 50 wounded Fiench officers.
General Count Platoff is ordered to follow the army marching on
CochanofT;
A detachment under Major-General Ermaloff, toraisting of four-
teen battalions of infantry, s,.me cavalry. and two companies of artil-
lery, is directed to move by Orcha to reinforce Count Platoff.
The advanced-guard of the main army under the ci:mmand of Ge-
neral Millaradov itch, consisting of the 241 and 7th divisions of infantry,
and tl:e 2d division of cavalry was to cross the Dnieper on the 23d, at
Kopys, and was to direct its marelt upon Tolotchina to join General
malotra detachment.
The main army will cross the Dnieper, at Kopys, on the 21th, and
march by Starasel to Tsetzershioff, from whence it may he directed
according to circumstances, either upon Bobra or Berezinolf.
General Wittgenstein reports, on the c2ltl) of November, from the
village of Chcrai, that Admiral Tehichagia was at Borisoff on the
24th instant, whence General Langeron unformed the Count, by let-
ters of the 22d instant, that General Count Lamb. rt was at Bortsoil
on the 21st, where he defeated the whole corps of Dornbroffiki,
taking six cairn" two colour:-, and three thousand prisoners, driving
them on upon the road of Orcha ; that Count *Lambert had also
taken at Kaidanoff two guns, and from two to three thousand pro.
sorters, and that, including the hospitals at Minsk, in the last eight
days upwards of eleven thousand prisoners, and twenty-four guns,
had been tiiken.
Victor and Oudinot have retired from befor.: Count Wittgenstein
upon Borisoff; the latter is marching in pursuit of them, and on the
. 23(1 wok eight hundred prisoners and many carriages.
Count Wittgenstein rerorts, that Gcrieral plata marching against
the great body of the enemy's corps upon Toulochinow, by which it
appears the enemy is enclosed on three sides—General Plan in his
rear, Admiral Tchi aclaigollin their front, and Count Wittgenstein on
their hank.
A. report was received yesterday of another general officer, whose
rarrne 1 have not heard, having been taken prisoner ; and 1 have also
understood-thataccouuts are received, that General Laic: was arrived

at Egoumen.
The detachment under General Sackcn is understood to be fully ade-
Vote to keep Prince Schwartaenberg in check.
The attempt to blow tq the cathedral of Smolensko failed, the
to itch having gone out below it reached the mine.
The fate of Marshal Ney has nut been ascertained.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) CATHCART.
St. Petersburg, Dec. 6.
My Loan-1 have the honose to transmit the report of the des
feat of Victor's corps by General Count Wittgenstein, on the 27th of
November.
It would seem that this corps had altered its direction from Bori-
sett and was proceeding up the lett bank of the Beresina, when it
was charged by Count Wittgenstein. On the 16th, at day-break,
the Count pursued Buonaparte on a road which leads to Wilna, still
upon the lett bank of the Beresina.
A bridge had been thrown over the river at a place about thirty
versts from Boriscif, where there was an advantageous position for the
enemy's rear-guard, and for covering the passage.
In this day's march the French lost the whole of their equipages
and plunder, and were vigorously and repeatedly attacked at the
bridge.
The position on the left bank being continually reinforced by fresh
troops, was contested till night, whet it was evacuated, and the
bridge was destroyed as soon as the rtar-guard had pass: d. There is
a cross road fruit this point which leads to the gre.it read to 'Vilna,
and it was the intention of Count Vt'itigenstt in to pursue, as soon as
be either received poutons, or re-established the brAge.
General Platutt alleady gut to the right batik, probably at
Borisoff.
Admiral Tchichagoff's head-quarters appears to have been at no
great distance, but no part,cular eel net of the distribution or move-
silents of this part of the force has as yet bten received, sine the aEtir
of Count Lambert.
It appears, however, from the conclusion of Count Witt4enstein's
last report, that he expects the concert and support both of the Ad-
miral and of Count Natoli.
General Millaradovitcli was stated to have arrived at Boroscfrwhen
the last accotos!s came away.
The Bract-quarters ut the main army were siiii atlvaricing 911


JAN. 3.

line parallel to, and to the southward of the main road from Smo.
lensko to Minsk, but considerably in the rear of the present opera-

ticns.
There are long d: files to pass on the road from Borisoff to Minsk,
as well as on that upon which Buonaparte is supposed to be march-
ing; and it scarcely appears possible, that the remains of his army
can get through these difficulties in presence of so many troops, with
artillery and cavalry, regular as well as irregular.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) ' CATHCART.
St. Petersburg, Dec. 7.
MY LORD—While in the act of dispatching the Messenger, 1 re-
ceived from the palace, a report from Admiral Tchiclpgoff, dated the
29th of November, upon the march to Ostachcow, detailing his pro-
ceedirgs from the 21st of November, and stating that, in concert with
Counts Wittgenstein and Platoff, he is in pursuit of the French,
whose force he estimates at seventy thousand men, including Oudinot
and Victor, and which, he says is provided i cavalry and artil-
lery. I have the honour to be, Scc.
(Signed) CATHCART.

•••••.=•••
JOVRNAL OF MILITARY OfLRATIONS FROM THE 7TH TO THE 13TH OF
NOVLMBER, 1812) DATED HEAD-QUARTERS KOFYS.
November 7.

Major-General Borosdini having diiven the enemy from Laeda,
pursued them with a part of his detachment as tar as Bolschoi Ko-
lotossky, and with his Cossacks as far as Kosan, where they were re-
lieved by those of the detachment, commanded by the Aid-de-Camp
General Count Oscharofsky. The enemy lost in his flight seven
pieces of cannon, and a number of carriages.
The General of Cavalry, Count Platoff, reports, under date of the
sth instant, that having on the 3d approached Smolensk°, and having
learnt from the inhabitants, who were quitting it, that the enemy
occupied the Fauxbourg of Peter-,burg, he gave immediate orders to
his troops to attack under cover of the fire oft he artillery of the Don.
Colonel Kaysarofr, after having with his chasseurs broken the
barrier which the enemy had placed, vigorously pursued them
into the Fauxbourg itself, from whence they fled in alarm and dis-
order within the walls of the fortrers, where they were exposed to a
fire of grape-shot from the neighbouring heights. Whilst the Cos-
sacks and thechasseurs were engaged in the Fauxbourg, the enemy
made a sortie in two columns, with eight pieces of cannon and a
mortar, resolutely determined to repossess themselves of the Faux-
bourg. But Major-General Koutcitickoff with his Cossai ks, and
Colonel Kaysaroll with his chasseur, tell upon them, and having
repulsed the infantry, took their cannon. The Fauxbourg was re-
taken, when night put an end to the contest. On the 4th the enemy
established themselves behind the pa'isadoes, keeping possession of
the left bank of the Dnieper, whilst his columns quitted the town
with precipitation.
Count Platoifcaused Te Deum to be sung in presence of the troops,
accompanied by a discharge of artillery and a hurrah of the soldiers.
The enemy, on quitting the town, sprung the mines which they
had formed under several places of ale fortress, which set fire to the
houses of Fauxbourg of Petersburg, which were situated opposite the
fortress.
The Aiderdel•Camp, General Baron Mettersakomelsky reports, that
the Officer whom he had detached with three squadrons, had dis-
covered an enemy's column at three vcrsts from \Vinnisa-Louki, and
having surrounded th.m, he sent the Staabs-Rottmeister of the
hussars of the Akimfieldt guards, with a proposal to lay down their
arms. This commission he executed with complete success—the
number of prisoners amounted to two thousand five hundred men.
Intelligence has been received, that the detachment under Count
Oschaufsky, has occupied Mohilow after having dislodged the enemy,
Provisions and forage sufficient to subsist the whole army, during
ten days, were found in the place.
Head-quarters of the Army at Dabroi (great road to
Orsha), November 8.
The Aid de-Camp, General Count Pscharofsky, reports, on the
7th, that the French Army having abandoned, on the night of the
Bth, the village of Kosan, had marched to Dombrowna, and that
many- prisoners had been made in their flight, of which, however, the
Count could not yet fix the number, as it liicreased every moment.
Head-quarters at Romanoff, November 9.
The Count Oscharofsky reports, that a detachment sent by him
pursued the rear.guard of :he enemy on their retreat to Kosan. Ihe
Cossacks in following it on each side of the great road, had cut oft'
part of it from Dombrowna, and regardless of the fire of grape-shot,
threw themselves together with the chasseurs, upon the enemy's
, column, killed more than a thousand men took four pieces of can-
Mil, with thy caissons laden with grape, be'sides a considerable num.
bet of carts, and made six hundred prisoners.
Major Genetal Borosdin reports, on the 4th, that having with his
detachment skived the enemy from Dombrowna, he had purStieo him
to Orsha, *on which occasion he look above four hundred men and
eight officers. At Douibrorna was found a small magiqine of 'our,
oats, and hay.
Gcneral Count Natoli reports on the 7th, that, proceeding .from
SlUQlenajto to powbowna, he had Ocoiroycd a do:y:4111W of the

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