The National Register.
London, England, 1812-09-20 00:00:00

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those that were unprotected, and to pass secretly in the rear I
of tie Russian divided corps, most of which might then have
been surrounded and overpowered singly. It was, at the
same time, evidently unfit for attack or defence ; for the vast
expansion of force was too great to allow of that sudden eon-
ceetration requisite to assail or to oppose an advancing ene-
my. It was therefore no more than, what we have no doubt
it was intended to be, a position of watch, taken on the out-
skirts of the empire, to ascertain the march and intentions oi
the French and that information once obtained, to be
changed for stronger posts pre% iously selected a little way
deeper in the interior of the country, where a resolute and
decided stand was to be made. This plan was prudent and
wise. It promised to enable the Russians to avoid the first
violent impetus of the French which had prostrated at once
the collected force of Prussia, and to meet their attacks when
the caution ne• essary to be used in advancing through an
enemy's country, and the difficulty of proem ing provisions,
would have compelled them to divide the concentrated mass
with which they intended to assail the Russian centre into
various columns, separated from each other by the numerous
s which the land opposed to their march, and there-
fore ex osed to be defeAed singly, and, at all events, pre
yen ed from making a simultaneous effort against the strong
positions occupied by their opponents. Aware of the inten
tions of the Russians, NAPOLEON attempted to turn them
to his own advantage, and although he failed in his grand ob-
ject, partly succeeded in the second which he had in view
At his arrival on the Ru sian frontiers he first ascertained the
position of his adversary, and saw that it was one, at the
time, of great weakness. AL EX ANDER'S extensive line form-
ed a cre cent sitni!aE to hat in which a Spanish fleet is gene-
rally d.sposed on a day of battle, and which our immortal
NELSON first taught how to defeat, by breaking at two seve-
'al points through the line. NAPOLEON found himself in the I.
concavity of the Russian semicircle, the immense extent of
which left him no cause to fear for his flanks, during his ad-
vance Against the centre, as the wings were too distant to
close upon his rear. Ile therefore divided his whole army
into two columns of attack, crossed the Niemen at two
rows. and rushed against the Russian centre and right
wing, with a rapidity which he hoped would enable
bim to break through them, before they could carry their
plan of retreat into execution, or at least render that retreat
dafiyult and dis,,rderly, and expose sonic of the retiring
coe,,s to capture or to destruction. The Russians were too
mach on their guard- however, not to perceive and coun-
teract his deign. They fell back with a degree of precipi-
tation, equal to that of his advance, and in excellent order,
but the continuance of his progress, and his unabated speed,
occasioued a necessary opening of their line, which, although
not penetrated, parted at several points itiNts retreat. Thus
was the army of Prince BAGRATION separated from the
Main body under the Commander in Chief, BARC LAY DE
To IL!, and thrown into Volhvnia, whilst the right wing
• iet ted through Courland, and the centre evacuated Lithu-
nisi and re-crossed the Dwitia. This unexpected separation,
although f: ons-the • steadiness of the troops, and the skill and
activity of their Commanders, unattended with any diaster,
tendered the execution of the whole of the Russian plan
impossible, and compelled them to retreat much farther
than -they had originally intended. Instead of englging; the
enemy In front of %Vilna, or on the left hank of the Dwina, or
at West of defending the positions which they had fortified
Wore baud on theeright bank of that river, they were ob-
liged. to direct all their. exertions to effect lug a re-union of
their armies, which in their divided 'trite were unable to
stand against main body of the French. That this is

SF PT. so.

the sole reason whir i tednced them to evacuate such an
v
•xt,nsive portion of tl e fins, •n empire. aud even part of
au•sia proper, l,eyond SIDOIM evident not onl from
'IIC rebated declarations of ;heir commanders, that as soon
as Prince BAGRATIO and (;eneral BARCLAY DE Tot.Li
should have united, they would act on the offensi,e ; but
from the numerous advantages v:hich Their retreat has pkced
in the hands of the enemy, ‘vbi.h we sh ,11 ex! lain, along
with the dangers to which be is. exposed should a power-
ful expedition land in his rear, in on next, when we shall
close our view of this interesting and important subject.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

RUSSIAN BULLETINS.

FROM TIIE ST. PEFERSIIURG GAZETTE, No 64.
OFFICIAL, WARLIKE INTELLIGENCE.
The Commander •in-Chief of the Armies; Barclay de Tills", informs
his Imperi ,1 Majesty, that the Adintant-General Baron Winzingerode
has transmitted to hint the following Report :
" I esteem it rny duty to inf.rin year Excellency. that I have forted
the enemy to abandon Welish. Uswat, nod the suburbs of Surasch. I
have already sent strong patroles to Newel, and consequently the [own
of Welickyc Luki. and the St Petersburg toad, are now secure.
"The report which was spread of the enemy having pushes) into this
neighbourhood in great force, proved to be false. The whole of his joint
force is'asserubled at Witepsk, and he has hithert 3 only sent hither strung
detachments of cavalry to spread terror, but chi' ff celect provi-
sions tor his army, of which they are in ext:etue w&a. Prisoners ate
&lily sent into me.
The Conmoundcr-in•Chief, Barclay de Tully, has transmitted the foi-
-1 sviiig report, dated Aug. 15:—
" I have the happine‘s to inform your Imperial Mi,j, sty, that the
enemy, harassed by die detachment of Major Geller -I i;nron Winzinge-
rode, from the side of Welish, and Alajor-General Kra.. tow having
with his detachment got on his flank, has withdrawn himself from Po-
ets hja, Hod concentrated his force at Rudna ; and my .igkt Bank
being by this menus secured, I have marched for, ards with the wis le
ormy, and on the 2d of August took a pi,si•ion at ihe village of Wol-
kowa, where my right wing leans on the Kasplen lake, and 1 have the
river Wedra in front. The 2d army was to have taken position at
Nadwa, but having received intelligence of the enemy has ine cros.ed
the Dnieper at llubrowka, in great numbers, towards Loedy, Prince
Bagrothion ordered the Sevemb corps, sunder the c,,tum.ind of Lietite.
nani-General Rajowski, to cross over to the left bank of the Dnieper
to reinforce Major-General Newerowski. who wa; stationed at Kras•
now with a detachment ; the rest of the tr-ops of the 2d army have
this morning taken possession of Nadu a. In the course of lust night,
intelligence arrived, that the enemy, after having left Rudua anti
;_iosna, was mareliinj for Ltibowitcliy. On account of this circum-
stance, the rentablin!, part of the second army. which is at present at
Nadwa, will this day march to Katau, on the left bank of the Dnieper,
and the sixth corps will ccupy Much, a. All the light troops, undo r the
command of GenerM Platoll, assisted by the detachment under dm
1- command of Count Pakten, are in pursuit of the enemy on the road to
Lubowitschy. According to my last reports, the advanced guard of
the first army have take.n about 150 men, of different tanks, prisoners."