Star.
London, England, 1813-05-24 00:00:00

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM BRIGADIER-GENERAL

LYON, DATED HANIEURGH, MAY 8, 1813.
The advance of the different corps of the French
army to the Elbe, rendered it necessary for the divi-
sions of Generals Tettenborn, Dorenberg, and Czer-
nicheff, to recross this river : they concentrated at
Hamburgh. On the Ist of May, General Sebastiani,
with about 7000 infantry and 3000 cavalry, moved
from Luneburg in the direction of Magdeburg. On
the 4th, this corps arrived and halted at Salzwedel.
General Davoust, with about 10,000 men, in-
chiding the division of Vandamme, occupies Lune-
burg, Haibing, and Stade ; detaching small posts of
unequal strength at intermediate points along the
banks of the Elbe. On the move of General Sebas-
tian' to his right, General Count Walmoden marched
With the corps of Dorenberg and Czernicheff to
Dcumitz.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM RRJGADIER•OEXERAL

LYON,_ DATED SCHWAB ZENBECK, MAY 11, 1813.

A few hours after I had closed the letter which I
had the honour of addressing to your Lordship on
the Bth instant, the enemy attacked the posts on the
island of Wilhelmsburg and Ochsenwerder, but I feel
most happy in reporting they have been repulsed
with considerable•loss.

It appears that Marshal Davoust had collected
from 5 to 6000 men in the vicinity of Harburg tin the
Bth instant. This force, with the exception of about
1500 men left in Harburg, was embarked at one
o'clock in the morning of the 9th. Favoured by the
ebb tide, and tinder cover of numerous batteries on
the opposite shore, a landing was effected at Wil-
helmsburg long before break of day. The number
of troops stationed in this island did not exceed 1100
men, the enemy gaine..l therefore in the first instance
considerable ground, but on the air ival of a Mecklen-
burg battalion, which was ordered immediately to
their support, he was advanced upon and driven back
to the boats.

A battalion of Hanoverians, commanded by Major
de Berger, and a Lubec battalion, marching from
Bergadorf and Zouenspiker on Ochsenwerder to die
assistance of a corps of GOO men stationed at this
post, attacked the enemy with vigour and impetuosity
on his right flank: this compelled him to retreat, and
in falling back he set fire to all houses and mills in
the line of his march.

The conduct of the corps under the orders of Ma-
jor de Berger has been described to me as most dis-
tinguished. It was my intention to have made a par.

titular report •n the very rapid progress in discipline
which this corps has made, although so very recently 1
formed for his Majesty's service ; and it is with great
satisfaction I can add, that their gallantry in the field
is equally conspicuous.
Upon the advance of the enemy, a flag of truce
was sent out by General Wagher, commanding the
advanced guard of the Danish army in Holstein,
with a declaration, that the forces under his command
would co-operate in the defence of Hamburgh, should
an attack be persevered in on that city. On the offi-
cer's return, and a continuation of the operations of
the enemy, the Danish forces actually passed the fron-
tier, and took up a position on the Hamburgh-berg,
with ten pieces of cannon, whilst a line of gun-boats
was at the same time stationed for the defence of
the port.
I am unacquainted with the loss the Allies have
generally sustained in the late affair ; it is estimated
at about Isu men and 15 officers. I have learnt with
regret, that the Hanoverian battalion has suffered
severely, two Captains and 80 men being killed or
wounded.

The enemy entered Cuxhaven on the Bth instant.
The detachment of the veteran battalion, under the
orders of Major Kenzinger, are safely embarked.