The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-09-29 00:00:00

for the enemy had himself burned the greater part of
it. As he supported his infantry by batteries placed
on the heights of the opposite bank, this d...fonce,
and his numerical superiority, obliged us to support
the royal infantry by some batteries ; but on the
ruined batteries Of the town there were only con-
fined spaces for their erection, which were almost
completely exposed to the, fire of the enemy's inX
fantry. ilowever, these batteries were establishe
with the greatest activity, and, during the whole.
of the actiou, kept up their fire without beingite.
vered.
" The two regiments of light horse, under the or-
ders of Major-General Brettiing, likewise endea-
voured to support our infantry, by various demon-
'indigoes elong.the comae of the river-rstfrey partly
passed the Dnieper, throtened thdrigiht flank of the
enemy, and had various skirmishes with his infantry
and cavalry:; but as the.ground was very *earner-
able for aviary, he was obliged to confine himself to
lipeie demonstrations, which, howesero obliged the
to .diside his.fefge,
.41-''Ou the morning. lb* kb* 19th, the enemy was no
longer visible; if was lioreears ptesumable, that his
rear/ard would turn toteivitatage, for the purpose
of covering tbsis retreat- of :his 'army, the rugged
teights which enarcled the right of the valley of the
Dnieper, and that he would take.a position behind
their crest. The third corps d'armee therefore re-
oeived orders to advance and carry these heights
should it be necessary ; but, contrary to all expecta-
tion, the'ettemy did not defend them, and the dit isiou
of royal infantry was posted there as in advance.—
?he two regiments of light horse passed the Dnieper
lower down, and followed the corps d'armee.—After
a few moments march the sharp-shooters came up
with a troop-of Cossacks, who retired in the' valley
of the Dnieper, on the road of Moscow, when they
perceived the cavalry, and when our sharp-shooters
opened their fire on them.
44 The corps d'armee, in three columns, marched
lo the same direction in the valley, and about a league
from Smoleieiko found the enemy posted beyond a'
considerable stream with very. rugged banks,- and
which falling into the Dnieperf interacted the road
to such away that the left wing of the ,enensy's first,
iipe rested on the Dnieper. The bents of the stream,
which were covered with thickets, were strongly
bed with infantry ; the'enemy Mkt also thrown
troops into .two villages situated along the stream.
Some hundreds of paces behind the stream there was
a wooded height, on which the enemy had placed a
**coed line of infantry, with artillery. The corps ,
d!armee deployed, and briskly attacked, with artil-
lery and sharp...hooters, the enemy's first line; but it
made a vigorous resistance, and the combat became
poem,. One village on the left bank was attacked
so warmly, that the enemy was dislodged; he en-
deavoured to gain the heights in his rear; but at the
same moment the light horse of the guard passed the
stream, took both in sank and rear this infantry,
which was endeavouring to form a square, and sabred
'them.

In consequence of this movement of the carat.
re. he second village was also taken in reverse;
ti.. i (ovary which defended it attempted in conse-
q J.". e to escape to the heights; a troop of Cossacks,
advanced to protect them, were soon overthrown by
the molly, who pursued, came up with, and sabred
Ce infantry.
" At the same time the enemy, in spite of his
vlitTated attacks, was also driven back on his left
wing, asui all the divisions nearly at the same me.
want gained possession of the heights. The enemy
con!inued his retreat several leagues without haWing,
and it was not till five In the evening that the corps
d'armee came up with him in the occupation of a
very strong position. The Royal division, which
formed the centre of the corps, could at first brtng
into play only its artil'ery. The principal force of the
enemy, in cavalry and infantry, was posted in clove
columns, with strong batteries in front on a high
ridge, in advance of which the ground for 4 or 500
paces was low, intersected with rivulets and ditclies,
and covered with thickets, which formed a sort of
girdle to the principal position. The enemy had
thrown at least ten thousand men into this low
ground, which was, besides, def. nded by the batte.
vies on the ridge. The principal operation was to
pierce across this girdle and gain the ridge, which
was the key of the position. The 3d corps d'artnee
was charged with executing the attack in front. The
combat commenced, and had already lasted two hours ;
during this time the Russians had been more than
once relieved by fresh troops; night at length came
on, their columns could no longer he easily seen ;
their batteries gradually produced less effect, and,
in conioquel.ce, orders were given to form a column
behind a cloud of sharp.shooters, and to assault the '
ridge.

c. The light brigade of the King formed a chain'.
of sharp.shooters, anri was followed by the two bri. !
gades of the line, in two parallel columns. The
obscurity of the wood, the thick smoke of gunpow-
der, the obstaeles presented by the hollows and
thickets, rendered the march very painful i but at'
times they afforded a protection from the enemy's I
batteries, to which this royal division was greatly
exposed, Frequently the enemy, who presented a
bristling with steel, overwhelmed the columns
his sharp-shooters, who advanced with lan.
,y ; bet nothing could prevent them from renew.'
heir attack. Thrice tbe enemy were charged,
this sanguinary field of battle had been long
;kited up by the moon, when at last the ridge was
tried, and the enemy's masses compelled to re-
.; however, the sharilattooters did not cease
iug till near reidnig..t.
The whole of the 3d corps d'artnes passed the
at where the combat bad closed. The troops of
Majesty, on this day took a number of very
rang positions. On the meruing of the 20th, this
•ps marched a league in advance of the field of
and there encamped-
Die diviiiiou of his Majesty has taken a great
lay Officers and soldiers prisoners, Its loss in
lase different combats is seven Officers killed, 41
'Hided, and one flashing ; subalterns and sot.
4 killed. 559 wounded, and 45 missing."
• .

Majebty has also reecked, by LieuteMant
,p ssigsrl fr,witi*.polottel kliikatt, commanding tfilkl
iefOrTl?ol. of4ookr of Qtskt Williams, dated at,
bivouac' of .gpsdssia •fltit of. Aognist. •.Ate.'
dais 4f riegivatet Ind on that'WNW uPUMUWOMMoI,--at intisloii
sr.1;:•• ••'1!•:".. • .1,'9.
4141 i»': td-gvn:t f".! ;

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