The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-08-22 00:00:00

FRENCH PIPERS.

PARIS, Aocurr 11.

TENTH BULLETIN OF THE GRANT) ARMY.
WITEPSI, JULY 31.—The Emperor of Russia and
the Grand Duke Constantine have quitted the army]
and repaired to the capital. On the lith, the Rus-
sian army left the intrenched camp of Drissa, and
marched towards Polotsk and Witepsk. The 'Rus-
sian army which was at Drissa consisted of five corps
d'armee, each of two divisions, and of four divisions
of cavalry. One corps-d'armee, that of Prince
Wittgenstein, remained for the purpose of covering
St. Petersburg's ; the four other corps, having arrived
on the 24th at Witepsk, crossed to the left bank of
the Dwina. The corps of Ostermatin, with a party
of the cavalry of the guards, put itself in motion at
day-break of the 25th, and marched upon Ostrovno.
BATTLE OF OSTIiO4 \O.
On the 25th of July, General Nansouty, v ith the
divisions Bruyere and St. Germain, and the Bth re-
giment of light infantry, encountered the enemy two
leagues in advance of Ostrovno. The action com-
menced. Several eharges.of cavalry\took place; all
of them were in favour of the French. The light
cavalry covered itself with glory. The King of Na-
ples mentions the brigade Pire, composed of the Bth
Hussars, and 16th Chasseurs, as having distinguished
itself. The Russian cavalry, of which a part be-
longed to the Guards, was overthrown. The batte-
ries which the enemy opened upon our cavalry were
carried. The Russian infantry, who advanced to
support their artillery, were broken and sabred by
our light cavalry.
Oti the 2.6thv the Viceroy marching with the divi-
sion Delzou as the head of the columns, an obstinate
action of the advanced guard, of from 15 to 20,000 I
men, took place a league beyond Ostrovno. ' The ;
Russians were driven from their positions one after
another. The woods were carried by the bayonet.
The King of Naples, and the Viceroy, mention
with praise Generals Baron Delzon, Huard, and
Roussel. The Bth light infantry, the 84th and 92d
regiments of the line, and the Ist regiment of Croats,
distinguished themselves. General Roussel, a brave
soldier, after being the whole day at the head of the
battalions, was visiting the advanced posts at ten at
night, when a sentinel took him for an enemy, fired
upon him, and the ball shattered his skull. He
ought to have died three hours sooder on the field of
battle, by the hands of the enemy.
On the 27th, at day-break, the Viceroy made the
division Broussier file off in advance. The 13th re-
giment of light infantry, and the brigade of light ca-
valry of the Baron de Pire, wheeled to the right.—
The division Broussier marched by the great road,
and repaired a small bridge which the enemy had
destroyed. At day-break, the enemy's rear-guard,
consisting of 10,000 cavalry, was perceived drawn
up ea ethelloa on the plain ; their right resting on
the Rwina, and their left on a wood lined with in-
fantry and Artillery. General Count Broussier took
post on en eminence with the 53d regiment, waiting
till the whole of his division had passed the defile.—
Two companies of Voltigeurs had marched in ad-
vance, alone: they skirted the bank of the river,
advancing towards that enormous mass of cavalry,
which made a forward movement, and surrounded
these 200 meu, who were thought to be lost, and
who ought to have been so. It happened otherwise.
'hey coucentrated themselves with the greatest cool-
ness, and remained during a whole hour hemmed in
en all sides; having brought down more than 300
bosemen of the enemy, these two companies gave the
French cavalry time to debouche.
The division Delzon defiled on the right. The

Xing of Naples directed the wood and the enemy's
batteries to be attacked. In less than an hour all
the positions of the enemy were can ied, aral he was'
driven across the plain beyond a small river which
enters the Dwina below Witepsk. The army took a
position on the banks of this river, at the distance of
a league from the town.
The enemy displayed in the plain 15,000 cavalry
and 60,000 infantry. A battle was expected next
day. The Russians boasted that they wished to give
battle. The Emperor spent the remainder of the
eight in reconnoitring the field, and in making his
dispositions for next day : but at day-break the Rus-
sian army was retreating in all directions- towards
Smolensk. The Emperor was on an height very near
the 200 Yeltigeurs, who, alone on the plain, had at-
tacked the right of the enemy's cavalry. Struck by
their fine conduct, he sent to enquire what corps4hey
belonged to ?—They answered, " To the 91A; and
three fourths of us are lads of Paris."—" Tell
them;" said the Emperor, 64 that they are brave fel-
lows: they all deserve the cross !"
The fruits of the three actions of Ostrovno are
10 pieces of cannon of Russian manufacture taken,
the cannoneers sabred ; 20 caissoons of ammuni-
tion ; 1500 prisoners ; 5 or 6000 Russians killed or
wounded. Our lass amounts to 80Q- kiited,,--900
wounded, and about 50 prisoners. The Ii
Naples bestows particular praise on Generals
yere, Pipe, and Ornano, and on -Colonel Radzivill,
commandant of the 9th Polish linters, an officer of
lingular intrepidity.
The red Hussars of the Russian guard have been
cut up.' They lost 400 men, many of whom are pri-
soner}. tffhe Russians had three Generals killed or
wounded. ~A considerable number of Colonels and
superior (Meek of their army remained on the held
p 1 bathe.. , •
Owthe 28th, at day- 'break, we entered Wite'pek,
town of '0,90 itihabilants. It has twenty tOU.
vents. We have loendeihriit tame manes, parti-
cularly one of silt, valued at 15,000000.
While the arrey.was marching en Witepsk, the Prince
of Eckneeloi was attacked at Mefiilew. ilagration
passed the Berezina of Ilohrtnislcf;and marched upon
Noyoi-bickow. At day,breik 'on the 23d, 3000
Cossacks attatked ths Id regimeneoceliasseurs, and
took 100 oftheiiii'idricniri whom were Ake Colonel
and four °freers, ail wounded. The generale was
beat; an action commenced. The Russian Geueral
Sieverse, with two select divisions, began the attack.
From eight in the morning till lye in the afternoon,
bhe firing was keo pp o 4 # strip of wood, and at a
ridge which the Russians wished- to force. At five,
the Prince of Eckmuhl caused three chosen battalion;
to ad vanes, pat himself at their heed, overthrew the
Russians, carried their positiose, and pursued them
for a league. The loss of the Russians is estimated
it 3000 wild AO Top*, u 4 11QP prisoneno

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