Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-02
THE LATEST.
FROM CHARLESTON, Dec. %

Dufgh ShlpS Johanna ffe1ReTEck and Ger
frud, from that city. Captain WittCra, of
the former ship, left the city on the first da
of November. He gives ms the details of
the operations Of the Grand Armies up TO
that period. The battle of the I4.h Cc-
tober, of which we have already given the
French account, was the last one which had
been fought when he sailed The sti.te-
ment of that battle, as detailed by captain
w. differs materially from what has been
published. The French army is stated to
have consisted Of 100000 men the I>rus-
sian army OF 10000. The battle was con-
sidered as one Of the most bloody and OBJ
stinately contested which had been fought
since the commencement of Bonapa rte's
career. For long time the victory was
doubtful: The right and left wings of the
French army were rcpulsed with great loss
by the Prussian cavalry but the BATH Z was
ultimately won by the superior numbers of
the French infantry. A fresh body of i 900
men, commanded BY Marshal Neg, who
came up in the middle Of the action, deci-
ded the fare OF the day. They penetrated the
centre of the Prussian Inc in the form OF
wedge, and succeeded in breakingit and
routing the army. The los in killed and
wounded is considered to have been abont
equal on each side. Two French Generals
of distinction fell in the action. The Duke
of Brunswick lost an eve in the action, but
none OF the Prussial generals were ki. ed, rs
stated In the French account Prince Lcuis
Ferdinand was killed in a subsequent en-
gagement. The Prussian troops are stated
to have fought with courage borieringcn
desperation, but thev were oVerpoW%rel
by superior force. Notwithstanding this
defeat, however, the Prussian forces had
again rallied and another battle was short-
ly expected. The Prusslan army was COLI
ieCting at and in the vicinity Of the imDTcg-
bic fortress of Magdeburg. An army OF
reserve, OF $4,000 men, was also in rc3di-
ness to meet the enemy. Two Russian ar
mics, one of $4,000 men, and another Of So
600, were approaching by forced marches
to the scene of action; they had arrived in
Prussian Poland. Bonaparte had arrived
at Postdam within few miles of Berlin.
All the treasures, military stores, &c had
been removed from that city.--Courier.
December, %
The important information which we
have received by the late arrivals from
Hamburger is a source of the most pleasing
consolation ~ those, who, knowing theibest
interests or their country, arc reioiced Rt
every check which the tyrant of Europe re-
ceiles from the arm Of lawful andiegitimate
authority. Although the French, by. the
immence superiority of their numbers, oh
tanned the victory on the IAN October. vet.
we may reasonably conclude, that it cost
them more than any other victory whirh
they have obtained or, it is to be presum-
ed, from the wonderful activity aud Derse-
verance BoNAPARTE, that ne would not
have suffered his army to have remained
IDLE after that battle, but would have fol-
lowed up his victory bv pursuing the re-
treating Prussians, and DESTROYING them in
their tight But we find tn this was nos
the case they were permitted to retrsct
to Magdeburg. and BoEAPARTE marched
quietly towards Berlin, which nad Drrn
previously emptied of its pub &C treasures
such an event was anticipate i, as II Is nm
tortlhed. u was not inteude 70 defend l.
from al the information which we have
DCeh abe TO collect, both from private let-
ters ana the t1amburgh papers which we
nave examined, we see the pussisns. m
dismavcd, by their disaster, nm, ,7ouered
IN their spirit, and u-appaled ~E,h rlr-
ihey every where, eyiuCe the rrtsst d,.,,r-
mined intention to perscyere in the rlori ns
contest IN which they have engaged. and. Inv
waiting for the arrival % the Russians. nd
ny recruiting from their own urapie. while
boNhPARTE myrmidcns are sqck.ue.
brrln, they viii we hope, be able % cheek
'N'C SHIetr' OF thiS enemy Of the civilized
world.-All accounts agree that the F,,q.
siails fought with uup3ralle sd BRAVERY, and
particularly the cavalry, wlt.hl.t is said.
performed prcdigies In he field Pcr.on.
who have visited the reid Of batle. t;,E..e
the acton, Affirm, that it was not onl, fI;
terally cover d with the dead. but n
many places, the bodies were actually D; 81
up together, rs if desigpedlv done Sn-L
was the yigor OF the Frussiau orerot;o'-
tnal before the French received tho 80
iiorcemeut 81 Marshal NEY, they had e.
Ken one hundred and twenty Ave ,,icres -,
cannon, and the issue OF the battla .,,,,,,...,.
ca evidently to be Against the Frenc5. bnt
me arrival OF LOCO men, who were tr,rfg-
ported IN carriages, that they MIGHT po.
De iaugucd, changed the fate Of r. ,,
ana they obtained by their numbers VIII.
'hey could not eNturtb by their courao.
Inc russians have proved rho, .b,s,. o,,.
still deserving Of th1thipb repewn v;,irS
'hcy obtained under Frederic. Q. Il iesaiJ
that the French Cavalry were entirelv cnt
UP ny the Pruesi ms, who ought with tie
most desperate resolution and deter.nined
bravery.
when Captain Hussar left Cruxhaveo.
u was currently reported and believed
lhar BON APARrg had been killed. Tho
~ re report was SIS current az Hanburph
Fhere were various accounts Of tbc MIN
"er IN which il happened, thopoh all
agreed that it had taken Dl,ce So,pc
seated that he had been shot lac. como q