Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-31
LONDON. February IN.


II is supposed that the campaign is over,
and that as the French are gone into win
ter-quarters, no warlike operations will
take place for some time. But il should
seem from the last dispatches from Russia,
as IT marshal Kaminskoy had concentrated
his army within the circuit of few miles,
for the purpose of resuming offensive ope-
rations Immediately. He is only waiting
the supplies that are on their way to him
OF forage and provisions. The Russian
troops are peculiarly calculated for carry
ing on war during the winter, and we should
imagine that Kaminskoy will attack the
French in their cantonments The two arr
mes are SO near each other, particularly
those detachments that are between the
Omulcio and the Orcye,
That the .fr'd centinels almost receive
The secret zVhishers ofeach others match
The Russian army is in the best state,
full of confidence and enthusiasm, and i'm
patient to meet the enemy.
We are more and more convinced, thai
BuxhOvden was not engaged at all on the
Goth December. If our readers will refer
to the disposition of the Russian divisions,
they will find his division occupying po-
sition in the rear of Ostroloka, at Glenki,
Nowygrod, and Lanza.
nC ulinOSI tNCTllOnS continue 10 ne used
in the kings dock-yards at Chatham, Ports
mouth and Plymouth, in order to get rea-
dy fleet for the Baltic. Sixteen of the
line, mostly old 74's, are to be cut down
and fitted for sea, with masts of the rate
of 74's.
Gen. Paoli died on Thursday night, at a
very advanced age, at his house near the
Edgewarc road /; famous for the part he
took in the affairs of Corsica, IN the reign
of Louis the fifteenth, and the god father Of
Bonaparte.
Private letter from very respectable mer-
chant at St. Petersburg, to his brother
in London, dated 9th January.
"Long live our brave emperor and his
gallant army is the universal exclamation
at St. Petersburg Vassilzikoff, the ccdri-
er, arrived from the army in Poland yes
terday, at II O'Clock, and brought the aus
picious tidings that our brave soldiers had
defeated the French in mastery style,
with the loss on the side Of the enemy of
1000 men killed and 5000 prisoners. The
particulars / have this instant learned,
from highly respectable quarter. They
are as follow:
"The scarcity ofprovisions in the French
army, and the hope of ending the campaign
by decisive blow, concurred to induce
Bonaparte to pass the Vsula, at the head
of $4,000 men. On the 25d of December
he advanced TO the out-posts of Gen Ben
ningsen's army where gen. Osterman COM
manded. Although Benningsen's force was
formidable, $4,000 menu he preferred at
first the prudent alternative of retreating,
during the 23d, 24th and 25th December.
On each of these days skrmishes took
place, but on the Goth the two armies made
a stand in sight of each other, at a village
called Selim, which lay between them.-
This village Bonaparte, who commanded
in person, set on fire, TO cover his attack on
the Russians, whom nc thus thought TO en-
velope in smoke. This artihce, however,
was soon turned against himself for BeB-
ningsen, discovering his intention, instantly
formed his reserve into a hollow square,
which advanced, unperceived, under the
smoke Of the village. This gallant corps
marched with fixed bayonets the Russian
line opened TO let them pass through, and
they never stopped till they reached the
centre of the French. Here an obstinate
conflict took place but the Russians sue
ceeded in not only routing their centre, but
also turning both their wings. The left
wing of the French being shaken by the
Russian infantry, was entirely borne down
and dispersed by general Chaplits, at the
head OF the cavalry, who killed 1000 men.