The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-10-23

|
| The headquarters was at Vitepsk.
The I'd corps, commanded by the marshal
duke OF Reggie, was on the Drissa.
! The 10th corps, commanded by the duke
/ OF L arcntum, was near Dunaburg and Riga
On the 0th, - 600 of the enemy's cavalry
advanced upon Inkovo and attacked the di-
visions of the general count Sebastian. who
was obliged to fight while ne rctreated, the
space of half a league during the whole
day experiencing about IN equal loss with
that ofthe enemy. & company of voltigerrs
OF the 24ih regiment OF light infantry, being
! Il part of battalion Of this regiment, which
had been entrusted to the cavalry to keep
positio in tie woods, has been taken. We
had about 900 men Killed and wounded
the enemy may have lost an equal number.
On the 18th, the enemy's army left Smo-
icnski, and marched by different directions,
with as much slowness as hesitanCy, to-
wards Parietch and Nadra.
The 10th, the emperor resolved to march
to the enemy, and to possess himself of Smo-
iensk. by reaching it by the other bank of
the Boristhenes. The king of Naples and
the marshal duke of Elchngen, set out from
Liozna and arrived at the Boristhenes near
the junction Of the Berezina. opposite Knomi-
no, where, in the night of the 18th to the
18th, they cast two bridges over the Boris
| themes.
| ed by Janavitzki and kionvavistchi to Ras
sana, where he arrived on the 18th.
| The prince of Eckmuhl assembled all his
| corps at Dombrowna, on the 18th.
| The general count Grouehz assembled
the Sd corps of cavalry at Kassana on the
| 18th.
| The general count Eblee cast three brid-
ges at Rassana on the 18th.
The head quarters lett Vitepsk, and ar
rived at Rassana on the 18Th.
| Prince Poniatowski left Mohlow and ar
rived on the 18th at Rnmanow.
| The 18th. at day break, Gen. Grouchy
marched upon Leadie-he put to flight two
regiment Of Cossacks. and for ned a juno
ZION with the corps of cavalry of General
| Nansouty.
The same day the King of Naples sup
ported by the Duke of Elchingen, arrived at
| krasno.
The enemy's 9th division of infantry 5000
strong, and aided by 1000 horse and ID pie
ces of cannon, was posted before this town
lit was attacked and dsposessed in a mo-
ment by the Duke of Elchingen. The oath
regiment of light infantry attacked the little
town OF krasnoi at tie point of the bayonet
with intrepidity.
The cavalry made admirable charges
The General of Brigade Baron Borde Soult
and the 3dreglment Of Chasseurs distinguish
ed themselves. The capture of pieces of
artillery and OF ii loaded ammunition wag-
CONS. 1900 prisoners, &c. field of battle
| strewed with more than 1000 dead Russians,
were fruits of the battle of Brasnoi, where
the Russian division, which was 5000 strong,
lost half its number
| His majesty had his head quarters on the
18th at kovonitnia. In the morning Of the
10th the heights OF Smclensk were gained
the city presented to our eyes cnclo-
sure of walls 1000 toises in circumference,
ten feet thick. and IS feet high, surmoun.
| ted with towers, many Of which were arm
ed with very large cannon.
| On the right OF the Borysthenss we per-
ceived that the troops of the enemy were
returning in great haste to defend Smolensk
| We knew that their generals had perceiv-
ed reiterated orders from their master to
| give battle and to save Smosnsk.
| he emperor reconnoitred the city, and
posted his army on the 10th The duke of
| Elchingen had the lett leaning on the Bo
| rysthenes. the duke of Eckmuhl the centre,
and prince Poniatowski the right--T he
| guard was placed as Il reserve on the cen
tre-'The viceroy as reserve on the right,
and the cavalry under the king of Naples
at the extremity of the right. The duke of
| Abrantes With the 9Th corps lost his way &
! had made a false movement.
! On the 10th ard during half Of the 18th,
| we rested in observation. The enemy occu-
! pied Smolensk with $4,000 men, and the rest
! of his army as formed on the advantageous
| position Of the right bank of the river OPP
poslte the city, communicating with it by
! three bridges. Smolensk is considered BY
the Russians as a strong city and the bulwark
of M oscow.
On the 18th, at . o'clock in the afternoon,
seeing that the enemy had not opened, that
he was fortifying himself in Smoensk, and
that he refused battle that nothwithStand~
ing the orders which he had and the fine
position which he could take, his right at
Smolensk and his left across the Borysthenes,
the enemy's general failed in resolution, the
emperor went to the right and ordered
prince Poniatowski to make "A charge in
front, the right in advance, and to place his
right on the Borysthenes, by occupying one
OF the suburbs, by some posts and bate
ries TO destroy the bridge and intercept the
communication of the city with the right
/ bank.
! During this time the prince of Eckmuhl
had orders to attack two suburbs which the
enemy had entrenched, and which were de.
Tended each by or 800 infantry & some
| large Cannon. Gen. count Frant had orders
to- complete the investment by supporting
his right with the corps of prince Poniatow
ski, and ris lcil with the right OF the attack
which the prince Of Eckmuhl was making
At 2 o'clpck p. NJ. the division of cavalry
If the count Bruycres having rcpulsed the
Cossacks, and the enemy's cavalry occupi
cd the hollow which is nearest the bridge
boye it, battery Cf 60 pieces Of artllsr,