Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-21
From C.bbeff,a Rcrigt cr.
DEST2UCTIONOF MOSCOW Diff
GIL .I,Iic.s Ai. .LrIiE 1,.Nlc ,-CII

received since our last, seem 20 us ca.culat-
ed to revive, rather than TO abate hope.
The ancient capital of the Cars, il is true,
exists no more, with the exception of the
hreulin, whence the invader, on whose &C
count cities blaze & thousands perish, stood
like the destroying angel amidst an ocean
OF Games ;" the warehouses; flied with the
accumulated produce of the East and Of ma
tive industry, have been consumed and in
the coniiagraton OF a whole CITY lives with
ont number have been lost. But the main
OBJECT OF the enemy has been defeated. lie
has been deprived of those comfortable
winter quarters" which he anticipated with
40 much delight, and TO obtain which he
Fought tho sanguinary battle Of MoSkwa. His
resources he acknowledge. are consdera-
blv diminished and it becomes doubtful
whether he will be able to mpin,a;n himself,
amidst the ruins of the burnt capital under
the asperity of Northern winter. Had
Moscow remained entire, its palaces would
have become the habitations of his soldiers,
its churches would have been turned into
hospitals, and its remaining population into
the slaves AID servants of the invaders, who
~onld have enjoyed every comfort, whilst
the Russian armies, compelled to encamp in
the field, or to retire TO distant towns, would
have encountered every difficulty, and suf-
fercd every privation, OF by their remote
ness freed him from any apprehension until
the return OF summer. AS it is. however,
without any other shelter for his troops, the
miserable barracks built out Of the wrecks
of the CITY, with reduced stock of provi-
sions, and long line of communications liza
bic to be Intercepted, he may be considered
in situation pregnant with danger, pro-
vided the resolution of Alexander do not
fail III ftn tnlNt Ia, oh.
whelmed large portion ct his empire, and
the destruction of one Of his capitals has
effected that of his richest merchants man
Otaciurers ard mobiles, does not produce the
intimdatilg effect which we apprehended on
the Russian autcrrat, his independence may
get be recovered, and his territory freed
from the grasp of it's invaders. The wild
heroism of MS subjects, although hitherto mn
awaiting on the field, has raised by its vol
untary sacrifices stronger barrier to the
ultimate success of the enemy, than that
which WAS so bravcly opposed "a his pro-
SreSs at oskwa.---Dispatches from Lord
Cathcart state, that Gen. Kutusow think
ing his position uatenable after his victory,
had fallen back in search of another, which
he could not find ~ an extent ofeighty miles,
in consequence Ga which he had retired 90
miles. be- ond Moscow, allowing the French
the battle of Moskwa was fought for the pur-
pose OF saving Moscow. from the subsequent
, abandonment of that capital, and the last
dispatch from Prince Kutusow, dated Nera,
Gays after the action, and about 40 miles
from the field, in which he does not even
then mention the number of prisonere taken,
that on Killed or wounded, or even the cap
ture of\ aLy cannon, we must reluctantly
Conclude. that although he may have infiict-
ed nearly an equal loss on the enemy, vet
he must have been worsted. But as his ar
my, though diminished, remained uudspers-
ed and undismayed, and as the junction of
the Moldavian troops with Gen. Tor,nasow
enables that commander to threaten, in con-
junction with the reinforced Wittgenstein,
the rear Of the enemy, it may still be hoped,
that ere long the Campaign, instead of being
terminated BIZ the disastrous capture and
destruction OF Moscow, may be concluded |
by the defeat or retreat of it's invaders.
RUSSIAN IMPERIAL MANIFESTO.
1t is with heavy heart we are compelled |
to inform every son of the Country. that the |
enemy entered Moscow on the Sd G5th) |
Sept. The glory of the Russian empire,
however, is not thereby tarnished. On the |
contrary every individual is inspired with
fresh courage, frmness and hope that all
the evils meditated against MS by our enc
mics will eventually fall upon their own
heads The enemy has not become master
OF Moscow, by overcoming or weakening
our forces; the Commander IN Chief, by the
advice Of council of war, has found It e5-
pedicnt tn retire at moment OF necessity in
order By the best and most efFectual mean.
10 Inn the transcien. triumph of the enemy
to hisinCvltable ruin. However painful it niay
be TO The russians, to hear that the original
Capital of the Snpirc is IN the hands OF the
snemv OF their country, yet it is consoatary
TO reflect that he is r.. = essed merely of bare
walls containing within their circuit neither
or providers. The naughty |
conqueTor, imagined that OK his entrance
mo Moscow, he woull becoiNe the arbiter
of the whole Russian Empire, whca he might
prescribe 10 it such q peace az h. should
mink proper but he is deceived i'm hig Ok
'ectatious; he viii neither have acquired 1
he power of debating, nor the means OF
IubSistaEce. The assembled and daily in ,
creased forces q the distrc.s Of Moscs1,
will not neglect TO block up every avenue.
md 10 destroy such paroles as may be de- {
ached for the purpose Of Collecting pro- !
visions until the enemy shall perceive that I
his hopes OF astonishing the world by the
capture OF Moscow were vain, and he be :
compelled 20 open passage for himself by {,
orce.
His situation is as follows He entered :
Russia with 100000 men, the principal par, ,
consisting Of natives OF different Kingdoms,
'orving and obcyiDg him not from free will ,
met in defence Of their countries-but sole c
y from terror. The half Of this multifari- d
'us army has been destroyed, partly by our n
brave troops, partly by DISCRETION, and part u
~ by huBger aad sickness with the remain b
iot he IS come &C. Moscow. His audacions T