Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-22

sGo'eAcn, on the Cd Of HGay.
On the SOth of April, information was re
ceiVed at Gen. Count Won Wttgens,en's
neau quarters OF the G. eater part OF the
french army and The French Guards hay-
ing crossed the Scale. in the vicinity of
Naumburg; 1t was at the same time report
ed that the Emperor Napoleon had arrived
at the army. We observed that the Vice
roy's army drew to the right. It was there
fore clear, that the enemy endeayoureJ hv all
means TO form junction and that il was
most probable his intention to give general
nattie. Ills Majesty, the emperor Alexan
der, and his Majesty, the King of Prussia.
therefore went TO their armies, TO amin ate
the courage or t'.eir troops by their person.
at presence. but the better TO be enabled to
Judge OF the enemy's strength, reconnoi
sance was undertaken with General Wmz;n-
gerode's corps from Leipsic ON the road To
Weissenfels. This confirmed the intellicence
received OF the enemy being there in consi,
derable force.
Upon this very severe enragement foil,
place on the lst OF May, with tue said CORPS
oy which We were Convinced that the main
force or tue enemy was in the vicinity of
We'ssenteis and Lutzen. 1t was behaved.
that the Niceroy's position was between Leip
SIC and Halle, and consequently the enemy's
plan tor the battle was clearly aDnarant
Gen. Count Won Wittgenstein resolved on
being before hand with him, to obstruct him
Ill his dispositions by bold attack, and to
restrain his offensive operations It was ne
cessary Ill this attempt to make it our main
object Immediately to fall on such part of his
force aswas, on bis side, consde red to be the
best troops; i'll order, after such stroke. to
give larger space for the operations of our
hy'nS corps, over whom the enemy had lat
terly acquired superiority. Therefore il
was requisite, if possible to direct the attack
immediately against the rear-most troops
For this purpose. the main army broke un
IN the night between the Ist and I'd of Nav.
from Notha and Borna, in two columns, and
pushed forward as far as the deGle of the
Eister, IN the vicinity of Pegau. General
Won Wipzingerodc received orders TO mask
tins operation, 70 leave his posts CT cavalry
standing, and to unite himself with the mai5
army by tie way Of Swenkau.
TT break OF day all the. troops passed the
detiie OF the Elster near Fegan, and drew I'm
IN order of battle on the left bank of the Eli
stei, with their right wing TO the village Of
Werben, and their left to that of Gruna
by accommodating, we discovered that the
enemy's main body already extended beyond
WelSsente!s, to the village ofSSrossG orschen,
Klein Cor >cten, Rahno, Starsiedel, and Lu,
zen. The enemy did not venture 20 ATTEMPT
disturbing our march, nor to go before Us in
20 the plain, but took his position Ia the vii
iage between Gross Gorschen and Starsie-
del
About % o'clock at noon gen. Butcher re-
ceived o. deTS, as commanding the van guard
OF the army, and supported by a part OF the
Russian artillery, to attack the enemy. Tie
attack was made on the village of Gross Gors-
chen, which was obstinatciy defended by the
enemy. 1t was taken by storm. General
forcS marched with his corps to the right
ot the village. The whole army wheeled 10
the right, and presently after the baltic be-
came general along the Whole line of Blu
cher'S corps. The enemy at the same time
presented numerous artillery, chiefly of
heavy callIbre, and the Are of musketry in
the villages was kept up with great yivaci.
ty for sevt raj hours.
In this murdercus battle the villages Of
Klein GorSehen ard Rhano, as likewise the
village OF Gross Gorschen, we're mea rly taken
by storm, and with une xa,b pied bravery and
Kept possession of for several llonre. At
length the enemy returned in considerable
force surrounded, and in part rctook these
Vniages but on the attack being renewed,
was not able 10 retain possession of them.
=
alter a most obstinate combat Of an hour and
an half those villages were again retaken
from the enemy, and remained in our Dos
session. During this time the corps of gen.
On the LETT wing, and the CORPS
OF Gen. Yorck, with part of the Russian
troops under Gen. Berg, had taken share
10 the battle. We stood opposed to the en-
envy at the distance of 100 PAGES, and one of
Tile most bloody battles became general.
Our reserves had drawn nearer the field |
OF battle to be in readiness wherever need
tul, and thus was the battle Continued till |
near O'Clock in the evening. During its |
Course, The villages on the left wing weie |
likewise several times taken and retaken by |
both parties. At Z o'clock the enemy APP |
peaTed with new corps on our right wing |
before Gross and Klien Gorschcn--probabIy |
With the VicerSy's army made brisk at |
tack on US and endeavOred to tear from us |
nc advantages We had gained.
Ihe infantry OF part Of the Russian re- |
serve vas now brought forward to the right |
wing, to the support ofgeDeral Yorck's corps.
which was briskly attacked and the most |
desperate engagement lin which the Rus. !
'ian artillery during the whole remaining |
lime greatly distinguished itself, as did the |
corps OF forck, Butcher and Winzingerode. |
the whole day. was now continued till nigh |
came oD. The enemy had likewise again !
attacked our centre and the villages with
great bJIskness, but we maintained our DO |
sitlsn| In this situation night put an end TO