Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-02-12

battle or maintain a position, We must
march. not to be forced TO a battle, which
the want Of artillery aud cavalry prevent.
ed US from wIshing-we must occupy a
certain space o to be turned, and that
without cavalry which protects and unites
the columns. These difficulties, toge.
Their with excessive cold, rendered our
situation distressing. Men whom ma.
rure had not gifted with that fortitude
which places them above the frowns of
fortune, appeared alarmed, lost their
gaiety, their good humor, and saw no.
thing before them but misfortunes and
catastfophies; those whom she had crea-
ted superior to every thing, preserved
their gaiety and ordinary and
saw a new glory in the various difficult.
ties they had to surmount.
The enemy who saw on the roads the
tracks Of this awful calamity which at.
tended the French army, sought to pro-
fit by it. hey filed up all their columns
with Cossscks, who carried off. like the
Arabs in the des,rts, the carriages aud
train that were lost. This contemplate
cavalry, who make nothing but noise, and
is not capable of breaking one company
OF voltigeurs, render themselves formi.
dable by favor of circumstances. Not
wlthstanding the enemy had reason to re.
pent OF all the serious enterprises which
they undertook. They were beaten by
the Vice King and lost many men. The
duke Elchingen, who with three thou.
sand men, composed the rear guard, and
scaled the ramparts of Smole nsk. He
was SURF ounded and found himself IN a
critical situation-he extricated himself
with that intrep:dity which distinguishes
him. After having kept the enemy at a
distance the whole of the 18th, and con
stantly repulscd them, he made a move.
ment at night by the right flank. passed
the b~orystenes, and disappointed all the
calculations of the enemy. The 18th
the enemy passed the Borystenes at Ora,
and the Russian army fatigued after hav.
Ing lost many men, gave over this enter.s
prlze.-The army of Volhynie had
marched since the 10th upon Minsk, and
was going against Borisow. General
Dombrowski defended the head of the
bridge OF Borisow with 5000 men. The
Esd they were attacked and forced to eva.
cuate that position. The enemy then
passed the Beresina MARCHING upon Boil,
the division of Lambert composing the
van guard ; the second corps command
ed by the duke OF Reggie, who was at
Icherein, had received orders to ad-
vance to B~orisow, to insure the passage !
OF Bcresina. The Gath the duke of Reg.
gio encountered the division of Lambert,
4 leagues from Borisow, attacked and
beat them, made 1000 prisoners, took 6
pieces OF cannon, 500 Wagons Of the
baggage of Vethynies army, and drove
the enemy to the right bank of the Bere.
sina. General besthier, with the 4sh
cuirasieurs, distinguished himself by a
handsome charge, the enemy only saved
themselves by burning the bridge, which
was more than 900 toises long.
Nevertheless the enemy occupied all
the passages of the Beresina, this river is
40 toises broad, the ice was such that car.
riages might pass over, bur its borders
are coveredwith marshes 800 toises long
and which renders it difficult obstacle to
overcome. The enemy's general had
placed his four divisions in different passes
when he supposed the French army would
attempt a. passage. The goth at day
break the emperor after having deceived
the enemy by divers movements made on
the 2sth, marched against the village of
Ssudziance and caused likewise W.
bridges to be thrown over the river, not.
withstauding a division of the enemy were
opposed. The duke of Reggie passed,
attacked the enemy and kept them enga-
ged two hours. The enemy retired to
the head of the bridge of Borisow. Ge-
neral Legrand az officer of the srst merit
was severely but not dangerously wound.
ed, the army passed on the 26th and 27th.
The duke Belluna commanding the 9Th
corDs had received order IN ~folJovx shS