Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-04
FOREIGN.
1ransiaftd from the Pari. lMonise.y.

p3'Bh, nave oeen eXregfously mistaken, a. 20
the sitaation OF our forces. We knox bow as
tonisbed Bsscher gas, when he was so prompt
u attacked BY the French, and expelled from
has general Quarters at Brisnne. He, indeed,
thought the emperor 10 be yet IN the palace Of
the Thuiiie-ics, whilst the Prussia1 and Russi-
al troops perceived but to- clearly the magic
elects o. his prr.eslce. That Affair, although
II astonishea the allies, did not lessen their
confidence. Deceived BY faIlzcious tales, tbey
Continued TO believe that We had only band.
ful OF men to oppose them; 50 great was the
security that the persuasion Of oar weakness
had inspired them with.
They were marching directly 10 Paris, with
two armies thu. I'D not even expect to meet the
slightest obstacle. The Russians and the
Prussians particularly, from the meznest soldier
to the general in chief, could mention the dzy,
hour and moment, Of the entrance into the ca
pital Had they not been perfect, ignorant of
the state OF our forces had not absolute si-
ience been faithfully kept by ever, body, whi7l.
concealed from them that the emperor had it
IN his power to take from his numerous army q
considerable detachment, to rush upon them
with the velocity of lightning, TO destroy hem
and without delay come back TO oppose the
progress OF their principal army-surely they
would not have had the temerity 60 await those
battles, by which they lost n four days all those
hopes that they had vaialy indulged themselves
IN, of arriving at PARIS. and nave rendered
them incapable OF hereafter attempting, With
the least probability of success, any enterprise
from which France may apprehend danger,
Their mistakes have not been confined To The
numbers OF our soldiers-tbeir ideas OF the
quality OF our army we're equally erroneous
uniaitbtui reports, such IS. they have been de-
ceiyed by for twenty years, such as Interested
aud corrupt mcn-haye used To mislead the con-
uncntal powers st every coaiiton formed A
gainst France, have made all Europe believe
that We had ma longer single corps of cur
old soldiers remaining.
Thus ill-iniorIued ofsthe e. nth, which n Wa
our interest to conceal from ihern, the coaiesc.
ed sovereigns have suffered themselves to be
carried headiong by IN imperious and in,oler.
ant opihion Propasated arousd their persons
and thuse princes, although perhaps disposed
o-.iste,, 10 moderate councillors, nave welded
TO calculations built upon mere supp osi.iou.
fhey have come to conquer US, rs though re
were people unprovided and unskiiled. En-
rope now knows the result OF their rasbness--
ana Camel fail to profit by the example, and
TO be convinced OF the necessity OF listening to
the voice oil reason, asd ascertannr the
truth
We can hardly have Just idea of the disc.
trous censeque noes which the errors adopted
by the enemy have occasioncd him. Hear his
Prisoners-they will Themselves give you the
secret OF their defeat. They believed thew had
but weak children to fight against--how were
they astonished and disconcerted when they
saw square battailions OF infantry ten thousand
strong, pierced and dispersed by brave men
who did not give them time to manoeuyre.
AT the sight Of the French marching unon
them with so much rapidity and courage.
they have recognized old soldiers, and have
teit themselves vanquishcd before fighting.
Ii will be the same hereafter with whatever
enemy may dare TO appear before Us. The
encmys army, certain of meeting no resis-
lance, generals, soldiers, all, looked az the
capital as sure prey. Now that defeat
has destroyed his illusions /; now that their
reireatiDg enemies have felt our supcr;oritv
by what artihce, by what new device. can
thu, enthusiasm which had been excited bv
hisLlasory hopes, be re- established When
once the moral of an army is weakened.
When it has no longer the confidence that
it had been inspired with, it requires length
OF time to re>estabiish it in it, former atti,
tude.
The enemy has exaggerated his forces
and means to the eyes OF his own soldiers.
this imprudcnt artihce turns now to his dis,
advantage. Zach individual of the allied
army will now reason thus -" Since wa
were SO numerous aud we experience
' such disastrous reverses, France then has
more people than was said, or her armies
consist OF old soldiers Since instead as
" taking Paris. we are retresting with
French bayonets at our backs, our gene
= rails have been mistaken in their caIcula-
!" tons. We had en- army eighty Thousand
. strong on our right: it is annihilated. and
we see The French army increasing inces-
san;ly-ii the people rise against us, as
they do already, we are undune we will
" at length be surrounded and extermiua,
ted"
The pledge Of victory is in those DISPOSE.
tions OF the enemy's soldiers, dispositions
known and felt by every one of ours. and
which add singular energy to their natural
intrepidity. This last truth leads ms 10
present TO our readers some other reflec !.
tions.
The emperor has concealed his forces a.
ven from the French, and has first successes
have thus had nsorc eclat, and his army IN,
a single day has acquired high opinion Of
its prowess. The emperor, who was &C.
quainted with all his resources. has, every
day, gradually developed them, aud cxten-
dcd hope throughout tina country. The en-.
pItal, guarded without the knowledge of the
nation, by sixty or eighty battalions distri.
outed round It, has been struck with adn,i-
ration. The view of so many thousands Of
/ their fellow Citizens Fastening through the
capital to the army. since the cmperor's de.
perture, has increased the confidence and
securiss o. The capital.
The army, on its side, has seen with en- /.
/ thusiasm myriads Of brave men coming 70