Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-04

AosVSV tneNs uus diseases, long marches, q
battles had reduced them to 5000. OF these
SCARCELY one thousand FIVE hundred effected
their escape under favor of the wood and
the darkness
Gen. Bluchesr remained at his head quar-
tiers at Vertus. where he was q witness to tho
disasters of this part of his army. without
power to apply any remedy. Not man q
the guard was. engaged, with the exception
OF Two OF the four squadrons ofthe guard of
service, who behaved themselves vai;an lv
The cairassiers of the first corps Of cavalry.
Showed the rarest intrepidity. At eiyht
O'Clock in tue evening general Nansouty,
having debnuched upon the highway, re
paired to Montmiraii witt generals Caibert
and l.aierrieres divisions of the cavalry of
guard, and possessed himself of the town,
with 500 Cossacs who occupied it.
On the 18th. az five in the morning, gen
eral Goyot's division OF cavalry also repair
ed to Montmirail. Several divisions OF IN
fantry were retarded in their movements by
being obliged to wait for their artillery
The roads from Seanne to Champ Aubcr0
are shocking Oar artillery could only
fire by The resolution of the art,Ilerists, and
by means of the assistance furnished with
eagcrness by the inhabitants. who brought
their own horses.
The battle of Champ Aubert, where a
:.
part OF the Russian army was destroyed,
did not costus more than two handred men
killed and wounded. The general Of divi~
sion connt Lagrange is among the latter :he
was slightly wounded an the head.
On the lith, at ten in the morning. the
emperor arrived within half a league in adj
vance OF Mon.miraii. General Nansouty
was in position with the cavalry of the
guard, and held in check S4cken's army,
which began to shew itself Apprised of
the disaster of a part of the Russian army,
this general had quilted Ferte, under-Sou,
anc. on the tenth, at nine O'Clock in the e
veuing. and marched all night. General
York had in like manner Quilted Chat
can Thierry. At eleven, on the morning of
he 1ith nc began to form, and every thing
tforetold the battle of Montmirail, of which
the event was 80 Important. The duke OF
kagusa (Marmont) with his corps and the
hrst corps OF cavalry. had pushed his head
quarters toEtoges, on the Chalons roa,I.-
The division of Ricart and the old guard ar
rived at ten O'clock in the morning, The
emperor ordered the prince of Moskqua
| (Ney) to seize the village of Marchais,
where the enemy seemed inclined to de
Oouche. sSN
Ibis village was defended by the brave
division OF general Bicart,with a rare firm
ness 1t was taken and retaken repeatedly
during the day.
AZ noon the emperor ordered general
Nansouty to repair to the right, cutting off
the road OF Chateau Thierry, aud formed
tue sixteen battallions of the first division of
| the old gua-d under the command of gen.
| eia' rriant, IN single column along the
road, every column Of battalion 100 PAGES
apart.
During this time our batteries of artillery
successfully returned.
AT three O'Clock, the duke of ,rreviso
eMortier) with the sixteen battalions of the
second division of the old guard, which start
ed ~ the meriiiSg rom Sesame, debcuched
on Mont;niraii, The emperor was tesirous
OF waiting the arrival of the other di .isicns !;
out nigaL was approaching. lie directed
geherai rriant to march wish fodr battaiions
~ the oi,i gnard, two OF the second regi
copd regt OF chasseurs on the farm of f.ts-
pine-aux bois (the Thorn in the Woodsl
which was the key of the position. and to
carry 1t. The duke of Treviso (Mortier)
repaired with SIX ba,talions Of the second
d'vlsIon OF the old guard to the right of gene
raj Friant's attack. The success of the day
depended on the position of the farm of th,.
Thorn IN the Woods The enemy was n
ware oft. He had placed 10 pieces of can
non there. He had lined the hedges with
triple rows of sharp shooters, Supported in
the rear by masses of infantry. inthe mean
while, in order to facilitate this attack the
emperor ordered general Nansouty tn ex.
tend himself on the right. which struck the
enemy with an apprehension of beng chr off
and oohged nm to weaken part of his CEN
ire thar he might sustain his right. AT the
same moment re ordered general Ricart to
yieid a part OF the village of Marchajs. which
induced the enemy further to weaken his
Centre, IN order to reinforce the attack there
on the success of Wick he relied for ea;nirr
inc battle. AS soon as general Friant had
oesah MS movement, aid the enemy had
weakened his centre. shat he might take adj
vansi-Se oil an appearance of success. which
ne supposed real, general Friant dared ~,
me farm Oh the iborn-in>the Woods. with The
Iour oattaliiors of the old guard. Ihey
charged the enemy, which had an effect on
nun Ike Medusa's head. The princr of
MosKqua (Ney) marched first and led The
way u honor. The sharp shooters fell bach
III panic upou the masses of infantry. which
were attacked. The artillery being able To
pay no longer, the musketry then became
.eT'loie, ana SUCCESS was balanced bur i. an
instant general Goyot, at the head of the f;rs.
Laacers, the old dragons and the old pren
au'ers OF tue imperial guard, dcii,ing thro'
we great road at long trot, and with cries
OF Long Gve The emheror Z" passed on the
fiSht OF the Haute, Epine (HIsh Thorn.) fell
on the rear OF the masses of infantry. broke
them' threw them into disorder, and KILLED