Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-17
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
.fnsrper Of the Duke of Ragnsa to the Froclar,a-
ton, dated CtLph Of Jlan, March l, 1915.

tiot,, dated Gnbph Of Juan, March 1, 1915.
An odious accusation is brought against me in
the face of all Europe, and whatever may be the
marks of passion and improbabiiity which bears,
my honor compels me TO reply to it. What here
offer is not classification, of which have no need:
It is faithful exposition of facts, which will
able every one to appreciate the conduct have
pursued.
lam accused ofhaving delivered up Paris to
foreigners, when the defence of that city was the
object of general astonsh,nent Il was with
some miserable remains that 1 had to combat
against all the collected forces Of the allied ar
mes; 1t was IN positions hastily taken, where
no defence had been prepared, and with 5000
men, that resisted for eight hours, $4,000, who
were successfully engaged against me and it is
military feet OF such sort, honorable to all
engaged an it, that has been audaciously charg-
ed treason.
After the affair at Rheims, the Emperor Napo-
Icon operated on the Marine with almost all HIS
forces, and gave himself up to the illusion that
his movements, threatening the communication
OF the enemy, the latter would retreat while, on
the contrary, the enemy resolved, after having
Sorned the junction of the Silesian army with the
grand army, to march upon PARIS My weak ar
my-corps, composed Of $500 infantry, and 500
horse, and that of the duke Of Treviso, amount
ing 10 from . to 1000 men, were left upon the
Risne, to keep in check the army of Silesa, only
separated from US by that river, and which, after
the junction of Bulow's corps, and various rein
forcements, amounted to more than so thousand
men, The enemy's army passed the Nsne, and
forced us to fail back MY Instructions being to
cover Paris, We retired upon Fismes; and the
duke of 1revso and myself adopted a system of
operations, which without compromising us, was
calculated to retard the march of the enemy -
tins was, by taking up successfully strong posi-
tons which the enemy could not attack without
accommodating or without manGuvreing to turn
them; course which thus prepared us the means
OF beating some Embellishments. Orders ar
rived Tor our proceeding by forced marches upon
Cnalons- We executed them but on reaching
Vertus, we were informed that the greater part
OF tie enemys army occupied Chalons, while an-
otner division d~bouched upon Eperray; and
tnat hhests corps, which had followed US, was
Passing The MaTne at Chateau Thierry. Learning
at the same tune, that Napoleon was still before
Fltry, ard had a rear-gusrd az Sommonpuis, we
marched without losing moment to Join him,
and on the Oath March, took aposition at Soude
! still thought the French army at hand for who,
IN reality, could have believed in the passage of
the Marine without bridge and that the EIo-
peror Napoleon would have left, between Paris and
himself forces elghtfold more considerable than
ne could collect? On the morning oe The l25th,
had scarcely learned the Certainty of this move
ment, when The whole enemy's army debouched
upon me. Iretired cannonading the enemy, and
the whole retreat would have been made with die
sarne order, had not some troops, which nnfortu-
natcly remained at Busyl'Estree and Valsy, thus
found themselves in our rear: it become ncces-
sary to wait for them an hour at Somnaesous,
ana maintain ourselves against enclosed forces,
whose numbers were constantly Increasing the
passage of the deiles cost us some losses, and we
terminated the day by taking position on the
heights of Aliement, close to Sezanne do not
speak at all Of the division of General Pacthod
which III pursuance ofdirect orders from the EN-
peror, manGuvred on his account, fell in with the
enemy's army, and was taken, without my know
ing even of its existence
Early next day we took position at the defle
ofTnrneloup The enemy coming up, we CONT
nued Our retreat, and formed the rear-elard. -
Having arrived in the evening before La Ferre
Saucher, we found the corps of Kliest occupying
the town, with cavalry on the great road of Cou-
lomme rs, while another large corps of cavalry
extended beyond the left ofthe enerny's army-
Ourpcsition was critical, it was almost desperate.
We got out Of it By an unexpected piece of good
fJrtune. Some fthe Duke of Treviso's troops
covered our movement from the corps of Rliest ;
an heroic defence OF my troops in the village OF
Montis, stopped the enemy's advanced guard
night cameon, and we effected our movement
without any loss. As we could no longer resume
the route of Meaax we took that of Charenton
and in the evening ofthe 2otb, we occupied Cha.
fenton, ST. Maude and Cbsronne.
The Duke of Treyiso was charged with the de.
fence Of Paris Gom the Canal TO the Seine, and
myself from the Canal 20 the Marne NV troops
we're reduced TO 2,4O0 infantry 8. 800 horse. Thi.
was the handful ofmen ti,ot had escaped after .
multitude ofg.orious cornbats. The troops com
manded By Gen Compass were placed under nv
orders they consisted ofsome detachments from
various depots, ofyetersn5 and troops of ever,
kind, who had been collected rather TO make =
shew than to fight, then all my forces consisted
Off, 40Dinfantry, OF 10 different battalions. and
about 100 horse. At day break, reached the
heights Of Beleyile, from thence FASTENED to
waIds those OF Romainville, which were the Ike,
Of the position, and which Gen Compans. on re
tiriug from Claye had omitted to occupy but tho
enemy was already there, and it is within enc
wood of Romalnville tbat the battle commented
The enemy extended himself on the right and
LETT he was every where checked and repulsed
but his numbers were constantly increasing. SIEVE
rai infantry charges had taken place and a mum
Der Of soldiers had been killed at my side will
TIE bayonet, At the entrance of the village of Belle
vile, when Joseph sent me an authority in writ
ing 10 capitulate, which authorityI SIN have II
my possession. This was at ten o'clock a
eleven Joseph was already far from Paris
md AT O'Clock 7 was still fighting but at thai
hour having long had tie whole ofmy force en-
gagged, and ob3erving that there wcresthl twcnt,
thousand men, about to enter fresh into line, i
sent different officers TO Prince Schwartzenbere
n acquaint him that I was ready to enter into ar
rangenents Only one Of my officers could reacl
him, and certainly had not cent him too soon