Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1831-04-21

10 the CauitHl. excepting those Of Minsk and
Pultusl<i. nresent n continued succession Ot
narrow deIiles. aff0rding numerous facilities
for defence. but opposing great obstacles e'tn-
er to the advance Of large Masses the trans-
port Of artillery or the deplOyment ut cavalry
"The favorable nature Of the ground was
ably taken advantage Of by the enemy. Their
maneuvers were skiIfulIy combined and
braveIy executed, their post and batteries Ju
diciOusly disposed, their artillery well served,
and their patrols conducted with energy and
address. Thus the movements cor recOnnOis-
sances Of the Field Marshal were either anti
cipated or could only be effected with force.
:" The recOnnOissances Of the 9th and goth.
Intended as mere demonstrations, were resist
ed by the enemy and led TO the bloody COM
hat of the first, and the less serious affair OF
the second day. On both these occasions
the perseverance and courage of our troops.
supported by the Gre Of our numerous artiIle-
ry, Iriumphcd over every difficulty. Not
withstandng the desperate resistance of the
enemy, vs. no disputed the ground inch by inch,
we succeeded 10 driving him back with heavy
loss, asd on the night of the goth established
ourselves in front of Milosna. to the right and
left of the Mihsk road, covered by the woods
between Groch0f Snd Kavenczyn.
"The heat Of the battle Of the 10th was
! confined, during the early part Of the day, to
! our left. Count PahIen's -Sdranced guard,
consisting of a brigade of light iafantry. re-
giment Of Yagers. and two regiments of light
cavalry. had scarcely cleared the deh!e near
GrOchOw, when it was attacked by two d.
visions IF infantry, two divisions Of cavalry,
and 40 guns, and after brave resistance was
compelled to retreat two miles. A sImulta-
neOus but less vigorous attack was made up
on the advanced guard Of Gen. Rosen, advan.
cling by the road from Okanief on our right.
Upon the arrival of the Field Marshal on the
ground, he directed Gen. Toll to reinforce
Count Pahlen with several battallions and 90
guns, and it was evidently the enemy's inten-
ton to endeavor to prevent the junction of
our right and left wings. The Field Marshal
placed himself at the head Of the second d.
vision of infantry and division of cavalry,
add led the latter On 10 person to the charge.
The fortune of the battle now turned in our
favor, the enemy began t" give way, our
troops rapidly advanced at 4 O'Clock the
junction between our wings was effected,
general forward movement took place, and
the enemy was driven 10 every direction from
the field Of battle.
Those advantages were not gained without
serious loss on our side. Nearly $500 men
were put hors dw combat. Generals Snchos-
anet, commanding the artillery, Vlasoff. COM
manding the Cossacks. and Affromissoff, with
Col. BOdesko, and many officers are wound
cd. Three Of our guns were dismonnted
and an equal number rendered useless fur the
moment by the enemy. who. in spite of
murderous fire Of grape and nusketry, rush
ed to the mouths Of our cannon, and succeed
ed 10 spiking three pieces. The loss of the
enemy is not known. Five hundred prisoners
fell into our hands; amongst them L;euten-
ant Colonel Kiverneski, formerly command
er "f the regiment Of Grenadier Guards.
| On the 2lst. cad, and esd, no hOstiIities
| took place. The army was occupied in flank
movements, cutting abbattes, throwing up en-
trenchments, and preparing passages for the
movement of artillery. This was done with
Il view Of securing an en,renchpd position, in
the event Ofihe army meeting with IA reverse
in the general action, which it was the Field
Marshai's intention to provoke. as soon as he
could be joined by fresh supplies of ammuni
lion and the division Of grenadiers Of Prince
SChachafsk"i.
On the Esd Schachafskoi reached Sterock,
when his advanced brigade crossed the Bug.
and marched by Zcgry ON Nierporent. On
detachment Of the enemy near Bai(olenka.
and after an obstinate and fierce encounter,
drove it back. and pursued its route TO com
bine itself with the centre Of the army. The
Sd corps of cavalry had been despatched by
the Field Marshal from the left 10 facilitate
the man9uvers Of the grenadiers. The loss
ON both sides in this short but desperate affair
was severe.
"The enemy having discovered the object
Ofthcse movements, again attacked the corps
! Of Schacha fskO, at day break on the 25th, in
order to cut off its junction; consequently,
the Field Marshal, who had not intended to
bring on a general action until the 26lh, gave
immediate orders for a general attack. Our
columns. whose formations were masked by
the woods. advanced upon the enemy. who
occupied an admirable position in front of
Praga-their right resting on the rivulct run
ming through GrOchOf, their centre covered nv
the wood which stands 10 the north of the
Minsk road, and their left extending to the
swamps near Bialole nka.
"The disposition ofour army on this morn
ing WAS nearly as follows.
Head quarters, Milosna General Rosen
upon the right and right centre; the division
of grenadiers moving by their left to f!l UP
the centre. IN front Of the reserves of the
CzarOwitch General Pahlen ON the left. to
the north and south Of the Minsk road the
cavalry Of General Witt on the TANKS Of the
centre; General Geismar's cavalry on the ex-
IRENE left. near the Visiula.
"The hattie frst commenced by a brigade
of Gen. Rosrn's corps. which was directed to
threaten the enemy's extreme left, hist an
other brigade moved Dpon the wood in bis
centre, which, from its being travrrsed by a