The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-01-07
STA AGAIN.

we are constrained 10 repeat, creoNa0ie 10 Inc
author and to the Magazine.
We come next 10 the great battle OF Borodi
no, fought OF the 9TH September, 1872. That
battle, il must be recolected, was fought with
in six marches of Moscow, for the preserva-
ton OF that city, which was considered an OBJ
ect Of the greatest importance by every Rus
sian, from the Emperor Alexander himself,
down to the most humble serf in his doninions.
1t was TO be expected, therefore, that they
would put forward all their strength on the
occasion, and would maintain their position
with all that obstinacy which usually inspires
brave inen fighting on their own ground tor
the preservation Of their affairs and their fire.
sides. The foice which they brought TO bear
has been variously stated. Segur, whose book
seems 70 have been written for the purpose OF
stigmatising the French army, and exalting
the Russians, says they had l2l, men,
Ros,opchin, on the other hand, admits that
there were $4,000 on the field That there
were vastly more than that, all things taken
into consideration, cannot admit Of q Doubt
The war with Turkey was over-ihe forces IN
uiEGCIlUu were UieoilB AioCA Pfo
found tranquility reigned in the interior, and
throughout the provinces-ihe campaign had
actually opened more than month before
Alexander had been preparing for IT tor twelve
months. Is it possible TO believe that such an
empire as Russia, even at that day inferior IN
military organization only TO France, with q
population of SO, 100000 lin Europe,) with an
absolute monarch who could force every man
in his dominions to take up arms, could have
depended for the preservation OF her capital,
to which all Russia attached degree OF inn
portance absolutely superstitious, upon force
only few hundred greater than that by which
il vas to be attacked? The thing is incredi-
BILE, end j, depends for its place in Allison's
history, solely upon the romance OF Segur,
who calling himself the comrade of the SOL
diers of the Grand Army, was nothing more
than Quarter Master of the Palace-who saw
no service during the canpagn-who did not
even know on which wing the battle under
consideration was fought-who always finds
praise for the Russians, but never any for the
French-who was cRe Of those vile traitors
that in 1914, deserted the Emperor, who had
loaded MIN with benefts-and who wrote this
book to curry favor with the B0urbons, and TO
glorify the Count de Ro2topchin, whose son
married his niece. With much greater ap-
pearance of truth, Napoleon, in his memoirs,
written at ST. Helena, stated the Russian force
at l70, 00G. A writer in the New York Cou.
rier and Enquirer, evidently a man of talents,
and said by the editors TO be man of charac-
ter likewise, about four years ego, stated that
he had, himself through the interest OF gen.
tleman high in authority in Russia, been allow
ed access TO the records Of the Russian War
Office, and had obtained from the muster rolls
a kutusof's army, an exact transcript of
the number of men who fought at Borodno.-
That number, he SAYS, was upwards of $780,
00e, and we have not the slightest suspicion
tina, il was overstated. 1t corresponds, indeed,
very nearly with the statement made by Ma
poleon to DIR. O'Mearo. In that statement,
made, il is true, in a casual conversation, the
Russians are estimated at 25O0Q0 men. II
was fashionable, at one time, TO sneer at the |
statements made in this quarter. In every
instance in which it has been possible 10 test
them, they have been triumphantly su stained.
Napoleon marched upon Moscow from wilma
with 100000 men-he lef, 10000 at inferno.
diate points along his line, and at Borodino
mustered for battle little upwards of 1I9,00O
men. Whatever may have been their numbers,
the Russians we're enueuched upon heights,
themselv es very difficult of access, up to their
chins; they had another line of heights, equal
ly strong, direct thy in their rear, and this for
midable position was defended by 1000 pieces
OF cannon, many of their guns of the very
heaviest calibre then in use. Ii we were 10
say that the Americans are incontestably the
best soldiers in the world. we very much fear
that, out of America, we should not he believ.
ed. Yet we are convinced that 120, 600 Anne
rican troops, posted as these were, commanded
by such men as Brown, Scott and Jackson,
could not be driven from their position BY any
force whatever, let il be as large, as brave, and
as ably commanded as it might. Yet The Rus
slams we're beaten, and being beaten, lost not
only their field of battle, but Moscow, which
its governor burned to save il from the enemy
The triumph of the French army, on that &C.
easion, we regard as the most extraordinary
exploit Of which there is any record in history.
Flow such historians as Allison and Segur can
venture to lavish praise upon the conduct of
the Russians, who, in seven hours lost posi-.
hon which they ought 10 have maintained FOR
seven years, il necessary, we have always
found il impossible TO understand.
The loss Of the French, on the occasion, has
been prodigieusly exaggerated, as was every
thing else connected with this campaign, for
the simple reason that the history of il fell into
the hands Of those who were interested in ira.
ducing Napoleon and his army. The rene.
gade Segur, who probably never saw the field.
puts il down at 10000. The absolu,js, AM |
son, without the slightest authority beyond . |
Russian military memoir, swels the numb,
to 5000. 10 the ST. Helena Memoirs !, :
said to have been less ,han 200 600, opd tbs
comedies With every thing that happened az
forwards. This same renegade ssgur saws
that the Russians los, bu, $4,000 men. His