which compelled us to arm, and to assemble our troops; though stil!, while we could flatter ourselves with the hope of reconciliation, we remained within the confines of our empire; and without violating peace, were prepared for defence. All these moderate and pacific measures could not secure to us the tranquillity of which we were desirous. The French Emperor, by an attack upon our troops at Kowno, has already commenced war; consequently nothing farther remains for us, but, while we invoke the aid of the Sovereign of the Universe, the Author and Defender of Truth, to place our force in opposition to the force of the enemy, it is unnecessary to remind our Generals, our Chiefs, and Warriors, of their duty, and of their valour. In their veins flows the blood of the Sclavonians, so highly renowned of old for their victories. Soldiers! you are the defenders of religion, your country, and independence. I am with you. God is on your side."

The efforts which Alexander had determined on making were not the sudden movements of disappointment with respect to the conduct of the French Ruler, or the struggles of Russia, driven to resistance when submission seemned to lead to nothing short of destruction. The Russian Court appears for a long period to have foreseen, that actual hostility, and another appeal to arms, could alone preserve the independence and stability of the empire; yet, wishing to prevent the effusion of blood, and touched by the woes of suffering humanity, it procrastinated the day of the explosion until its dignity could no longer endure the compromise ;- until its integrity and safety must have suffered by delay.-Even in the spring of the year 1811, the Russian Cabinet perceived that the tremendous crisis was inevitable; and was busily occupied in military preparations on the most extensive scale.-Cannon were secretly sent from the arsenal towards the frontiers.-The different battalions called "Garrison Regiments," were incorporated with the regular forces, and by the end of February in that year, no less than 200,000 men were quartered in the western provinces of that empire; while many of the more intelligent Generals, who commanded divisions of these troops, successively visited St. Petersburgh, under the pretext of arranging their private affairs, but in reality for the purpose of conferring with the Minister at War, on the state of their respective corps.-These measures were pursued with an increased activity after Russia was apprized of the incorporation of the Hans Towns, and particularly of the Duchy of Oldenburg, with France; the integrity of which latter state was guaranteed by the 12th and 15th articles of the Treaty of Tilsit.--These aggressions made the strongest impression on the mind of Alexander; yet though he saw the tendency of Buonaparte's ambitious designs, his Imperial Majesty did not immediately assume

that vigorous line of conduct he ought to have adopted.-Unfortunately, too, the feelings of Russia were still hostile to Turkey, and her finances were far from being in a prosperous condition. The Cabinet, however, lost no time in encouraging the manufacture of arms: 500,000 muskets, and 2,000 pieces of ordnance were rapidly finished, and ready for any disposable purpose: various fortifications were erected on the banks of the Dwina; and, upon the whole, the military preparations were much more formidable, and upon a larger scale, than those which preceded the wars of 1805 and 1807.-The organization, too, of the forces was changed.The cavalry, which used to be attached to the different divisions of infantry, were separated from them.-The infantry of the line consisted of twenty-eight divisions, of six regiments each; and every regiment contained three battalions of 600 effective men; forming a total of 302,400 infantry.-The cavalry were composed of seven divisions, of forty squadrons each, every squadron of 142 effective men, amounting in the whole to 39,760, besides 50,000 Cossacks, making together a force of 392,100 men.-From this enumeration be deducted nine divisions; two of them were to be employed against the Persians, five against the Turks, and two were to continue in Finland, by way of precaution.-There then remained 294,960 men which Russia could in the year 1811 have opposed to France, exclusively of the militia; for arming which latter force there were a sufficient number of military depôts well provided, and situated in convenient places for the distribution of arms and stores.

may

As a further proof that the Russian Cabinet considered a war with France unavoidable, and was determined to resist the unwarrantable pretensions and encroachment of that power, it may be recollected that a positive refusal was given to the demand of the French Minister, with respect to the adoption of the burning decrees, notwithstanding his repeated instances on that subject by the command of Buonaparte: nor must it be forgotten that the Russian Government permitted the sale of all British manufactures, and even took measures to prevent the entrance of many articles usually imported from France, to the great detriment of French commerce, especially that of Lyons. As, therefore, it is evident that Russia was aware it would be necessary to have recourse to hostilities with France, and as she had a full year and a half for augmented preparation, her warlike means were daily strengthened; and she omitted no opportunity of calling into action every energy she possessed to confront the danger with which she had been so long threatened; to com

mence a struggle, not for honour and happiness alone, but for her liberty, her religion, and her existence.

The French troops crossed the Elbe and Oder in the month of February 1812, and directed their march towards the Vistula:Corps under the French Generals Ney, Oudinot, Macdonald, Poniatousky, crossed the Niemen almost at the same time by Juburg, Kowno, Olito and Merecy. On the 22d of April the Emperor of Russia quitted St. Petersburgh, took the command of his army, and moved his head-quarters to Wilna.—In the commencement of May the first corps arrived on the Vistula at Elbing and Marienburg; the second corps at Marienwerder; the third corps at Thorn; the fourth and sixth at Plock; the fifth corps assembled at Warsaw; the eighth corps on the right of Warsaw; and the seventh corps at Pulawy.-Buonaparte left Paris on the 9th of May, crossed the Rhine on the 13th, the Elbe on the 29th, and the Vistula on the 6th of June.

At the commencement of hostilities the Russian army was posted in the following manner.-The 1st corps, commanded by the Prince Wittgenstein, consisting of the 5th and 14th divisions of infantry, and one division of cavalry, at Chawli.-It afterwards occupied Rossiena, and was, on the 24th of June, at Reydanoui.The second corps, commanded by General Baggawort, consisting of the 4th and 17th divisions of infantry, and one division of cavalry, occupied Kowno.-The 3d corps, commanded by General Schomoaloff, composed of the 1st division of grenadiers, of one division of infantry, and one division of cavalry, occupied NovTrocki.-The 4th corps, commanded by General Tutschkoff, composed of the 11th and 23d divisions of infantry, and one division of cavalry, was stationed on the line from Nov-Trocki to Lida.-The imperial guards were at Wilna.--The 6th corps, commanded by General Doctoroff, consisting of two divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, had formed a part of the army of Prince Bagrathion, and lay at the end of June between Lida and Grodno.-The 5th corps, under Prince Bagrathion, composed of the 2d division of grenadiers, of the 12th, 18th, and 26th divisions of infantry, and two divisions of cavalry, was at Wolkowisk: and the 9th and 15th divisions of infantry, and a division of cavalry, commanded by General Markow, was at the extremity of Volhynia.

As soon as the enemy commenced hostile operations, the evacuation of Wilna was determined upon by the Emperor Alexander, in pursuance of a system of retreat which should encrease the difficul

ties of the French army, in point of supplies, by drawing them further into the empire, and with a view of avoiding a premature general battle. When the Russians reached Autokol the advanced Polish and French squadrons of cavalry entered Wilna, and on the 28th of June, Buonaparte arrived at that place. The point of concentration, for the Russian armies, was necessarily at some distance from the frontiers: pursuant to this disposition all the advanced corps fell back to occupy positions allotted to them. The corps of Count Wittgenstein to Wilkomir; General Baggshufuridt to Shewrink betwixt Wilkomir and Wilna; Gens. Tutshkoff and Shewaloff near to Wilna; the reserve, consisting of the guards, near to Schevenzen; the army of Prince Bagrathion was on its march from Slernivte-Wileika; and Gen. Tormasoff with an army of observation at Lutzk. The Russian armies continued daily to concentrate themselves, and in consequence of their plan of the campaign, Buonaparte was compelled to alter his first dispositions, which served no other purpose than to produce useless marches: the Russians had avoided on all occasions to give the enemy battle where it appeared likely to be attended with advantage to him, and by acting upon this principle their views were completely acccomplished.

On the left bank of the Vilia the Russians were followed by the French General Bruyeres, and some skirmishing took place, but of little importance; and on the right bank of that river a body of Cossacks were made prisoners in a charge of the Polish light horse. On the 25th of June, the Duke of Reggio crossed the Vilia by a hridge thrown over near Kowno; and on the 26th, marched upon Javon; the 27th, on Chatoni. This movement had obliged the Prince of Wittgenstein to evacuate Sanwgitia and the country lying between Kowno and the sea, and to retire upon Wilkomir, after obtaining a reinforcement of two regiments of guards. The following day the Russians were drawn up opposite Develtovo, when a cannonade commenced and they were obliged to pass the bridge with precipitation, and on the 4th of July, the Duke of Reggio entered Avana; the King of Naples, Swentzianoui; and the Duke of Elchingen, Maliatoui. On the 7th of July, the head-quarters of the Russian army were near Akasma. The corps of Count Wittgenstein at Breslaw, the 2d and 3d corps at Dedin, the 4th at Mawloky, the 5th at Melaschi, the 6th at Noragiodi; and on the 11th of July, their positions were as follows:-the corps of Count Wittgenstein at Rimshan, the corps under Generals Baggawort, Tutchkoff,