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support the flank of the enemy. Some corps drawn from the reserve, and placed under the orders of Lieutenant-General Kanovnitzin, were opposed to them. Here, towards evening, a combat commenced, which was likewise exceedingly obstinate, but the enemy was also completely repulsed at this point.

"Every thing was disposed for renewing the attack at sun-rise, and orders had been sent to General Miloradovitch, who with his whole corps was posted at Zeitz, to join the main army, and to be there at break of day; the presence of an entire fresh corps, with one hundred pieces of artillery, leaving no doubt as to the issue of the day. But towards morning, the enemy appeared to be moving towards Leipsic, always falling towards his rear-guard. This mode of refusing the challenge made for engaging, gave room to believe, that he would endeavour to manœuvre, either to move towards the Elbe, or on the communications of the combined armies. Under this supposition, it became necessary to oppose manœuvre against manœuvre, and, by occupying a commanding front between Colditz and Rothlitz, we immediately became possessed of every benefit of this kind, without, for such purpose, quitting too far the points for making an offensive attack. On this memorable day the Prussian army fought in a manner to fix the admiration of its allies; the King's Guards covered themselves with glory. Russians and Prussians rivalled each other in valour and zeal, under the eyes of the two Sovereigns, who did not, for a moment, quit the field of battle. The enemy lost sixteen cannon; and we have taken 1400 prisoners: not a single trophy has been conquered from the Allied Army; its loss, in killed and wounded, may amount to 8000 men; that of the French army is estimated at 12 or 15,000. Among the wounded are, the General of Cavalry, Blucher, and Lieutenant-Generals Kanovnitzin and Scharnhorst; their wounds are not dangerous. The enemy, having but few cavalry, endeavoured to get and keep possession of the villages, the ground of which was rugged and broken; consequently the day of the 20th of April (May 2) was a continual combat between the infantry. An uninterrupted shower of balls, bullets, grape-shot, and grenades, was kept up on the part of the French, during an action of ten hours."

Particular statement of the Battle at Gross-Gorschen on the

2d of May.

"On the 30th of April information was received at General Count Von Wittgenstein's head-quarters, of the greater part of the army

and the French guards, having crossed the Saale, in the vicinity of Naumburg. It was at the same time reported, that the Emperor Napoleon had arrived at the army. We observed that the Viceroy's army drew to the right. It was therefore clear that the enemy endeavoured by all means to form a junction, and that it was most probably his intention to give a general battle. His Majesty the Emperor Alexander, and his Majesty the King of Prussia, therefore went to their armies to animate the courage of the troops by their personal presence. But the better to be enabled to judge of the enemy's strength, a reconnoissance was undertaken with General Von Winzingerode's corps, from Leipsic, on the road to Weissenfels. This confirmed the intelligence received, of the enemy being there in considerable force. Upon this, a very severe engagement took place on the 1st of May, with the said corps, by which we were convinced that the main force of the enemy was in the vicinity of Weissenfels and Lutzen. It was believed that the Viceroy's position was between Leipsic and Halle, and consequently the enemy's plan for the battle was clearly apparent. Gen. Count Von Wittgenstein resolved on being before-hand with him, to obstruct him in his dispositions by a bold attack, and to restrain his offensive operations. It was necessary in this attempt to make it our main object, immediately to fall on such part of his force as was, on his side, considered to be the best troops; in order, after such a stroke, to give larger space for the operations of our flying corps, over whom the enemy had latterly acquired a superiority. Therefore it was requisite, if possible, to direct the attack immediately against his rear-most troops. For this purpose the main army broke up in the night between the 1st and 2d of May, from Notha and Borna, in two columns, and pushed forward as far as the defile of the Elster, in the vicinity of Pegau. General Von Winzingerode received orders to mask this operation, to leave his posts of cavalry standing, and to unite himself with the main army by the way of Zwenkau.

"At break of day all the troops passed the defile of the Elster, near Pegau, and drew up, in order of battle, on the left bank of the Elster, with their right wing to the village of Werben, and their left to that of Gruna.. By reconnoitring, we discovered, that the enemy's main body already extended beyond Weissenfels, to the villages of Gross-Gorschen, Klein Gorschen, Rahno, Starsiedel, and Lutzen. The enemy did not venture to attempt disturbing our march, nor to get before us into the plain, but took his position in the village between Gross-Gorschen and Starsiedel.

"About 12 o'clock at noon, Gen. Blucher received orders, as commanding the vanguard of the army, and supported by a part of the Russian artillery, to attack the enemy. The attack was made on the village of Gross-Gorschen, which was obstinately defended by the enemy. It was taken by storm.

Gen. Yorck marched with

The whole army wheeled to

his corps to the right of the village. the right, and presently after the battle became general along the whole line of Blucher's corps. The enemy, at the same time, displayed a numerous artillery, chiefly of heavy calibre, and the fire of musketry in the villages was kept up with great vivacity for several hours. In this murderous battle the villages of KleinGorschen and Rhano, as likewise the village of Gross-Gorschen, were early taken by storm, and with unexampled bravery, and kept possession of for several hours. At length the enemy returned in Considerable force, surrounded, and in part retook these villages; but on the attack being renewed, was not able to retain possession of them. The Prussian Guards moved forward, and, after a most obstinate combat of an hour and a half, those villages were again retaken from the enemy, and remained in our possession. During this time, the corps of Gen. Winzingerode on the left wing, and the corps of Gen. Yorck, with a part of the Russian troops under Gen. Berg, had taken a share in the battle. We stood opposed to the enemy, at the distance of 100 paces, and one of the most bloody battles became general.

"Our reserves had drawn nearer to the field of battle, to be in readiness wherever needful, and thus was the battle continued til near 7 o'clock in the evening. During its course, the villages on the left wing were likewise several times taken and retaken by both parties. At 7 o'clock the enemy appeared with a new corps on our right wing before Gross and Klein-Gorschen,-probably with the Viceroy's army, made a brisk attack on us, and endeavoured to tear from us the advantages we had gained. The infantry of a part of the Russian reserves was now brought forward to the right wing, to the support of Gen. Yorck's corps, which was briskly. attacked, and a most desperate engagement (in which the Russian artillery, during the whole remaining time, greatly distinguished itself, as did the corps of Yorck, Blucher, and Winzingerode, the whole day,) was now continued until night came on. The enemy had likewise again attacked our centre and the villages with great briskness, but we inaintained our position. In this situation night put an end to the battle. The enemy was to have been again at

tacked on the following morning, the 3d of May. He had meanwhile taken Leipsic during the battle. This obliged us to manœuvre with him. It was not till afterwards that we were informed, that in consequence of the battle he had again been forced to quit it; and had, by the same means, lost Halle, and 15,000 men of his best troops; many of his cannon are dismounted, and a number of his powder-waggons blown up. Our light detachments are again at liberty to harass him, and to prosecute the advantage gained. We have consequently kept the field of battle; the victory is ours, and the intended purpose is accomplished. Near 50,000 of our best troops have not yet been engaged; we have not lost a single cannon, and the enemy must have perceived what can be effected by united national feelings, between two firmly allied nations, in courage and resistance; and that the high hand of Providence protects the just cause of those Powers who have no object but their independence, and to found a durable peace on the freedom of all nations.

"Such was the battle of the 2d of May, fought near the plain of Lutzen, where the liberty of Germany was once before conquered. With the courage of lions did both Russians and Prussians fight for it; and their endeavours will not have been in vain. The loss we have sustained may amount to about 10,000 men, but the most of them are only slightly wounded. Among the killed, on the Prussian side, we have, among several other valuable Staff-officers, to lament the loss of the Prince of Hesse-Homburg. Our wounded are, on the Russian part, Gen. Von Kanonieczyn, and on the Prussian, Generals Blucher and Scharnhorst slightly, and Hunerbein dangerously. On the French side, according to the report of the prisoners, we learn that Marshal Bessieres is killed, Ney and Souham wounded. Upwards of 1000 prisoners are already brought in, ten pieces of artillery taken, and some thousand muskets captured at Halle. Our light troops are now occupied in pursuing the enemy.

"Although the numerous villages lying near to each other in this territory, and its canals, together with the precaution taken by the enemy never to appear in the open plain, did not afford our cavalry an opportunity of charging in line, yet the Prussian Gardedu-Corps, and the regiment of Brandenburgh Cuirassiers, cut down several masses of the enemy's infantry, even amidst the villages, and under his cross-fire, and have thereby gained a share in the immortal honour which the Prussian warriors have again obtained

in this murderous battle; and in like manner have the Russians proved that they can fight on the German soil, with the same sentiments which insured victory to them in their own country. These are the results of this day, up to this present. God bless our arms: He visibly, and during the battle, protected both our beloved Monarchs, who several times exposed themselves to danger, even in the villages where the battle raged the hottest. May he further. more bless and preserve them to us!"

The following account is from the pen of General Scharnhorst, a very distinguished officer in the Prussian service.

"The enemy turned his back upon Leipsic, and we had behind us Naumburg and Weissenfels. The Elster and the Luppe were at a certain distance from the wings of the two armies. Before our right wing we had a village occupied by the enemy.

"The battle began by the attack of this village, which was carried by the right wing of Blucher's corps. Soon after, the left wing of that corps found itself before another village, before which the enemy brought several batteries; we opposed to him nearly as much artillery, which we covered by our reserve of cavalry, because the infantry had not advanced so far. The other corps came up by degrees, and the battle commenced the whole length of the line, and extended past the last village on the left; I do not exactly know to what distance. We occupied for some hours the village on our right; but the enemy presented himself there in considerable force, surrounded, and took it. He did not keep it about half an hour. We again attacked and took it; we even penetrated beyond it, and took two other villages, by which means we came on the enemy's flanks.

"From this moment the battle became very obstinate at this -point; almost all the infantry of Blucher's corps, and part of that of the other corps, came up by degrees. We were then very near each other. Victory appeared to incline sometimes to the one side, and sometimes to the other. In the mean time we did not lose an inch of ground we occupied on the enemy's flank. It was now between six and seven in the evening, and at this moment I was wounded in the leg, and forced to quit the field of battle. I am ignorant what passed on the left wing, but I perceived that we had like. wise gained some ground on that side. The battle was consequently

won.

"The enemy has occupied Leipsic in his rear.-Towards evening

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