and Count Shuvaloff, were concentrated at Widzam, the corps of General Doctoroff at Bunda, the corps of reserve at Zamosh.

The main efforts of the French had hitherto been directed to cut off the communication between the first Russian army, and their second under Bagrathion; the former was concentrated in its entrenched camp at Drissa, and the latter, who was on the advance, received orders to attack the enemy's corps opposed to him, and movements were made in the first army to second this operation. In this engagement, which was the first of any consequence, victory declared itself in favour of the Russians. The advance-guard of General Bagrathion's army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Rajewski, reached Daschkowka on the 10th of July, where it was attacked by a superior force of the enemy, consisting of five divisions, under the command of Marshals Davoust and Mortier. Not withstanding the superior numbers and obstinate resistance of the French, the Russian troops repulsed them twice, and pushed them as far as the village of Nowossilka. In this place, strong by nature, and affording an advantageous position, the enemy halted; but though they attempted with several strong columns to compel the Russians to retreat from the field of battle, they were constantly repulsed with loss, notwithstanding that the Russian 8th corps, which had come up in sufficient time, could not co-operate from the narrowness of the ground, and from the same cause the Russian cavalry remained in complete inactivity. In the mean time the road to Smolensko was opened by General Platow, so as to enable him to continue his march to join the first army. The battle lasted from nine in the morning until six in the evening. The loss of the French, according to concurring statements of prisoners, compared with the number of dead bodies left by them during the pursuit, exceeded five thousand men; that of the Russians was very trifling.

After the defeat of Davoust the following ukase was issued by the Emperor Alexander from his camp at Polotozk, ordering the formation of battalions of reserve in the interior of the Empire, and calling upon the Russians to rise en masse for the defence of their country.

"The enemy has entered our territories, and continues to carry arms into the interior of Russia, hoping with his strength and his wrath, to disturb the tranquillity of this mighty Empire. He has formed in his mind the base determination to destroy the glory and prosperity of our country. With cunning in his heart, and deceit on his lips, he is bringing everlasting chains and fetters into it. We have called on the Almighty for assistance, and have appealed to him. for our defence. Our armies glow with valour to

crush him, to defeat him, and to drive from the face of our country all those who may remain undestroyed. On their fortitude and strength we place our firmest hopes; but we neither can nor ought to conceal from our loyal subjects, that the forces of the different nations he has assembled are great, and that his temerity demands our most valiant and resolute exertions. With all the strong hopes we place in our gallant army we therefore deem it a matter of absolute necessity to assemble new forces in the interior of the Empire, which, striking the enemy anew with terror, will form a second barrier in support of the first, to defend the homes, the wives, and children of every one and all. We have called on our metropolis of Moscow, and we now call on all our loyal subjects of all classes and ranks, both ecclesiastical and civil, recommending them, together with us, individually and generally to rise and co-operate against all hostile designs and attempts. At every step shall he find the loyal sons of Russia combating him with all their strength and all their means, without attending to his wiles and deceit. In every nobleman shall be find a Pajatsky, in every ecclesiastic a Palitzin, in every citizen a Minin. Most eminent nobility of Russia, it is ye that have at all times been the saviours of your country. Most holy Synod and Clergy, ye have always, with your fervent prayers, called down blessings on your country.

"People of Russia! ye valiant descendants of the brave Sclavonians, how often have ye dashed the teeth of lions and tigers that were rushing upon you. With the cross in your heart, and the sword in your hand, no martial force can vanquish you.

"For the first formation of the before-mentioned forces, it is proposed to the Nobility in all the Governments, to assemble the men they intend for the defence of the country; choosing officers from among themselves, and giving information of their number to Moscow, where a Commander-inChief will be appointed.

"Camp, near Polotzk, July 6 (18), 1812."

The bulletins issued by the French Ruler, so different from those that had appeared at the commencement of any of his former wars, served but to animate the Russians. In these were to be perceived no denunciation of vengeance, of seizing of capitals, and putting an end to dynasties;-the only threat he offered was to terminate the Russian influence in Europe. Buonaparte had imagined, from the vast preparations he had formed, and from the unexpected inroad into the Russian territories, he would have been enabled to dissipate, by his columns, into small portions, the military force of that country, extended a long line of more than 800 versts, and after he had annihilated each by itself, to accomplish his vindictive design as it were by one blow. By such means only, however, contrary to the law of nations, has he hitherto succeeded in vanquishing other armies, and in bringing other states under his dominion who were deceived by confiding in the universal respect that was paid to the most sacred rights.

The difficulties which the enemy had endeavoured to lay in the way of the operations of the second army were now removed. The objects of the battle, which the advance of Prince Bagrathion's army victoriously sustained, were accomplished, and a junction effected with the first west army.

Lieutenant-General Count Wittgenstein, in a report, dated the 21st of July (Aug. 2), gives the following information:

"According to His Majesty's command, the corps entrusted to my orders is destined to act separately. In consequence of which, I remained on the banks of the Dwina, at the advanced work of Pokaseuze, to observe the enemy stationed opposite to me on the other bank, and having thrown bridges across the river in the course of the night, I sent my cavalry out several times on expeditions, and which, in the course of eight days, took eight officers and about 1000 inen prisoners from the corps of the General of Brigade St. Genie, and almost entirely destroyed the 7th and 11th Regiments of French Yagers, the 8th Uhlans, and the 10th Regiment of Foot Yagers, both Poles, are nearly cut up. Finally, on the 17th of this present July, I received information from my detachments from Drissa, that Marshal Oudinot, Duke of Reggio, after having passed the Drissa with his corps, was on his march to Sebesch from Dunaburg. I was informed that Marshal Macdonald has crossed the river at Jacobstadt, and was shaping his march for Lusye; and, according to the statement of a French Officer of General Staff, whom we had taken prisoner, those troops at the churches were destined to cut me off from the road of Pshkow. In this station I resolved to attack the enemy nearest to me in the church of the village Klastiga, and discovered the corps of Oudinot stationed before the village of Jackubow, at the distance of five wersts, and which was already approaching to meet me from Klastiga. I attacked it with impetuosity, and after one of the most obstinate and bloody engagements, which lasted without intermission for three days, from morning early till late at night; we at length, thanks be given to our all-gracious God, and praised be the victorious Russian troops, obtained this victory over the most deceitful and greatest enemy of cur native country; the victory over the corps of Marshal Oudinot, which consisted of three divisions of the flower of the French infantry, is totally beaten and thrown into the greatest confusion; it has retired in disorder, and only escaped by means of the woody places, and by crossing over the small rivulets, the bridges of which they set on fire and destroyed, and at the same time laying hindrance in our way at almost every step, to stop the rapidity with which he was pursued by us. The Commanders of divisions, Le Grand and Verdier, are both wounded. I shall pursue them along the Dwina to Polotsk. This three days battle has crowned our Russian army with fresh laurels, and the corps entrusted to me have performed incredible actions by its valour and its discipline, which I am unable sufficiently to describe. Whatever was opposed to it, batteries and strong columns, it has without paying attention to the strongest and most obstinate opposition on the part of the enemy, overthrown and annihilated, by the bayonet, and by the effect of the artillery-all the villages and fields, through which we passed,

were covered with dead bodies. We have taken about 3000 prisoners, among whom are 25 officers, 2 pieces of cannon, and several powder waggons, and both the Crown and private baggage, among which is the General's equipage, has fallen almost entirely into the hands of the victors. So soon as I shall have driven them over the Dwina, I am determined, as I attack them on each side, to turn myself against the corps of Marshal Macdonald, to attack it and as I hope, with the assistance of God, and with the spirit of our troops, invigorated by these successes, likewise to perform something, I shall endeavour to clear the lines of demarcation allotted me from the enemy, and if this can be effected, the enemy's troops must necessarily withdraw themselves from before Riga. The loss on our side is not small, particularly in having lost the brave General Kulnow, who yesterday had both his legs carried away by a cannon ball, of which he died on the spot; and I myself am wounded by a bullet in the cheek, near the temple, but the wound is not at all dangerous."

On the 3d of August General Wittgenstein again attacked Oudinot, at Polotsk the action lasted fourteen hours, and finally obliged the enemy to retire to their trenches with the loss of upwards of 2000 prisoners. The Duke of Reggio, who, in the first instance, had been already strengthened by the Bavarians, under the command of General Wride, received a fresh reinforcement of the same troops, under General Deroy, after which, on the 16th of August, a most murderous affair took place :-in point of numbers the Russians were infinitely inferior, yet the fortune of the day attended them; they pursued the enemy even to the town, and continued the battle in the streets, until the darkness of the night put an end to it. In this engagement Oudinot received a severe wound in his shoulder, and the command of his army was entrusted to General Gouveau de St. Cyr.

On the 19th of August the Duke of Elchingen crossed over to the right bank of the Borysthenes, and attacked the rear division of the Russians, which retired on the second column, posted on the heights of Valentina. The enemy carried the first position, and towards four o'clock in the afternoon, the musketry fire was kept up against the whole of the enemy's rear-guard, which presented about 15,000 men. The Duke of Abrantes passed the Borysthenes at two o'clock, to the right of Smolensko.-Four divisions of the Russians now advanced to support their rear-guard, and among others the division of grenadiers, and five thousand cavalry, formed their right wing. At six o'clock in the evening the French pushed forward a column on the centre of the Russian position, which was finally forced.

The Russian armies continued to retreat unbroken and sanguine

in their cause. On the 15th of August, Gen. Barclay de Tollyhad received a report, that the enemy, who advanced in great force towards Krosno, had pushed on his advanced guards to Lady; and that Buonaparte had left Wetespk, and concentrated his whole force near Balemoutzchy, Orscha, and Dubrowne. In consequence of this it was immediately determined, that the second army should march to Smolensko, and after uniting all its corps on the left bank of the Dnieper, halt. The first army was to approach Smolensko, or act offensively, should the enemy divide his forces. On the night of the same day, Lieutenant-Gen. Rejewsky reported, that MajorGen. Newerousky, after having been attacked by a superior force, had found himself under the necessity of retreating, having suffered considerable loss, and that he was only seven wersts from Smolensko.-All the other accounts agreed in stating that the enemy, with his whole force, were passing to the left bank of the Dnieper, in consequence of which, without loss of time, General Barclay de Tolly immediately put the army in motion; and on the night of the 4th (16th) arrived near Smolensko, just as the enemy were making a heavy attack on Lieutenant-Gen. Rejewsky's corps. Having ascertained that the enemy concentrated their whole force at one point, and had even drawn Prince Poniatowski's corps to their assistance, it was to be supposed his real intention was to anticipate the Russian army in Dorogubush, or any other point by which he might obtain possession of the Moscow road. General de Tolly therefore determined, together with the Prince Bagrathion, that the First Army should occupy Smolensko, and remain on the right bank of the Dnieper, and by that means cover the march of the Second Army to Dorogubush. In the night between the 4th and 5th (16 and 17), this plan was executed. The sixth corps, to which was attached the 3d division of infantry, took possession of Smolensko and all the out-posts.

On the 5th (17th), at one P. M. the enemy attacked the Russian troops, who were drawn up on the road from Krosno, and other points round Smolensko; but, after an engagement, which continued, without intermission, for three hours, they were repulsed at every point. At five, P. M. after bringing a strong column of their forces, and an uncommonly numerous artillery forward, they attacked the city in every direction; but all their efforts and endeavours were vain, although they drove back the Russian advance troops even to the ruins of the walls of Smolensko, and appeared determined to storm the city. They, however, not only defeated but drove