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HISTORY OF THE WAR.

CHAP. XLVI.

State of the Hostile Parties at the commencement of the Campaign of 1807-Movements of the various Armies, and the progress of the Campaign to the arrival of the Russians at Friedland-Buonaparte's critical situation-Alarm of the Parisians-Fall of Dantzic-Negotiations of the Emperor of France with Turkey-Promotion and aggrandisement of his favorite Generals.

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URING the early part of the present year every eye was fixed on the coast of the Baltic. A mighty contest was yet to be decided between the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia, aided by the co-operation of Sweden and Great Britain on the one part, and on the other Napoleon Buonaparte, supported by the population and the resources of Italy, Spain, Holland, and a great part of Germany. The alleged defeat of the Russians at the battle of Eylau, was more than counterbalanced in the opinion of the enemies of France, by the facilities afforded to the manœuvres of a Swedish army between Dantzic and Hamburgh, through Lower Saxony. It was expected that the immense distance of Buonaparte from his resources, combined with the severity of an inclement and unhealthy climate would expose his army to the most fatal indisposition, and to insupportable privations. The Russians, on the contrary, were perfectly enured to the scene of action, and could receive stores and reinforcements by land and sea, from Russia, Sweden, and England.

The talent, intrepidity, and perseverance of the emperor of France overcame 1807. however the obstacles and the dangers, by which he was surrounded. The number and activity of his agents, and the adınirable organization of his commissariat,

VOL. I.

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so strikingly contrasted by the tardiness and negligence of the Russians in that important department, ensured the arrival to all parts of his army of ample and regular supplies. Owing to the mildness of the season and the rapidity of their movements few of the troops were afflicted with disease, and the absolute authority of Buonaparte gave him all the advantages that arise in council and in battle from unity of purpose, and firmness and celerity of decision.

The relative positions in which the French and Russians were placed after the battle of Eylau, were not misunderstood by Buonaparte, who according to his usual policy on every great crisis, despatched Bertrand, a general of division, to the Russian commander-in-chief with some overtures of a pacific nature. But general Beningzen, in the true spirit of a gallant soldier, replied that he had been sent by his master not to negotiate, but to fight." Bertrand was then ordered to proceed from Koningsberg to Memel, with the same overtures to the king of Prussia, with whom he had not greater success than with the Russian chief. Buonaparte endeavored, however, after these repulses, to make it believed in Germany, that both the Prussians and Russians were desirous of peace, and that treaties were on the point of being concluded. It was asserted in his newspapers

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that Duroc had gone to St. Petersburgh, and that the king of Prussia was governed by the counsel of Lombard, Beyine, and Kockyriz, the men who together with Hareywitz and Lucchesini, managed as he wished the court of Berlin. He was desirous to spread a conviction that he possessed the same influence at the court of Memel. Thus he hoped to sow the seeds of jealousy among the allies, and to deter any of the German states from any reliance on powers with which he was likely very soon to be on terms of peace, amity, and alliance.

The Russians were not induced by the battle of Eylau, and the necessity their main army was under, of retreating behind the Pregel, to give up their original plan of acting on the offensive against the French, and harassing them without ceasing by all ineans and at all seasons. While the main army of the French still lay at Eylau, 3000 Russian prisoners were rescued by a squadron of cossacks, 1000 strong, at Wildenberg, from 15 to 20 leagues on this side of Eylau on the Omulcio, to the south-west of the lakes of Passenheim. General Van Essen, on February the 15th, at the head of 25,000 men advanced to Ostrolenka, along the two banks of the Narew. At the village of Flakis Lawowa he met the advanced-guard of general Savary, who commanded the 5th corps of the French army. On the 16th at day-break, general Gazan with a part of his division moving towards the advanced-guard, met with the enemy on the way to Novogorod, and attacked and defeated him. But at the same moment the Russians by the left bank attacked Ostrolenka, which was defended by general Campana, with a brigade of the division of general Gazan and general Ruffin, and a brigade of the division of general Oudinot. The Russian infantry advanced in several columns. They were suffered to come fairly within the town, as far as half the length of the streets; when they were charged by the French with fixed bayonets. Thrice did the Russians make an attack upon the French, and were as often repulsed, leaving the streets covered with the dead. Their loss was so great that

they were forced to abandon the town, and take a position behind the sand-hills which cover it. The divisions of general Suchet and Oudinot advanced, and at noon the heads of their columns arrived at Ostrolenka. General Savary drew up his army in the following manner. General Oudinot commanded the left in two lines; general Suchet the centre; and the general of division Reille, chief of the staff of the army, commanding a brigade of the division of Gazau, formed the right. He covered himself with all his artillery, and marched against the enemy. General Oudinot putting himself at the head of the cavalry made a successful charge, and cut in pieces the cossacks of the Russian rear-guard. A very brisk fire was kept up for a considerable time on both sides. The Russians at last gave way on all quarters, and were followed fighting for three leagues. The loss of the Russians was 1300 killed, among whom were two generals, above 1200 taken, seven pieces of cannon, and two standards. The French according to their accounts had ouly 60 men killed, and among these the general of brigade Campana, an officer of great merit, and a native of Marengo. At Guttenfield on the 12th of February, 500 French soldiers were made prisoners by Platoff, hetman or attaman of the cossacks. On the same day a division of the French corps marched to Marienwerder, situated on a small river called the Leibe, not far from its junction with the Vistula, thirtyfour miles south from Dantzic and forty-, four north-east of Thorn. Seven Prussian squadrons found at this place were attacked and routed, and 300 men with 250 horses taken. The rest of the Prussians making their escape, took refuge in Dantzic.

On the 16th of February, the day before Buonaparte began to march from Eylau, for the disposition of his troops in winterquarters he thought it proper to counteract any impression that might be entertained of his being subjected to the necessity of a retreat, and to keep up the courage of his army by assuming a very lofty air of triumph, is the following proclamation, dated Eylau, February the 16th. "Soldiers we had begun to enjoy a little repose in our winter

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quarters when the enemy attacked the first corps and shewed themselves on the Lower Vistula. We broke up and marched against him, we have pursued him sword in hand 80 leagues, he has fled to his strong. holds, and retired beyond the Pregel. In the battles of Bergfried, Deppen, Hoff, and Eylau, we have taken from him 65 pieces of cannon and 16 standards, besides the loss of more than 40,000 men in killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. The heroes who on our side remain on the bed of honor, have died a glorious death. It is the death of a true soldier. Their relatives will always have a just claim to our care and beneficence. Having thus defeated all the enterprises of the enemy, we shall return to wards the Vistula, and resume our winterquarters. Those who shall dare to disturb these quarters shall have reason to repent, for whether beyond the Vistula, or on the side of the Danube, whether in the middle of winter or the beginning of autumn, we shall still be found French soldiers, and soldiers of the grand army.'

The first and leading consideration in the choice of positions for winter-quarters for the French army, was to cover the line of the Vistula, and to favor the reduction of Colberg, Grandenz, and above all of Dantzic. It was therefore concentrated in cantonments, behind, that is, to the westward, of the Passarge, a small river which passing by the town of Braunberg discharges itself a little below this place, into the Frisch-haaf. The prince of Ponte Corvo with his corps lay at Prussian Holland and Braunsberg; marshal Soult with his at Leibstadt and Morungen; marshal Ney at Gutstadt; marshal Davoust at Allenstein, Hohenstein, and Deppen; a Polenese corps of observation, commanded by general Zayoncheek, at Niedenburg; marshal Le Febvre before Dantzic; the 5th corps of the French army, was stationed at Omulew; and the 8th as a corps of observation, in Swedish Pomerania. There was a corps under prince Jerome Buonaparte employed in the reduction of the fortresses of Silesia. The Bavarian division, commanded by the heir apparent, or as the. French style him, the crown prince of Ba

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varia, serving under Jerome, lay at this time at Warsaw, and was on its rout to join the French army. There was still a strong garrison at Thorn, where general Rapp, Buonaparte's aid-de-camp, was appointed governor in the room of marshal Le Febvre, 'now employed in the siege of Dantzic. The head-quarters were Osterode, nearly equidistant between Thorn (which formed as it were a bastion on the right of the French, supposing their eye still directed to the east,) and Marienwerder, and Elbing, with the isle of Nogat, which supported the left. And for maintaining a communication between the opposite banks of the Vistula, as well as for securing a retreat, in case of any disaster, in the course of future operations, the têtesdu-pont, or fortified bridges at Praga, Modlin, Duchaw, in the palatinate of Ulm and Thorn, were put in a proper state of defence, and new ones constructed at Marienburg and Marienwerder. From the country. around Marienwerder and Elbing, which, particularly the isle of Nogat, is exceedingly fertile, the French army was abundantly supplied with provisions.

It was now the immediate object of Buonaparte, to refresh and recruit his army, and to secure the possession or command of the countries he had overrun, by reducing the Prussian fortresses that still held out on the Vistula, and the Oder. But the Russians determined and resolute in their purpose to give him no rest, engaged the French in continued skirmishes, and in some very sharp actions which were at tended with considerable loss to both parties. The most serious of these it may be proper briefly to notice, though they were of little importance in comparison with. the siege of the more important port and post of Dantzic, to which after the battle of Eylau, every eye was turned. A Russian detachment marched on the 26th of February against Braunsberg, the head or the most advanced and easterly of the French cantonments. Buonaparte being informed of this movement, gave orders to the prince of Ponte Corvo, that the detachment should be attacked, the execution of which orders was committed to general Dupont, an.

officer of great merit, who on the same day, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at tacked the Russian corps, which was 10,000 strong, overthrew it with fixed bayonets, drove it from the town and across the Passarge, took 16 pieces of cannon, and two stands of colours, and made 2000 prisoners.

On the side of Gutstadt, general Loger Belair, on receiving advice that a Russian column had arrived during the night at Peterswald, repaired to that village at day-break on the 25th, overthrew it, took the general, baron de Korf, who commanded it, with his staff, several lieutenantcolonels and other officers, and 400 men.

After the affairs of Brauensberg and Peterswald, which encouraged the military ardor of the conscripts, for the year, whose services were now to be called in, though six months before the time fixed by the constitution; a statement was published of all the pieces of cannon taken from the enemy by the French, since their arrival on the Vistula. In the engagements of Pultusk and Golymin, they had taken 89 pieces of cannon; at the engagement of Bergfried, 4 pieces; in the retreat of Allenstein, 5 pieces; at the engagement of Deppen, 16 pieces; at the engagement of Hoff, 12 pieces; at the battle of Eylau, 24 pieces; at the engagement of Ostrolenka, 9 pieces; and at that of Braunsberg, 6 pieces; in all, 175 pieces of cannon. It must be owned that an account of the cannon taken from the enemy is a more satisfactory proof of success than any of success than any estimate of the numbers of the killed and wounded. The cannon may be produced as vouches of every military statement, and the French gazettes usually inform us in what manner each division has disposed of the captured artillery.

On the 29th of February, the headquarters of the Russian army had reached Heilsberg, from whence the enemy, having been dreu with loss, had fallen back upon the Passarge, Marshal Bernadotte was cantoned at Holland and Braunsberg. Marshal Soult at Leibstadt and Morungen, Marshal Ney in advance of the Passarge. Marshal Davoust at Allenstein, Hohen

stein, and Deppen. The main body of the cavalry in the country about Elbing, and the head-quarters at Osterode. The Poles were at Neidenburg, and the 5th corps, which Massena now commanded, was cantoned upon the Oumlew. The corps of marshal Le Febvre was before Dantzic. A Bavarian division before Warsaw, and the 8th corps in Swedish Pomerania.

These corps were extremely weak, and, in addition to casualties of the field, sickness was so prevalent, that in Warsaw alone, there were 25,000 men in the French hospitals, and the French cavalry were entirely unfit for active service. To repair these losses, Buonaparte raised the siege of Colberg, nearly evacuated Silesia, ordered, under the severest penalties, a new levy in Switzerland, marched troops from Dalmatia, Calabria, Italy, and the very invalids of Paris, to recruit his army in Poland; and, in a message to the senate, dated Asterode, the 10th of March, demanded a new conscription, of the year 1808, which of course was granted: he then determined to check, by daring countenance and partial aggressions, the advance of the Russians, and to recover the moral of his army by the active character of his operations. By this time he had also discovered that he had advanced from the Vistula with too great temerity, and that the port and fortress of Dantzick offered to his enemies a débouchure on his rear, which might, under a vigorous direction, separate him from France, or oblige a retrogade movement to preserve his bridges and a passage over the Vistula, which would be ruinous to his army, if not fatal to himself. He therefore gradually approached Dantzic with his Polish, Saxon, and Baden levies; and, after several affairs, drove the Prussians into the city, which was defended by 16,000 men, and two Russian garrison battalions under prince Tcherbatoff, with some cossacks. Consonant with this plan, he directed his marshals to make strong recou noissances, to distract the Russian general and recal his parties, who had already reached Allenstein, Ortelsburg, Willeu

burg, and Passenheim; and on the 3rd of February, the French reoccupied Allenstein and Guttstadt, and a considerable corps from Wormdit attempted to carry a Russian post between Wormsdorf and Arensdorf, but here the enemy were foiled with great loss, as a masked battery suffered them to approach close, and then poured rapid discharges of grape. This movement occasioned a general concentration of the Russian army, and the renewal of the campaign was expected, especially on the following morning, when a heavy cannonade commenced at Zechern, two leagues in front of Heilsberg, occasioned by the advance of a French corps who had pushed across the plain from the village, and lodged themselves in a deep wood, from whence they had annoyed the Russian advanced-posts. Fire attracted fire, and a serious action appeared probable, though not premeditated by either army. At length the Russians opened their guns, which were answered from the heights of Zechern, but the Russian cannon soon silenced that battery. Still the enemy's infantry hung in the wood, and already 500 Russians were wounded. General Zachen, who commanded, determined towards evening to finish this harassing contest, and ordered two regiments to charge into the 'wood, and two regiments of cossacks, headed by their attaman, were ordered to co-operate. Upon the signal being given, the cossacks rushed forward with their war yell, echoing terror, and killed or made prisoners in a few seconds, 160 men, with the loss of only 10 killed and 14 wounded. The remaining French escaped by some rugged ground; and, as the Russians menaced the storm of Zechern, the three French regiments and a regiment of cavalry that had sus tained this affair, marched off rapidly on Guttstadt. Accurate intelligence was obtained from the prisoners, which exposed the enemy's views, and a partieular, but private incident, further gave general Beningzen every information that he sought. Whether or not the enemy were suspicious of this incident, is not known; but, on the 6th, the French expecting to be attacked,

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drew out their forces along their line, and, by this demonstration of vigilance, pre served themselves from an attack that was projected for the following day.

The Russian reinforcements had now begun to arrive; amongst them was a superb regiment of cuirassiers, (the Catherina Slaber,) commanded by general Kratof, and two cossack regiments, whose sumptuous wildness was novel and interesting; and general Beningzen, having abandoned his plan of attack, removed his head-quarters to Bartenstein, for the convenience of his arrangements.

To cover his cantonments from insult. Buonaparte threw forward on the side of Willemburg, 15,000 Poles, and placed them under the orders of Massena; these being new levies, did not add greatly to his real force, or inspire much respect among the Russians; but general Platoff was directed to proceed on that side with 3000 cossacks, and act against them. In the mean time the siege of Dantzic con tinued; and the enemy, being lodged on the Nehrung, all communication by the coast road, between Pillau and Dantzie, was cut off; but an attempt was made to surprise and force the enemy's posts stationed there, which failed. The attacking corps was therefore obliged to return to Pillau, with some trifling loss to the Prussian advanced-guard. On the 12th, Murat was checked in his advance with seven regiments of cavalry, on Bischoffstein; " and general Zachen, in the neighbourhood of Wormdit, killed 100 dragoons, and sent in 200, of whom the greater part were severely wounded. On the 18th,, general Platoff broke in upon the enemy's line of posts between Passenheim and Willemburg, made 300 Polish cavalry, with seven officers, prisoners, after a great slaughter of their corps; and, having induced the 15th and 22nd regiments of cavalry to charge in pursuit through a wood, where he had ambuscaded half his cossacks, he put to death or captured the whole.

On the 24th, the enterprising and active Platoff again marched from Passenheim, to attack the confederates at Kutzen, Malga and Omilow. The column directed

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