'«! :'' 't ■ 1: iji:';;:!;; ','!'.' '■' I- 'ill:'-; Mi jil^'l '(M^iJii'^M! ^^d^ \ rvV Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2010 witii funding from Tine Library of Congress littp://www.arcli ive.org/details/memoirscampaignsOOpliil MEMOIRS AND CAMPAIGNS CHARLES JOHN^ PRIJ^CE ROYAL OF SWEDEJW BY JOHN PHILIPPART, ESQ. EMBELLISHED AVITH A BEAUTIFULLY ENGRAVED PORTRAIT. "His is the fortitude which unites with the courage of the field the more exalted and refined courage of the council, which knows how to retreat and how to advance— which can conquer as well by delay as by the rapidity of a march, or the impetu- osity of an attack— which can be like Fabius, the black cloud on the tops of the mountains; or with Scipio, the t|iunderbolt of war! which, undisturbed by false hu- manity, can calmly assume that most awful moral responsibility of deciding, when victory may be so dearly purchased by the loss of a single life, and when the safety rmd glory of his country may demand the certaiu sacrifice of tho\i3aais."„„Bterke, BALTIMORE: PUBLISHED BY NEAl, WILLS, & COIiE, AND COALE & MAXWELL. Benjamin Edes, Printer. 1815. TO MAJOR-GENEEAL WESTFIELD SCOTT, THIS FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF THE MEMOIRS dJ^'D CAMPMGJ\rS Of one of the most distinguished soldiers of Europe, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED By his humble servants THE PUBLISHERS. CONTENTS. Birth, parentage, and early pursuit of the sub- ject of these memoirs . • .81 His enlistment in the regiment of Royal Marines S2 His heroic conduct in behalf of his Colonel, the Marquis d*Ambert . . . . 33 His exertions to punish the assassin of General Goguet . . . . .35 Conduct of Colonel Bernadotte at the attack near Marchienne au pont ... . ib. Ditto at the siege of Charleroi and Maestricht, and at the battle of Fleurus . , .36 Ditto at the attack of Creutznach . . ib. Consternation and proceedings of the Dietof Ger- many in 1796 . . . .37 Operations of the Archduke Charles . 38 Action at Sultzbach . . . . .39 Ditto at Augsburg . , . . 40 Engagement at Tenning . . , .41 General Bernadotte's address to his troops . 42 General Bernadotte*s retreat to Neumarkt and Altdorf . , . . . 43 Battle of Wurtzburg . . . ib. Observation of General Bernadotte on being pres- sed by General Jourdan for a certificate of his, Jourdan's conduct .... 45 a "^ General Bernadotte's application to retire on half- pay, the causes and the consequences . 46 1797. Passage of the Alps effected by General Berna- dotte in February, 1797 . . .lb. Dissatisfaction of the French soldiery, and Gene- ral Bernadotte's conduct ... 47 Passage of the Tagliamento . . .48 General Bernadotte's summons to the comman- dant of Gradiska . , , . 49 Capture of Gradiska . . . .50 Ditto of Goritia, Clagenfurth, and Laybach . 51 Buonaparte/s letter to the Archduke Charles . 52 Reply of the Archduke to ditto . . 54 Letter of General Bernadotte on Generals Piche- gru, Willot, Villaret-joyeuse, and Rovere being arrested . . . . .56 General Bernadotte's embassy to Vienna , ib. Disturbances of the 13th April, 1798, at Viennaj conduct of General Bernadotte, &c. &c. . 57 General Bernadotte's refusal of a command in one of the interiour provinces of France . 61 General Bernadotte appointed ambassadour to Holland, and his letter to the Directory . 62 General Bernadotte appointed General-in-chief of the army of observation . . 68 Capture of Manheim in 1799 : . ib. Siege of Philipsburg . ; . ib. General Bernadotte's letter to the Rhingravc of Salm . . . . . ib. in Heply to the general . * . 6j» The siege of Philipsburg raised by General Ber- Tiadotte .... 66 General Bernadotte appointed war minister; his judicious conduct, and his refusal to arrest Buo- naparte on the return of the latter from Egypt 69 General Bernadotte resigns the post of war min- ister; his noble conduct towards the Duke d'Enghein in 1799 . . . 72 Marriage of General Bernadotte, birth of his son, &c. 1^ . . . . ibo Meeting of Buonaparte's family at the house of General Bernadotte . . .75 General Bernadotte's disapprobation of the events of the 18th Brumaire . , .74 General Bernadotte appointed councillor of state . . . - . 75 Ditto Commander-in-chief of La Vendee . ib. His address to Buonaparte when nominated Emperour of France . . . .76 Ditto appointed a Marshal of Francej and presented with a command at Hanover . lb* Statement of the losses sustained by the conti- nental powers in consequence of the war, con- cluded by the treaty of peace at Luneville . ^^ Campaign of 1805 . . . 79 Marshal Bernadotte's capture of Ingolstadt 80 Ditto of Munich . . . .81 Gallant conduct of the Archduke Ferdinand 82 Surrender of Ulm by General Mack . . 8S Grand movements of Marshal Bernadotte 85 Buonaparte's entry into Vienna . . 86 Battle of Austerlitz . . . 91 2 IV Armistice between the Emperour of Austria and Buonaparte . . ... 94 Buonaparte's proclamation after the battle of Austerlitz .... 96 Marsiial Bernadotte created Prince of Ponte Corvo . . . . 98 Prussian Campaign of 1806 . . .99 Battle of Jena . . . .101 Battle of Lubeck . . * . .107 Battle of Pultusk . ^ . 109 Campaign of 1S07 . . . 112 Action at Elbing . , • . ib. Sir Robert Wilson's statement of plunder found in the possession of Marshal Bernadotte, and General Sarazin's reply to the same . 113 Battle of Mohringen . . . 114 Attack of the tete du pont at Spandau . H^ Marshal Bernadotte wounded . . 118 Marshal Bernadotte sent with his troops to Den- mark ..... 118 Escajje of the Spanish patriots under the Marquis de Romana .... 119 Marshal Bernadotte appointed, in 1809, to com- mand the Saxon army . . . 121 Battle of Wagramj Marshal Bernadotte censured by Buonaparte . . . 122 Marshal Bernadotte appointed to command the French army at Antwerp, and his recall . ib. Buonaparte's letter to the King of Sweden on the murder of Cbarles Augustus Augustenburg, Prince Royal of Sweden . 123 Marshal Bernadotte proposed by the King as a successour to the Prince Royal of Sweden 124 Reply of the States-general of Sweden . 125 Act of election of Marshal Bernadotte to be the Prince Royal of Sweden . . 126 Letter from Marshal Bernadotte to the King of Sweden, upon the intelligence of his election being communicated to him . . . 128 Letter from ditto to ditto, on being presented with the Swedish orders . . 129 Character of the Prince Royal of Sweden, by Ma- dame la Baronne de Stagl Holstein . . 130 The Prince Royal's address to the Diet of Swe- den after his installation . . 132 Dispatch from the Swedish minister at Paris to the King of Sweden, Oct. 26, 1810 . 135 Swedish declaratioii of war against Great Britain *135 Letter from the Prince Royal of Sweden to Buo- naparte, Stockholm, Dec. 8, ±S±d^ . *137 Ditto, ditto, Dec. 12 . . . *139 Buonaparte's demands on Sweden . *140 Reply of the Baron D'Engerstrom to ditto . 141 Temporary resignation of the King of Sweden 142 The Prince Royal's edict for the repressing of luxury . . . . . 144 The Prince Royal's Report to the King, of the measures adopted during his retirement . 146 Buonaparte's seizure of Pomerania . 155 Ditto ditto of the Isle of Rugen . . ib. Letter from the Prince Royal to Buonaparte, Stockholm, 16th March, 1812 . , . 156 Letter from the Baron D'Engerstrom to Count Niepperg ..... 158 • See signature 19. The pages of this si^^ture by an errour in printing, appear the same as signatvu-e 18. Note from M. D'Ohsson, Charge d' Affaires at Paris, to the Duke of Bassano, May 28, 1812 161 Speeches of the King and the Prince Royal of Sweden, on the Diet heing assembled * 166 Swedish decree relative to commerce . . 167 Speech of the King of Sweden at the close of the Diet . . . . . 168 Treaty between Great Britain and Sweden . 169 Substance of engagements entered into between the courts of St. Petersburg and Stockholm, as far as the same are referred to in the treaty be- tween the King of Great Britain and the King of Sweden .... 174 Meeting between the Emperour of Russia and the Prince Royal of Sweden . . . 175 Report of the Swedish minister on the relations between Sweden and France during the years 1811 and 1812 , . . . 176 The Prince Royal's farewell address to the Swe- disli army in the interiour . . . 183 Note from Baron D'Engerstrom to M. de Cabre, Charge d'Afl'aires from France at Stockholm Dec. 20, 18i2 .... 189 Letter from M. de Cabre to the Baron D'Enger- strom, Dec. 21, 1812 . . . 191 Ditto from Baron D'Engerstrom to M. de Cabre, Dec. 23, 1812 . , .' . 193 Ditto from M. de Cabre to the Baron D'Enger- strom, Dec. 23, 1812 . . . ib. Military operations at and in the vicinity of Ham- burg in May, 1813 . . . 194 Journey of the Prince Royal to the liead-quar- tcrs of the Emperour of Russia and King of Prussia . ... 198 Denunciation of tlic ai'mistice . . 20Q vii Character, &c. of Genpral Moreau . . 201 Positions occupied by the allies and the French at the termination of the armistice . 203 The Prince Royal of Sweden's first bulletin, dated Oranienburg, Aug, 13, 1813 , . 306 Ditto, second bulletin, Potzdam, Aug. 16 . 210 Ditto, address to the army . . . ib. Ditto, third bulletin, Charlottenburg, Aug. 18 212 Ditto, fourth ditto, Potzdam, Aug. 21 , 214 Ditto, sixth ditto, RundsdorfF, Aug. 24 . ib. Battle of Gros Beren ... ib. The Piince Royal's reply to an address from Ber- lin 21« Ditto, sixth bulletin, Saarmund, Aug. 28 « ib. Affair at Juterbock , . 221 Capitulation of Luckau . . ; 222 The Prince RoyaPs seventh bulletin, Belitz, Aug. 30 .... 224 Operations of the allies at Dresden . . 225 Eighth bulletin, Truenbrietzen, Sept. 1 . 226 Ninth ditto, Rodigke, Sept. 4 . . .227 Tenth ditto, Juterbock, Sept. 6 . . 231 Eleventh ditto, Sept. 8, battle of Dennevitz . 232 Twelfth ditto, Juterbock, Sept, 10 . . 237 Thirteenth ditto, Leyda, Sept. 12 . . 243 Fourteenth ditto, Koswig, Sept. 14 . 245 Fifteenth ditto, Zerbst, Sept. 16 . . 248 Proclamation of the Prince Royal to the Saxons 250 Letter from the Prince Royal to Buonaparte . 252 Sixteenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. 20 . 258 Affair at Gorde , . . ,- 259 Denmark's declaration of war with Sweden 262 Seventeenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. 22, . ib. Affair at HoUendorff . . . 265 Eighteenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. 26 . 267 ISombardmen^ of Wittenberg . <. 268 I VIU Nineteenth bulletin, Zerbst, Sept. SO . 271 Sketch of military events, from the 1st of Sept. to thelstof Oct. 1813 ... 273 Twentieth bulletin, Dessau, Oct. 4, 1813 . 277 Twenty-first ditto .... 280 Movements of the Prince Royal of Sweden on Leipzig ..... 282 Twenty-second bulletin . . . 285 Battle of Leipzig .... 286 Twenty-third bulletin . : . 287 Prussian military report of the battle of Leipzig ib. Austrian military report of ditto . . 28^ Reply of the Emperour Alexander to the King of Saxony's offer of capitulation . . 291 Description of the misery proceeding from the first day's battle , . . 292 Letter from the Prince Royal of Sweden to Lieut. General Sir Charles Stewart, presenting him with the honours of a Grand Cross, and com- mander of the royal military Order of the Sword . . i . . 294 Twenty -fourth bulletin, Oct. 22, 1813 . 300 Twenty-fifth ditto, Mulhausen, Oct. 26 . 301 Death of Captain Bogue, . . . 303 Letter from the Prince Royal to Mrs. Bogue 304 Invectives contained in the French journals against the Prince Royal . . 307 Reply to ditto .... >*b. Observations on the career of the Prince Royal 311 Defence of the disposal of Guadaloupe to Sweden 313 Portrait of Buonaparte . . .315 Twenty-sixth bulletin, Hciligcnstadt, Oct. 30, 1813 . . . . .318 Deputation from the University of Gottingen to tlie Prince Royal , . . 321 IX Rejoicing at Hanover on the arrival of the Prince Royal . . . .322 Twenty-seventh bulletin, Hanover, Nov. 10, 1813 323 Battle of Hanau ... 324. Twenty-eighth bulletin, Boitzenburg, Novem- ber 30, 1813 . . . .328 Attack at Doesburg . . . ib Capture of the fortresses of Zutphen and Kolt- kamp . . • . . 329 Ditto at Groningen and Campen . 330 Ditto of the fortresses of Carlsburg and Blixen ib Ditto of Stade . . . . ib Ditto of Stettin . . . .332 Ditto of Horneburg . . . ib Manifesto issued by the allied Sovereigns from Franckfort . . . .335 Twenty-ninth bulletin, Neuminster, Dec. 12, 1813 ib. Capture of Rothenburg . . . 336 Sortie from Hamburg * , i 337 Affair at Ostenrode .... 340 Tliirtieth bulletin, Kiel, Dec. 16, 1813 , . 341 Armistice demanded by the Prince of Hesse ib Capture of the fort of Vollerwyk . 342 Review of the exertions of the Prince Royal 343 Letter addressed by the Prince Royal to his Son, Lubeck, Dec. 7, 1813 . . ib. Statement of the operations of the Prince Royal 344 Suspension of arms between the allied armies and the Danish forces . . . 345 Thirty -first bulletin, Kiel, Dec. 21, 1813 . 348 Marshal Davoust's orders of the 20th December 349 Magnanimous condut of the Prince Royal on the publication of the above . . . 350 Proclamation of the Prince Royal to the inhab- itants of Holsteia , . . 352 Thirty-second bulletin, Kiel, Dec. 26, 1813 . 353 Thirty-tliird bulletin, Kiel, Jan. 6, 1814 . 356 Renewal of hostilities with Denmark, and occupa- tion of the whole duchy of Sleswick by tiie Swedes ..... 359 Substance of the treaty of peace and alliance be- tween England and Denmark . 360 Ditto between Sweden and Denmark . ib Co-operation of the Danes with the Swedes 361 Thirty-fourth bulletin, Kiel, Jan. 17, 1814. 362 Declaration of the King of Denmark . 365 Thirty-fifth bulletin, Cologne, Feb. 1, 1814 . 372 Remarks on the private character and disposition of the Prince Royal . . . 376 Letter from the Prince Royal to M le Baron de Cederheilm, on the education of his Royal Highness's Son ... . 379 DEDICATION, (BY PERMISSION) TO MADAMfi LA BARONNE DE STAEL HOLSTER, Madamj The language of panegyric must not be ad- dressed to you, because its powers and its expres- sions would be alike unable to do you justice; but there is a homage of the feelings, and sentiments that may be offered without offence to your deli- cacy or your station, and which. Madam, I have the honour to present. Such homage it will be my constant ambition to avow, and to the close of my existence I shall remember, with pride and plea- sure, the countenance and the patronage of a ^^wo- man, illustrious by the gifts of genius." The transcend ancy of your genius, your literary fame and deep erudition, had rendered your name celebrated in England long before your arrival. You have been honoured. Madam, in every coun- try to which your steps have been directed, and in 8 XIV none more than in that which can boast of giving you birth; for there you were proscribed by one who felt your superiority, and by his conduct, ta- citly acknowledged it in the face of the world. In Sweden public honours were justly decreed you, and I trust that on the soil of Britain, and amongst her liberal and enlightened sons, you will have no cause to regret being an alien to that beautiful country which was once yours. The friend of genius and of man, the laurel un- der whose shade you reposed, the prince, the sol- dier and the statesman, I have in the following sheets, endeavoured faithfully to delineate, and my work having received the approbation of the Corinna of France, I feel every confidence in its success. I am not, however. Madam, insensible to the many difficulties and even boldness of my task. I am fully aware of tlie contrarieties of opinion entertained in this country upon many of the events that are discussed in my work, but my la- bours having received both your approval and pa- tronage, I am regardless of any opposition that may be offered to the sentiments and declarations they contain. I cannot resist thus publicly offering to you the acknowledgments I most warmly entertain for those lights you so readily threw upon the life and character of the Prince Royal; and from whom could I receive such information as from her who has seen him alike the heir of an ancient and au- gust throne, and divested of the appendages of XV royalty, as an amiable and enlightened compan- ion: — but although I feel certain that any declara- tion of my devotion and my respect for you, Ma- dam, would convey but a faint idea of my senti- ments, I must beg permission to express my ear- nest desire that you may still continue to receive those peaceful and unalloyed pleasures in the bo- som of your amiable family, to which your heart is so warmly susceptible, and in the world, that enthusiastic admiration your virtues and your ta= lents demand. I have the honour to be, Madam, Your very obliged, and most faithful Servant, J. PHILIPPART, ADVERTISEMENT, x HERE is not among all the memorable trans^ actions, military and political, by which the Eu- ropean world has been involved and agitated for the last twenty years, any that have excited more strong and universal interest than those of the pre- sent and the preceding continental campaings. For a long period the views of one ambitious in- dividual no sooner elicited themselves than suc- cess, in its most full and brilliant aspect crowned his enterprizes, however bold in their conception, unprincipled in their design, or unexpected in their execution. An amazing career of victory placed Napo- leon Buonaparte above the reach of calamity, and far removed from casual disappointment, uijtil the campaign of 181S-13 suddenly dispelled the magic shade his policy and subtlety had thrown over the observation of mankind, and shewed, that in the hands of an offended and avenging Omnipotent, the power of Napoleon, his armies, and his ^^suc- cessful destinies,'^ were but as the dews of the morning, which glitter for a while, and then va= nish beneath the sun-beams. XVlll lu the reverse of fortune that has at length overtaken this distinguished desolator, it is im- possible not to be susceptible of a feeling of inde- scribable gratitude, awe, and admiration of the Supreme Power which has arrested his sanguin- ary progress, and retarded the execution of those vast designs that were intended to carry blood and desolation into another hemisphere: and from this feeling the thoughts naturally revert to the condition in which the most powerful States of the world would have been placed, had not the avenging arm been stretched out to punish his presumption and deliver his fellow-men. In the ever varying circle of human existence it is observable, that the degradation of a State, or of an individual, is but a prologue to the ele- vation of another, and thus lias it appeared with Napoleon Buonaparte and his great contemporary Charles John. However difficult it may be for a man in obscure life to raise himself to power and greatness, yet having once acquired those possessions, he instantly finds the task of retain- ing them to be by far the most arduous: then is the hero, or the man of a common mind, discov- ered, and the world not imposed upon by false greatness and the exteriour appearance of supe- riour intellect. The passion most universal and most remark- able in the human mind, is ambition. However different in their pursuits, their occupations, or their desires, still ambition, to a degree, more or less, is disceruable in every man. And whether XIX it is directed to the subjugation of kingdoms, or the culture of a flower, it is still the same pas- sion, under a different semblance. In the breast of a man of virtue it is a most noble and amiable feeling, urging him to actions which reflect lustr© on his character; and although it does not at all times bring with it unqualified success, and unal- loyed gratifications, it is nevertheless always ex- alted, generous, and magnanimous. With the common herd of men it is a petty and contemptible passion, and in the breast of a misanthropist it is a scourge. The Prince Royal of Sweden is not unambi- tious; but with him ambition is a principle, not an instrument: it has been to him a watch-fire, which has led him by an easy gradation from a firelock to a sceptre, — ^from a camp to a court: and through his strange and romantic course, there are but few, if any, recollections, that are calculated to cast a gloom over his brow, or give a pang to his heart. In the unexampled successes, and the sudden and extraordinary reverses that have attended the Ruler of the French nation, the world beholds a lesson for the most ambitious. It is almost a mo- ral impossibttity for any other character to attain that superiority of power which was acquired by Buonaparte; his insatiate ambition, his great mi- litary talents, his despotic power, his open and secret treachery, his intrigues and perfidy, have been, however, always sufficient grounds for dis- trust, jealousy and alarm. His proceedings have constantly excited universal apprehensions, and XX each Contineutal State has secretly Oesired the organization of an adequate counterpoise against a power, whicli at last rashly committed itself, in endeavouring to acquire the command of the whole Continent; and ineffectually availed itself of every unjust means to ohtain that end. An intelligent political writer^- has very sensi- bly observed, it is deeply to be lamented, that those who are so ready to expose the faults of Buonaparte, and dwell upon his crimes, "should not endeavour to imitate him in those qualities in which he excels other men, and by which he has been enabled to rule over so many that are better than himself "f This is an observation that has often occurred to me: it is the best policy to imi- tate the actions of an enemy when they are likely to produce real benefits to a State, or to success- fully oppose his ambitious projects. It is true, in the early periods of the Prince Royal of Sweden's diplomatic career, he was betrayed into actions intemperate, and indeed contemptuous, towards a foreign power his minis- terial functions placed him near: J but in extenua- * Mr. Playfair— Firfe his "Political Potraits," 1813. t His perseverance in his undertakings, rewarding those who do real service, and dismissing those who are fouitd unfit to serve the public, highly deserve imitation, and cannot but be admired, even by his greatest enemies. This practice he adopted amongst the Jacobins, and if folly and ambition did not destroy their works, such a m.ode of proceeding would ensure success. \ Vide page 57. XXI Cion to a man who it has not been ray intention to represent "as a faultless monster, which the world ne'er saw," I must remark, that he was drawn into that exuberance of self-will by the overween- ing arrogance of the Assembly he then served, and which attempted, with too much success, to substitute its own presumptuous and unprincipled mandates in place of the laws and customs of neighbouring and even neutral States. But the impositions of the revolution, when they ceased to delude and intimidate the world, wei'e beheld in all the deformity of vice, cruelty and folly; and many of its strenuous supporters, the orators who declaimed in its praise, and the soldiers who spilled their blood for its security, were alike ashamed of the parts they had taken, and eager to demonstrate that feeling by a line of conduct in opposition to their former measures. — Having been once led into errour and extravagance of conduct by the baleful example of flagitious men, and the incongruous system of republican philosophy, it argues in the Prince Royal an in- genuousness of soul, and a free spirit, to retract and amend such errours. There is a spacious range for observation and inquiry into the political conduct of the Prince Royal of Sweden, since his elevation to that dig- nity. The frankness with which he at first ac- knowledged his obligations to Napoleon Buona- parte; his devotedness to that extraordinary character, and his constant sentiments of national attachment, have all been expressed with a sincer- xxu ity equally stroDg and natural. How pure, then, must be the patriotism of his soul — how exalted his feelings of gratitude to his adopted father and King, Charles XIII. — and how warm his affec- tion to those Swedes, who, of their own free elec- tion, have placed him at the foot of their throne, when all those long-cherished and early ties are voluntarily torn asunder, and the first and finest feelings of his heart sacrificed, to give peace, security and honour to Sweden — repose to all the world. The cynic and the misanthropist may declaim against the political conduct of the Prince Royal of Sweden; but the upright heart will trace therein the enlightened prince, the just magis- trate, the exalted patriot. France is indeed his parent, but he is united to Sweden; and as long as he felt it compatible with the interest of the lat- ter power, the country that had adopted and cho- sen him for her prince, he evinced his attachment to Buonaparte: but when France became at vari- ance with Sweden, and no hope of a satisfac- tory and honourable reconciliation remained, the Prince Royal could not a moment hesitate as to the line of conduct duty and patriotism called upon him to pursue, and in uniting his arms with those of the allied powers of the Continent, his Royal Highness declared his ambition was to re- store peace to Sweden — to France — to the world. Each day that passes serves to deepen the in- terest every well-wisbcr to the independence of Europe must take in tlie military operations of XXIU the Prince Royal; and every foreign paper affords some new proof of his great abilities as a soldier and a statesman. In addition to the public documents the author has collected and compiled with the greatest at- tention, he has been favoured with such sketches of the private and domestic manners of the Prince Royal, as shew him in the most amiable point of view — whether as a son, a husband, a father, or a friend. Throughout the following pages, will be found introduced various anecdotes of his Royal Highness in support of this declaration, and which the author flatters himself will be read with interest and satisfaction. Those readers, however, who are desirous of prying into all the domestic views of the subject of the author's me- moirs, will be perhaps disappointed: he has al- most exclusively confined himself to the public career of the Prince Royal, and contented him- self with brief sketches of his private character. But the author, however, acquainted with the fe- minine curiosity of many modern readers, has not thought it necessary, in the memoirs of an illustri- ous military character, to enter into details that would be disgusting to the real military and politi- cal reader. He has not thought it proper to satisfy those frivolous characters, who would wish to know whether the Prince Royal's hours of re- tirement from public duties were passed in listen- ing to the music of his wife's harp, or her voice; what company he saw; his hour of rising and re- XXIV firing, &c.; and whether he pursued the sylvan game in the romantic wilds and forests of Swe- den. The author must now call the attention of his readers to a paragraph in the writings of Poly- bius, as it most fully applies to the observations he has been obliged to offer throughout these me- moirs. "If we pay a proper regard to truth," ob- serves Polybius, "we shall find it necessary not only to condemn our friends upon some occasions, and commend our enemies, but also to commend and condemn the same persons, as different cir- cumstances may require; for it is not to be imagin- ed, that those who are engaged in great affairs should always be pursuing false or mistaken mea- sures; so neither is it probable that their conduct can at all times be exempt from errour." Before concluding this Advertisement, the Au- thor feels it a duty to offer his acknowledgments to those individuals who have been always ready to afford him the information they have possessed on the subjects of his writings. To Madame La Baronne De Stael Holstein, he has already pub- licly presented his warmest thanks; they are also due to his Excellency the Baron De Rahausen, and to other distinguished characters. The Au- thor has also to express the satisfaction he feels at the very liberal manner with which his various Avritings have been received by the Public, and XXY his thanks to those literary, friends who hav^ deemed them worthy of their patronage.* London, April 6. 18 14. N. B. As it will be readily perceived that tlie principal part of this work has been a considei*- able time in the press, the Author considers it necessary to observe, that the delay in its publi- cation has arisen from his desire to narrate the military operations of the Prince Royal of Swe- den to the close of the grand struggle for the de- liverance of Europe from the ambition of Napo- leon Buonaparte; and that this sheet, as well as * It should, however, be here noticed, that one attack, (and one only,) on the Author's works, and that of the most scurrilous and violent description, appeared in that receptacle of abuse, the Critical Review, and to which he thought proper to reply through the medium of the JSTew JReview, but contrary to the advice of his friends, as the malevolence of the attack was too evident to obtain for it any other from the public than the feeling it merited; ne- vertheless, it may, perhaps, be necessary for the Author to state, that the article alluded to, was written by a per- son out of pique to him, for having refused the insertion of some statements sent for a military work, over which he, the Author has some controul, and to which state- ments he decidedly objected, not from any ill-will to the writer of them, but on account of the malevolence of the papers, and the injury the work in question might sus- tain from their introduction. # XXVi the dedication was put to press previous to some - of the concluding parts of the volume. - The Author hopes to develop in a few^ weeks the policy that has directed the Prince Royal du- ring the last month, if such development should become necessary. • At present he considers it just to observe in defence of his Royal High- ness, that in this country the many are led away by the impressions of the moment, and are always willing to form and promulgate opinions on the suggestions that at first offer themselves, instead of coolly investigating or attending for authentic information, that might direct an unbiassed opin- ion. By these politicians, the conduct of the Prince Royal has been severely reprobated; by them only has he been censured for his stay at Liege, whilst maturer minds, too just and noble to be guided by the flimsy and versatile arguments of "the many," delay their judgment till the po- licy of his Royal Higness shall be satisfactorily revealed. The abdication of the throne of France by Napoleon Buonaparte has also occurred since the dedication and this sheet Avere put to press. That event has restored peace to Europe, and li- berty to the world: that event has been secured by the unanimity and perseverance of the allies; and in none have those sentiments more strongly prevailed, than in the mind and conduct of the Prince Royal of Sweden. His skilful and suc- cessful movements in the North of Germany; his proclamations and addresses to the French peo- xxvii pie; his candour and firmness, awakened a great part of the French nation to the true state of their M affairs, and exposed the ruin and misery which were enveloping them by the mad ambition of their Emperour. The downfal of Napoleon Buonaparte from the throne of France produces, however, in the mind of the Author of this work, a very different feeling from that entertained, or at least promul- gated, by those who now deride, revile, and sa- tirize the soldier, whose victories and whose **^conduct" gained hira, at one period, the admi- ration and the eulogism of the historians of this country; but whose' insatiable ambition ^^violated the compact which united him to the French peo- ple." Whilst his abdication of that throne, to which he was raised by his talents, must be re- joiced in by all well wishers to the repose of Eu- rope, the independent mind cannot contemplate his retirement without feelings somewhat ap- proaching to respect. The provisional government of France have observed, that ^^during a certain period of firm and prudent government. Napoleon Buonaparte afforded to the nation reasons to calculate for the future on acts of wisdom and justice; and when told, "that he is the only obstacle to the re-esta- blishment of the peace of Europe," he resigns the thrones of France and Italy, and declares, ^'^that there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life, which he is not ready to make to the inter- est of France." The members of the provision XXVIU al government, truly noble, do not forget the for- mer services of their general; they recollect what is due to him, what is due to themselves: they remind the French people how degrading and unworthy it were to abuse him; they provide for his retirement, and present him with an income, which Buonaparte observes is too much for a soldier like him. The present revilers of the fallen tyrant should read the language of Monsieur, the brother of Louis XVIII. who, on a lady lately abusing Buonaparte in his presence, observed — "Hushl do not abuse him, I could find it in my heart to raise 9; little statue to him in some part of my apartment.'' The minds of the great are not to be judged in prosperity; their true characters are only seen in calamity: and he that can buffet the storms of life, and when fallen from the highest summit of splendour to which any human being was ever raised to become the tenant of an Elban villa, and is not overcome by his adversity, possesses a mind which for its firmness, all may contemplate with respect. "When all the blandishments of life are gone, The coward sneaks to death, the brave live on.'* London, Mpril, 16, 1814. MEMOIRS, ^-c. The Crown Prince of Sweden is decidedly the most prominent character of any of the illustrious individuals who, at this moment, unite their strength against the waning greatness of Napoleon Buona- parte, whether ccmsidered as a statesman, a soldier, or a prince, forming part of the chastising whole which overshadows the military glories of his former associates in arms, he is still the general who leads, and the sage who directs; nor. can it be deemed a too glowing metaphor to assert, that the Crown Prince of Sweden is at this moment, the Polar Star OE Europe. This celebrated soldier and statesman rose not sud- denly, like the bursting of a volcano, carrying in its destructive course, death, misery, and desolation. His advancement was gradual and dignified. He did 5 30 not trample on the bleeding victims who stood athwart his path to dominion, nor wade through human gore, to seize a diadem; — he rose like the sun in silent ma- jesty, to Tivify, not to destroy.* The too prevalent and ridiculous practice observed by biographers, of exalting the Idol of the times above the frailties and weaknesses of humanity, is a system of such glaring fallibility and false reasoning, that it ought to be resisted and discouraged by all re- flecting men. It may be argued that human nature is prone to judge from those appearances which present themselves to observation, and that an ingenuous mind will eagerly put such construction on the ac- tions of mankind as accord with its innate feelings and sentiments. Nevertheless, such a position, al- though most honourable to human nature, is most er- roneous, and it is from the test of experience alone^ that the principles and views of individuals can be ba- lanced, and at that tribunal only, should their merits be tried. In order to strengthen this argument, I beg to draw the attention of my readers to the public journals, annals, and political writings of the years 1796, 1797, and 1798, when Buonaparte was bursting upon the world like the sudden appearance of a brilliant and unanticipated comet. How was he then appostro- phizcd, as the youthful hero who had risen to make his country great, powerful, secure! How was he " Bernadotte rose from tlie ranks to tlie dignity of Crown Piince of Sweden, and although he was one of tlie first to sign tlic insuuuient nominating Buonapaite Empe- ror of the Frciicli, jet as will be seen in tlie sequel, few instances have occurred tbrougliout liis career, wherein he h:is not acted w itii humaiiity, while luaiiy traits of his character and conduct are recorded, that certainly are most highly crcditabte aud honciitnble both to his heart and luidentandirg. 31 eulogised as an Archangel Michael, wlio held the flaming sword in his fateful hand, *"not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." That those inconsiderate adulators have had woe.- ful cause to retrapt their opinions, no one v*ill now venture to deny. Having this useful lesson strongly impressed upon my mind, and a determined intention to retrace the career of the Crown Prince of Sweden with a spirit of candour and impartiality, I enter upon my task; and I trust it will be allowed that the officer whose character and exploits I have to delineate, with all the immensity of his undertakings and conceptions, is not exalted by me above the standard of human excel- lence, or even removed from human fallibility. The subject of these memoirs was born at Pan,* a town of France, capital of the department of the Lower Pyrenees, on the 26th of January, 1763, two years after the birth of General Moreau. It is a fact worthy of remark, that the parentage of the present Crown Prince of Sweden and the late Gen- eral Moreau, was nearly similar. The fathers of each followed the profession of the law^, and were men of moderate fortune. The desire of Bernadotte's father, with respect to the line of life he should pursue, was similar to that entertained by the parent of Gen- eral Moreau j he was anxious his son should imbibe a * Henry VI. was born at Pau: it was the ancient residence of the kings of Navarre^ and before the revolution, the capital of Beam. It possesses several manufactories of cloth, woQllen, &?. and is seated on an eminence, by the river Pau, 97 miles south of Bordeaux. S2 taste for the profession of which he was himself a most respectable and honourable member, but the ac- tive genius and vivacity of Bernadotte could not be confined to the dry studies of the law, and his aversion to tread in that path wherein his father had fondly flattered himself he would be soon distinguished, indu- ced him, at the early age of fifteen, to quit his pater- nal roof, and to enlist in the regiment of Royal Ma- rines.* "With this corps the young Bernadotte served under M. de Bussy, during the American war, in the East Indiesj and afterwards with the squadron under Bailly de Suffrein. Within a year from the period of his enlistment, Bernadotte was promoted to the rank of corporal, and in 1783, on the return of his regiment to France, he attained the rank of serjeant. From the year 1783 till 1789, little of interest occur- red relating to the subject of these memoirs. In the latter year a circumstance took place, which, as it certainly evidences the respectability of the character of Bernadotte at that period, and the influence he pos- sessed over the minds of his companions in arms, must not be passed over. The Royal Marines were stationed at Marseilles in the year 1789, a period when the revolutionary springs, which afterwards agitated the whole French empire. • General Moreau was destined to follow the profession of his father, who had prac- tised tliat of an advocate with considerable reputation, in his native town: but a predi- liction for a niilitar)' life induced him, at a ver>' early age, to enter the army as a pri- vate soldier. He was, however, redeemed from the ranks by his i)arent, and he tcsiuncd his studies.— r«fc tJie Author's Memoirs of General Moreau. The coincidence in the parentage and early designs of General Moreau and the pre> sent Crown Prince of Sweden is striking and singular. 33 were in their birth. The inhabitants of Marseilles were, generally, men of Jacobinical principles, and they had succeeded in inciting the soldiers in the town to rise against their officers. When this object was accomplished, the mob determined on the murder of the Marquess D'Ambert, colonel of the Royal Ma- rines, and they instantly proceeded to his hotel for the purpose of carrying their determination into effect. Bernadotte, who had been absent at the commence- ment of the disturbance, fortunately arrived at the Marquess's hotel when the infuriated mob were ad- vancing in the greatest tumult, to execute their design. He immediately went forward to address themj and notwithstanding the frenzied state in which they had approached the Marquess's hotel, the cool and deter- mined manner of Bernadotte arrested, in an instant, their design. But when, however, it was perceived that his object was to impress them with the inhuman- ity and injustice of their wishes, many of the most violent cried out to him, that his addresses were una- vailing; that he must concur in their determination to murder the Marquess, and that they had nominated him, Bernadotte, colonel of the Royal Marines, in his place. Although the soldiers of Bernadotte's corps had mingled with the mob, and the men composing the other corps at that time in Marseilles, Bernadotte readily perceived that the former coincided in the ad- dress he had made, and having therefore drawn to- gether a number of them, sufficient to protect the Mai^- quess's abode, he immediately exclaimed to the rioters in the most energetic manner: — "Marseilles, as you assure me that I possess your confidence, I will prove 34< to you that I deserve it. I tlien absolutely declare, that I will not allow you to dishonour yourselves by a most base assassination. If the colonel is guilty, the law will render justice: citizens and soldiers are not executioners: I request you then to retire, as before you will obtain the head of the colonel, you must deprive me and the brave men who surround me of ours." This manly appeal had the desired effect; the mob quickly dispersed, and Bernadotte received the grateful thanks of his colonel and all the officers belonging to the corps. Bernadotte, after this act of heroism and justice, became clerk to the parliament of Pan, the town of his nativitj'^ and on the establishment of the national guards, he was appointed adjutant in those of Pau. — In 1793 he was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army of the north, where he commanded the 72d regi- ment of line infantry. During the latter year the fol- lowing circumstance took place, which called forth in Bernadotte, all the fire of his nature and warmth of temper. A high spirited officer. General Goguet, who, in the space of a year, had risen from the ranks to the com- mand of a division, finding he could not rally his men, who had been routed, by words, endeavoured to gain that point by giving to several, blows with his sword:*= one soldier, however, who had been thus treated, and who had lost sight of every respect to an officer whom he considered as possessing but little, if any, talent, on the general repeating his sabre blows shot him through the head. • Tlie code milUarre of the French army authorizes an officer to strike any one run- ing away from an enemy. 35 Colonel Beruadotte had received several marks of favour from the unfortunate ,^eneral; and from princi- ples of gratitude and respect, entertained for him the warmest affection. Added to which, his regard for military discipline, and for the respect that is due from soldiers to their officers in every service, deter- mined him to employ the utmost exertion to punish the assassin. He therefore immediately demanded from the commanding officer in whose corps the assassin served, that the culprit should, without loss of time, expiate by his death, the crime he had committed. A i)lea of defence was directly advanced, that the soldier was innocent, having only repelled force by force. This plea was supported both by the officers and men of the corps to which the assassin hel&Ttgedf and it was not till after Colonel Bernadotte had ad- dressed them in the most warm and eloquent manner, on the disgrace with which they would be covered, if they protected the murderer; and satisfactorily prov- ed that they would be infringing on the military regu- lations of the service, and expose themselves to similar conduct, that the criminal was given up, when he was instantly condemned and shot. Soon after this period. Colonel Bernadotte was ap* pointed to the command of General Kleber's advanced guard, and at the attack near Marchienne au Pont, was very much distinguished. Bernadotte, at this attack, for the first time, bad to execute the important duties of a general officer in the field of battle; and he conducted himself in such man- ner, as to obtain from the commander-in-chief of the $ m attny in which he served, General Kleber, the follow- ing highly flattering remark: "You have manoeuvei^ed like an old general, and I shall find it equally a pleasure, as it is also a duty, to announce to the Representatives, that though it is only your first attempt as a general, you have, by your ability, shewn yourself worthy of commanding your brave grenadiers. At the siege of Charleroi, General Bernadotte was actively engaged, as well as at the seigeof Maestricht, and the battle of Fleurus, in all of which he acquired much praise from Iiis commander-in-chief; and from the humane conduct he constantly evinced, and by sharing with the meanest soldier in all the hardships of the campaign, he rendered himself very much be- loved and respected by the whole army, and by the inhabitants of the several towns and fortresses which fell to the French arms. General Bernadotte, in command of a division of General Kleber's army, after the fall of Maestricht, occupied Bonn, Cologne, and Coblentz; and in 1795 he was entrusted with the blockade of Mentz on the Cassel side. After General Clairfait had forced the lines of Mentz, General Bernadotte was sent with his division to the Hundsruck, to arrest tlie progress of a corps (jeneral Clairfait had detached in that direction. General Bernadotte vigorously attacked the town of Creutznach, which was occupied by apart of the Aus- 37 trian troops, succeeded in carrying it, aifid pursued* the routed enemy, taking many prisoners. The armistice, concluded towards the end of Decem- ber, 1795, occasioned a momentary suspension of hos- tilities. Shortly afterwards, General Kleberf ma- noeuvred with the left of his army in the environs of Wetzlaar, and General Bernadotte advanced upon the Rower Lahn. Theterrour which the arms of the- French had in- spired in every direction, superseded all considera- tions but that of deprecating their hostility upon any terms. The late distinguished and lamented General Moreau's passage of the Lech had induced the Elec- tor of Bavaria to make overtures to that accomplislied veteran officer for a pacification. This indeed has been done by every prince and city that had not been able to resist the arms of General Moreau. The Diet of Germany, convened as usual at Ratis- bon, in a sitting on the 30th of July, for the purpose of consulting on the situation of affairs, gave evident • Wliilst in pursuit of the Austriaus, a circumstance occuwed, -which, from its singu- larity, deserves notice. General Poncet, who had the command of a division of reserve to support General Bernadotte, on reaching Creutznach after the departure of the lat- ter, was informed that several officers had quitted the ranks, and were refreshing them- selves at an inn. The general hastened thither, and ordered the officers to rejoin their regiments: they refused to do so, alledging that they had ate nothing for thirty .sue hours. Poncet fell upon them with flat strokes of the sabre, and many of them took to flight. One more obstinate than the rest placed his hand upon his sword, and sai4 haughtily to Poncet, "that he had always been partial to the point, and not the blade." The general, an excellent fencer, answered him, "As you like," and attacked the officer, who parried in the presence of more than twenty witnesses. After five or six thrusti without eftSjctj Poncet run his sabre through the body of his adversary, who fell dead at his feet. "It is thus," said Poncet, wiping his sabre on the clothes of the deceased, "I treat all arguers."— Fjrfe General Sarazins's "Philosopher." t This distinguished officer made frequently the following observation: "I do not like the proud— I pity fools— I defeat cowards— aod I abhor deeeit and uptruth." 6 proofs that they partook of the universal consterna- tion which pervaded the empire. The deputies of the princes and states of the empire came to a determination of opening a negociation for peace with France, All the members of the Diet ac- ceded to it, except the deputies from Austria and Bo- hemia, who ascribed the disasters of the war to want of union among the states of tlie empire, and their back- wardness to second their chief, the Emperour, in the common defence of their country. But the dangers apprehended from the French ap-' peared greater than that of opposing the desire of thcj Emperour: a decree was passed by the Diet, seriously to remonstrate to him, that in the present circum- stances of the empire it was necessary, conformably to the wish of its divers members, to put an end to a war that had been so calamitous, and no longer to de- fer the concluding of a peace upon reasonable condi- tions. Not content with this address to the Emperour, they looked upon the situation of the Diet as so precarious, that they commissioned deputies to repair to the French armies, to stipulate with the generals for the security and protection of the Diet, and for the public documents and archives in its custody, and for the jieutrality of Ratisbon itself. In this extremity the Archduke Charles, with great firmness of mind, determined to make a resolute at- tempt to extricate the Diet and the empire at once from the humiliating condition to which they were reduced. 39 The Archduke was at this time so hard pressed by the late General Moreaii, that he could scarcely judge which of the two difficulties required most his atten- tion; that of opposing General Moreau, whom he couM not but regard as a most formidable ad%'^ersary, or of hastening to the succour of General Wartensleben, who was opposed to General Jourdan, but who at this period had been continually unfortunate in every affair that took place between his corps and that of th« French General, General Jourdan had invariably maintained a supe- riority over General Wartensleben, and pushing him ^'rom post to post, was now advanced within a day's march of Ratisbon; no time was therefore to be lost in marching to his assistance. This was become the more indispensable, as a strong (Jivision of General Jourdan's army had been dispatched, under the imme- diate orders of General Bernadotte, with directions to proceed forthwith to Ratisbon, The latter circumstance determined the Archduke Charles as to the proper step he should pursue: leav- ing, therefore, a strong corps of observation, under General Latour, to watch and report to Iiim the mo- tions of General Moreau, he rapidly advanced towards Ratisbon. On the 17th of August the Archduke crossed the Danube at Ingolstadt, with the design of throwing himself between General Bernadotte and Ratisbon. General Jourdan on the same day had attacked War- tensleben in his encampment at Sultzbach: the army of the latter had received some reinforcements from the Archduke, and was more than equal in number to the 40 French. The action was obstinately contested on both sides: it lasted from early in the morning until elcA'^en at night, when the French obtained possession of the ground on which the battle had been fought. In the midst of the engagement, General Jouinlau iiad directed General Championet to march with a strong division towards Augsbourg, in order to pre- vent the Austrians stationed at the latter place from coming to the assistance of their brother soldiers at Sultzbacli. On his route to Augsbourg, General Championet fell in with the Austrians, and attacked them with so much impetuosity, as to oblige them to fall back on that town. The French army, early on the 28th, moved towards the Austrians, w^ho were strongly posted in fi'ont of Augsbourg: the latter, however, did not w^ait the attack of the French, and forced them from the position they had taken. After ■a well-Cought action, the French regained their post, and following up their success, obtained possession of the heights before Augsbourg, and obliged the Austrians to retreat across the Naab, there to wait the arrival of reinforcements. The Archduke Charles, on receiving intelligence of tlic defeat of General Wartenslebcn at Augsbourg, and his subsequent retreat behind the Naab, instantly al- tered the direction of his route, and advanced to Hem- man, which place he reached on the 20th August. General NauendorfT, who commanded tlie vanguard of the Austrian army, was immediately directed to pro- ceed and take possession of the hciglit of Taswaug, while Lieutenant-general Hotz marched with a co- lumn towards BcUugricss, to secure the Ai'chduke's left, and the road from Ratisbon to Nuremberg. 41 General Nauendorff on tlie 22d, attacked the divi- sion under the orders of General Bernadotte at the village of Tenning. A sanguinary engagement en- sued, which was attended with various success dur- ing the whole day. The village was several times taken and retaken, the streets were strewed with dead hodies, and towards evening, the village was set on fire by the Austrians, under the impression, that by such means they would be enabled to dislodge the French, who were entrench- ed in the houses. About this period, the left of General Bernadotte's corps was attacked by the right of the Archduke's army, and the 88th regiment of line, ipfantry, which was upon that point, obliged to retreat. By the last success, the Austrians acquired posses- sion of the grand road of Neumarkt, the only road by which the French could retreat; and the situation of General Bernadotte and his army w^as thus rendered extremely critical and dangerous, unless he could suc- ceed in repelling his adversary. Placing himself, therefore, at the head of his re- serve,* and undismayed by the fatigue his troops had suffered during the whole day, (the engagement hav- ing lasted from day-break, and it being at the time late in the evening,) he determined on a most vigor- ous attempt to retake the ground his left had lost. General Bernadotte had always the greatest reli- ance in his troops; he knew they were warmly atlach- • A battalion of grenadiers of the 37th regiment of line, infantry, and of the 7th regi- ment of dragoons, composing a force of about 5000 strong. 4:2 ed to him, and that he possessed the esteem and love of every man in his armj; a linowledge few officers in the French service could at that period boast of. This was a time to put their fidelity and attac hment to a trial: the men were exhausted with continual hard fighting, the reserve were dispirited by the ill success of their companions on the left, and nothing but the energetic spirits of their general could rouse them to any prompt and vigorous exertion. He put himself at their head, and addressed them in bold and animated terms — ''Soldiers and my friends, "You know what care I have always taken of your welfare since I had the happiness of commanding such brave fellows as yourselves; the moment is now arriv- ed for testifying your grateful sense of it, deserving well of your country, and covering yourselves with glory." A general enthusiasm ran through the French ranks at the conclusion of this address; the soldiers answer- ed with cheers, *'that they were ready to follow General Bemadotte to the bottom of hell." Gratified and inspired by the spirit he had kindled in his troops, General Bemadotte directed the charge to be beat, and advanced with the whole line in close columns against the centre of the Austrians. Nothing but the ardour by which his men were possessed would have encouraged him to this bold step: it was attended with complete success; his enemy was staggered at his daring movement, and although, in point of numbers, three times more numerous, the Austrians offered but a weak resistance to the French, and retired in confti- 48 sion to their former position. The Austrian General Starray's division was nevertheless, dispatched, the second evening, hy the Archduke Charles, to threaten the left wing of the French, while other columns ra- pidly advanced towards Neumarkt. The operations of the Archduke, which evinced great military talents, rendered it important that Gen- eral Bemadotte should adopt the most cautious line of conduct, to prevent the destruction of his comparitive- ly small army.* By the last movements of the Arch- duke, the situation of General Bemadotte was again most critical, and at 10 o'clock in the evening of the same day, the 22d, he consequently retreated to Neu- markt. On the following day, (the 23d,) the Austrian caval- ry and artillery advanced to the plain of Neumarkt, and a warm and destructive lire commenced. Gene- ral Bemadotte, finding that his force was unequal to withstand a general attack from the superiour numbers of his adversary, took advantage of seme tardy opera- tions on the part of the Archduke Charle-s, and made good his retreat from Neumarkt to the neighbourhood of Altdorf. General Jourdan having joined the army under General Bemadotte, he, on the 27th, directed the lat- ter to attack a column consisting of the flower of the Archduke's army, and under tbe command of the Prince of Lichtenstien and General Kray, which had possessed itself of the great road leading from Bam- berg to Wurtzburg. Several attacks took place, but • The Arcliduke Charles tad 25,000, General Bemadotte not more than 10,009. 44 without any decisive success attending either side: the 37th French infantry was defeated hy an Austrian re- giment of light horse, and it would have been entirely cut to pieces, if General Bernadotte had not timely dispatched a regiment of chasseurs to its aidj a sharp contest ensued, which ended in the overthrow of the Austrian liglit liorse. Towards the close of the day, General Jourdan dis- patched instructions to General Bernadotte, "that he must cut himself a passage, sword in hand;" hut after- wards directed a retreat along the right hank of tlio Maine, which General Bernadotte executed in the most perfect order. The battle of Wurtzburg was fought by General Jourdan in direct opposition to the wishes of General Bernadotte and General Kleber, and neither of these officers were engaged: the former, General Berna- dotte, reported himself unwell, a large tumour having formed in his forehead, whilst the latter took the com- mand of some troops stationed at Schwemfurt. The consequences of the battle were such as General Ber- nadotte and Kleber* had predicted. General Jourdan was defeated, and obliged to form a rapid retreat, after experiencing a loss of 4500 men in killed and wound- ed; and in a short time afterwards, the Directory, dis- satisfied with liis conduct, recalled him from the army, to answer before them for his disastrous proceedings. When General Jourdan received this peremptory or- der, he essayed to obtain from Generals Kleber and • On some officers observing on the injustice of tiie Dircctorj', in tlie presence of General Kleber, at the time he was neglected by that asscmblv, and superseded by M. Bounioiiville in the command of his army, he remarUed— "Soldiers oiig;ht to obey and be silent. If I had succeedeil in getting myself decix'ed a Itgislator, I should ha\e demanditl with energy the ivform of abuses. As lung as I slipll remain a general, I iliall e\pose my breast for the defence of government, and turn my back upon those governours, who, lIKo the present oiies./are xuiworthy of the confidence of llie nation." 45 Bernadotte a certificate of his good conduct: they, however, absolutely refused any compliance with his wishes. General Bernadotte was highly exasperated against him. In the battle of Wurtzburg, the flower of his, Bernadotte's, corps had been entirely destroyed, and he justly regarded the commanding general as ex- tremely culpable, in having exposed, by a rash and in- defensible movement, the brave fellows entrusted to his command. General Bernadotte, on being pressed by Jourdan to give the certificate already mentioned, observed, <*I can only give yon an attestation of imbecility; every body knows you are an honest man, a brave soldier, and a good citizen; but it is for the public in- terest that the government should be well convinced that you are incapable of successfully commanding in chief, even four men and a corporal." Some time after the above affair, a few individuals, jealous of the high name and respect General Berna- dotte had acquired, endeavoured by calnmnious re- ports to lower him in the esteem of his friends: they industriously circulated a report in Paris that he was extremely mercenary, and had levelled contributions on the inhabitants of Nuremberg,* which had very much enriched him. • General Sarasin has observed, tliat the burgomasters of Nuremberg offered Gen» eral Bernadotte a considerable present in gold, which he refused, though it had been observed to him, that the Prussian and Austrian generals had never required much pressing to accept of smaller considerations. Bernadotte replied, "that every one was master of his own actions, and that the only reward he required of the magis- trates, in return for keeping his troops in good discipline, was, that tliey would pay the greatest attention to his sick a^d wounded." These reports were communicated to the General, and their falsity occasioned in him so much mortifica- tion, and anger, that he came to a determination of relinquishing the command he held, conceiving that in a less humhle sphere he should he removed from that calumny which is always levelled, hy the mis- chievous and ill-disposed, at tliose in power and ex- alted situations:, he therefore addressed the Directory, for permission to retire on half-pay, and entered into an explanation of the circumstances that occasioned his application. The reply of the Directory, though it negatived this request, was couched in the most flattering and complimentary terms. He was recom- mended to punish with contempt the malevolence of those who could not know how to appreciate his ser- vices, and who only envied him, because he was their superiourin every moral excellence. And they con- cluded by observing, "that the French government relied on his talents and patriotism still to continue ably serving his country." General Bernadotte was now directed by his friend. General Kleber, to take the command of a division of 15,000 men, which the Directory had required to join the army of Italy, under the order of Buonaparte; and in the month of February, 1797, he effected the passage of the Alps with his army in the most perfect ccmdition. The soldiers, however, on reaching Milan, were ■extremely dissatisfied, and actually refused to proceed: their pay was greatly in arrear, and there aj)peared to them no chance of its being paid up during the campaign. In this exigency, General Bernadotte was obliged to emjdoy all his talents of persuasion 47 and firmness: he first addressed them with promises, and stated that the arrears should be discharged on the troops reaching Mantua; but Mantua offered in the opinions of the soldiers as little possibility for their payments as Milan, and they replied to their general, that though they entertained for him every respect and regard that soldiers sho'uld, when under the command of a distinguished officer, they were nevertheless determined on not marching from Milan, before they received the whole of the pay due to them. General Bernadotte perceived that persuasion was useless, and that the whole were governed by the opinions of a few: he immediately altered his tone, and addressing his men with the greatest firmness, he observed— '^Soldiers, *'ision. I must say, to the praise of the plenipotentiaries, that tliey waited on me as soon as they heard of the dispute between the troops, and entreated me very earnestly to do what- ever I tliought would soonest appease it. A rumour was then very wrongfully circula. tfd, that Count Merfeldt and Baron Degelman were the instigators of this quarrel. On my arrival at Trieste, Bemadotte, who had been informed of all that had passe*], returned me his thanks for having so well fulfilled his intentions; adding, that if 1 had! followed Brune's advice, he would no longer have employed me about him, as his divi- sion had no occasion for lessons of bravery or ci vism from the army of Italy." * I have had occasion to notice this document in my memoirs of General Moreau, At the periotl it was written, Buonaparte was idolized by those who could not pei'- ccive tlie cunning and policy that directed all his actions, and the annals of the English history are disgraced by tlie most weak and fulsome panegyricks on "the noble and dis. interested conduct of Buonapaitt-.'" 5B alone; and yet blood is about to be more profusely shed than evert Fatal presages preside over this 6th Campaign, Whatever may be its issue, we shall yet destroy several thousands of men on both sides, and, sooner or later, this struggle must end in a mu- tual agreement, since every thing has its turn, even the passion of hatred. "The desire which the executive Directory enter- tains of putting an end to a war that afflicts the two nations, was made known to his Imperial Majesty: the intervention of the court of London opposed it. Is there then no hope of a good understanding between us? And must we continue to butcher one another, for the interests and the passions of a nation which knows not the evils of war? "You, Commander-in-chief, whom birth has placed so near the throne; who are superiour to the little pas- sions which often influence ministers and governments; have you resolved to deserve the title of Benefactor of Humanity, and True Saviour of Germany? Do not suppose, sir, and Commander-in-chief, that I mean to imply, that it is impossible for you to save your country by the force of arms; but even granting that the chance of war should be favourable to you, Germa- ny will, nevertheless, be laid waste. As for me Gen= eral, if the overture which I have the honour to make to you, can save the life of a single man, I shall pride myself more upon the civic crown, that my conscience will tell me I thus shall have deserved, than upon the melancholy glory which arises from military suc- cess. 54 «I entreat you, sir, and Commander-in-chief, to believe in the sentiments of esteem, and high conside- ration, with which I am, &c. "Buonaparte." Reply of the Archduke Charles to the foregoing letter. *< General, "While I make war, and obey the calls of honour and of duty, I certainly desire a peace as you do, for the sake of humanity, and for the happiness of nations. — But, nevertheless, as in the post entrusted to my charge, it does not belong to me to scrutinize, or termi- nate the quarrel between the belligerent powers, and as I have even no full power from his majesty, the Emperour, I trust you will find it natural. General, that I should not enter into any negotiation upon that head with you j and that I should await superiour orders upon a subject of such high importance, and which does not properly come within my province. '^Whatever may be the future chances of war, or the hopes of peace, I beg you will be assured, General, of my esteem and high consideration, "Charles, Field Marshal." In consequence of this overture, on the part of Buonaparte, the Generals Bellegarde and Meerfelt were dispatched by the Empcrour of Austria to Ju- dembourg, with full powers to treat concerning a sus- pension of arms, or even for a peace. The former was mutually agreed to, and would have been of high importance to Buonaparte, in the event of a renewal of hostilities. It was agreed upon for six days; but 55 the articles* of agreement l»ad given to Buonaparte & most important line of positions, without a struggle, and which, it is more than prohable, he could not have gained at that time, by force of arms. At the expi- ration of the six days, it was prolonged; and on the 18th of April, the preliminaries of peace were signed at Leoben„ To judge accurately of the character and sentiments of statesmen, it is not only necessary to consider their public acts and opinions, but also to be, in a material degree, guided by tlieir private sentiments when such are to be ascertained. The opinions of General Ber- nadotte, on the republican measures, in the year 1797, are, in some measure, to be judged of by the follow- ing letter on the events of the ISth Frudidor, • Article 1st. There shall be a suspension of amn between the Imperial and French armies, commeucing on this night, the 7th of April, and continuing until thp night of the 13th inst. Article 2d. The French array shall preserve the following line:— The outposts oC the right wing of that army shall remain in the positions they now occupy between Fiume and Trieste. The line shall extend through Treffen, Lithay, Windish, Feis- friz, Marchburg, Ehrenhausen, the right bank of the Muehr, Gratz, Bruck, Leoben, Trafiejack, Mautem, the road from Mautern as far as Rottenmann, Irding, the valley of the Drave, and LintZi Article 3d. A suspension of arms shall also take place in the Tyrol, The Gene. wis commanding the French and Imperial troops in that quarter, shall agree togetheR upon the posts to be occupied by them. Hostilities shall not re-commence in the Tyrol until twenty-four hours after the Generals-in-chief sliall have so arranged it, and, at all events, twenty-four hours after the Generals commanding the French and Imperial troops in the Tyrol, shall have re-, ciprocally warned each other of it. 56 Paris, the 18tb of Fnididor^ Sth year. (5th September, 1797, old style.) «I wrote thee in haste to inform thee, that a new royal conspiracy was about breaking out, had it not been for the foresight of tli« Directory, who were upon the point of being destroyed. «'Pichegru, Willot, Villaret Joyeuse, and Rovere are arrested. The grenadiers of the legislative body have fraternized with the troops of the 17th division, as also witii the guards of the Directory. The repub- licans have triumphed; not a drop of blood has been spilt; consequently, no tears to shed. Guilt sheds none, b^it it shall be punished. "Every thing goes on well — ^the councils have as- sembled; meanwhile, the Directory, in unveiling the conspiracy, has proclaimed the pain of death against whoever should exclaim, *Long live the King!* or, S7 Austrians. Murat communicated the circumstance to Buonaparte, who, suspecting the stratagem, refused to agree to the terms, and ordered the troops to ad- vance. During the parley, the Russians had made prepara- tions for retreat: they were, however, attacked at Guntersdorff, and compelled to give way, after losing 2000 prisoners and as many in killed and wounded. — The loss on the part of the French was not inconside- rable. On the 17th, Buonaparte's head-quarters were at Znaim, and on the 20th at Brunn. He next advanced^ and took up a position near Wiskau; between which place and Olmutz the Austro-Russians were posted; there the Russians received reinforcements, and a general and decisive action appeared to be determined on by both armies. The state of the opposed armies was nearly equal in point of numbers: the French amounted to from 70 to 80,000 men; the Russians to 50,000, and the Aus- trians to 25,000. The French, however, were flushed with victory, full of confidence, and led on by skilful generals; whilst great licentiousness and relaxation prevailed in the force of tlie allies. To the latter cir- cumstances, must be attributed the determination of the allies to risque a general and decisive battle, — The Russians were commanded by General Kutusoff, the Austrians by Prince John of Licbtenstein. Marshal Bernadotte, whose corps had only joined a day or two before the main French army, and who, in prder to rest his troops, remained in the rear, was 6ir 88 rected to take post near the village of Girschikowitz. Marshal Bernadotte's corps, composed of the divisions of Rivaux and Drouet, formed the centre of the French army. The right of the French army was under Soult, and placed between Kobclnitz and Sokolnitz. The divi- sion of Le Grand, forming the extreme right, was posted between Kolnitz and Tellnitz, and occupied three villages w ith strong detachments of infantry.— Murat's cavalry was in the rear of Marshal Berna- dotte, and on his left; and Lannes formed his left wing with the divisions of Suchet and Cafferelli: this last was connected with the left of Murat. The di- vision of Vandamme was on the left, and that of St. Ilildire in the centre of Marshal Soult's corps. The reserve, composed of twenty battalions, the whole un- der Duroc, was near Turas. On discovering the intention of the allies to risk a general battle, Buonaparte addressed his troops, stat- ing that the Russian army, which they had beaten at Holbrunn, and who had been flying before them, were now in tlieir front, to avenge the defeat of the Aus- trians at Ulm; that the French army occupied a for- midable position, and that while the enemy marched to attack his right, they would expose their flankj and tliat he should himself direct all the battalions, and if victory became for a moment doubtful, that he should put himself in front of the battle; that this vic- tory would finish the campaign, and that a peace would follow, worthy of his people, his army, and himself. The action began on the 3d of December, soon after dawn of day, on the left wing of the allies: a corps. 89 under General Kienmeyer, posted in front of Aujut, was nearest the French, and destined to force the de- file of Tellnitz, and to carry the village of that name as soon as possihle, in order to open a passage for the first column, which had a great circuit to make before it could arrive at a point which would bring it in a line witli the second column. On a hill, in front of the last-mentioned village, some French infantry were posted^ these General Kienmeyer first attacked, and after two repulses, he succeeded in gaining possession of it. The village was still defended by the French, and the action had continued for above half an hour, when the first Rus- sian column aproached, and a force was immediately detached to tlie support of General Kienmeyer. The French also received a reinforcement from General Davoust, and a sudden fog coming on, the latter re- took the hill beyond the village. After the fog, the allied troops moved forwards, and the French aban- doned the village. The allies having now passed the defile, and occu- pied the plain between Tellnitz and Turas, their next object was to form a communication with their second column; but this, and likewise the third column, had been checked by apart of the division under Le Grand, which occupied Sokolnitz, and in passing that village, some confusion in their movements occasioned them farther delay. The want of concert and consistency in the move- ments of the Austro-Russian army was not lost sight of by the French chief, who perceiving, that by the circuitous route the left of the allies was obliged to 90 take, it became more distant from the centre, in pro- portion as it advanced, immediately determined on marching with his massy columns against the centre, and by that manoeuvre he expected to cut off the left wing, which continued to advance for the purpose of turning the French army in a position it did not oc- cupy.* The reserve of the French army, during this ope- ration, remained upon the heights between Schlapa- nitz and Kobelnitz, whilst Soult, with the two divi- sions of St. Hilaire and Vandamme, traversed the vil- lages of Kobelnitz and Puntswitz, to attack the heights and the village of Pratzen. Marshal Bernadotte, at the same time, after having crossed the rivulet at the village of Girschikowitz, with the division of Rivaud on his left, and that of Drouet on his right, took his direction on the heights of Blasowitz. On the left of Marshal Ber- nadotte, the cavalry under Murat formed in several lines, and marched between Girschikowitz and Krug; and Lannes, having the divisions of Suchet, and Caf- farelli on his left and right, moved forward to the left of Murat. • The imperfect knowledge tlie allies possessed of their enemy's poiition, although scarcely out of the range of the musketry, rendered the suppositions upon which their plan of attack was founded very indefinite. They imagined the French had weakened their centre to reinforce their left; the allies outtlanked the right of the French By passing the defiles of Sokolnitz and Kobelnitz, it was supposed tlie right of the French would be turned, and tl)at the attack might afterwards be continued iu the plain be- tween Schlapauitz and the wood of Turas, thus, avoiding the defiles of Schlapanitz and Bellowitz, which it was believed covered the front of the French position. The plan was therefore to vigourously attack the right of the French army; to rapidly pssi the TOlley between Tellniu and Sokokitz: the right of the allies on which was the cavalry of Prince Joluj of Lichtenstcin, and the adranced corps under Princ» Braga* tion, was to cover this movement. The first of these generals, on the plain between Knig and Schlapanitz.on each side of the causeway, and occupied the heights, retreated between Dwaroschna and the Inn jf Lesd), with his artillery. From this period, the centre and right of the al- lies became engaged in all quarters: the Grand Duke Constantine was destined, with the Russian guards, to form tlie reserve of the right. At the appointed hour he quitted the heights in front of Austerlitz, to ap- proach those of Blasowitz and Krug. On reaching them, he was attacked by the sharp-shooters of Ri- vaud's division, and Murat's light cavalry under Gen- eral Kellerman. With every expedition, the Grand Duke Constantine marched to occupy Blasowitz with the light-infantry battalion of the guards. Prince John of Lichtenstein arrived at the same time with his cavalry, and detached ten squadrons for the pro- tection of the left flank of Prince Bragation's divi- sion, which was opposed to part of Murat's cavalry. Prince John found the Grand Duke in presence of General Kellerman's corps of cavalry, supported by the infantry of Marshal Bernadotte's left, and Mar^ shal Lannes's right. It was determined to charge the French, and the movement was executed with intre- pidity, but with too great precipitancy; for the French cavalry retiring through the intervals of their infan- try, the Russian calvary pursued: but being thus placed between the fire of Caifarelli's division on their right, and that of Rivaud on their left, the Hulans lost about 400 men, and the Archduke's regiment, which had been the first to deploy, was put completely to the route: In this state it reached the corps under Bragation, who had now moved forwards from Po- rorsitz, to oppose Lannes's left, which rested on Kova- lowitz; three battalions of Russian infantry occupied the villages of Krug and Holubitz. Tho centre of the allied army, it will be observed. ^ 92 had been very much weakened by the strong force de- tached to so .s^reat a distance on tlieir left, with the in- tention of turnin.o' the right of the French, while the division on the right was not sufficiently strong to di- vide the French forces. In the centre the Anstro-Ilussians did not exceed 12,000 men, while the force Buonaparte had engaged to attack them, exceeded 24,000; and thus the centi-c of the allies was completely insulated. According to the original plan, however, the allies had laid down, they advanced about eight o'clock, the Emperour Alexander having arrived at the head of the fourth column, commanded by General Kollowrath. Already, therefore, the action near Tellniz had began, and the left was in motion, when the centre formed, and broke into platoons from the left. These mea- sures had hardly been taken, when a massive column of French infantry, composed of the divisions of Van- damme and St. Hilaire, w^as discovered in a bottom in front of Pratzen. This movement of the French completely deceived the Russian Commander-in-chief, Kutusoflf: he was taken by surprise, and thinking himself attacked in the midst of his combinations, felt all the importance of maintaining the heiglits of Pratzen, against which the French were moving. KiitusofF gave immediate orders for occupying the heights, and strengthened himself with four Russian regiments of cavalry from the column of Prince John. In addition to Vandamme and St. Ililaire's corps, another body of French, part of Marshal Bernadotte's 93 corps, approached on the right of Pratzen, and threat- ened to pass through the interval, between the fourth column and the cavalry under Prince John; and the Russian infantry of the fourth column now marched to the right of Pratzen, and sent a reinforcement to the hUl in front of that village, which was occupied by the advanced guard; but the latter was compelled to abandon its position, being attacked by superiour numbers. The French continued to advance without firing a shot, although the Russians had opened their fire, un- til they came within a hundred paces of their enemy; a destructive fire was then commenced, after which they formed in several lines, and marched rapidly to- wards the height, resting their left on the church of the village, their right on the elevated points of tliQ heights. Having reached the heights, the French formed in an angular direction, for the purpose of opposing the rear of the third column, composed of the brigade un- der General Kaminskoy, and which had separated from the column, and shewed a front upon the heights, menacing the right flank of the corps under Soult. As the fate of the battle rested upon the possession of tlie heiglits, every effort was made by the allies to dislodge the French. During this desparate affair, Alexander, who had remained with the fourth co- lumn, directed his battalions to advance, and endea^' vour to take the French in flank, while Kollowrath received orders to check the enemy on the left, and the brigades under Kaminskoy were reinforced by twQ regiments of Russians who had been left in reserves 13 The allies, howerer, perceived, from the talent dis- played by the French generals in all their movements, that nothing but a desperate attack at the point of the bayonet could turn the fate of the day. The Aus- trian brigades, with that under Kaminskoy accord- ingly charged; but they were received by the French with the utmost steadiness and a well-supported fire, which made a dreadful carnage. Other charges were attempted, but the ardour of the attack soon evapora- ted, and the French attacking the allies in their turn, resistance became of no avail: the allies were routed in this and every other direction. Various stands were made in different quarters, and the greatest courage exhibited by the Austrian cavalry; but the whole were finally obliged to retreat, and the French at night took up the position occupied by the allied army on the preceding evening, whilst the lat- ter retired completely behind Austerlitz into the posi- tion of Holiegitz. On both sides the loss in this grand and important battle was very great: the allied army w^as diminished more than a fourth part by killed, wounded, and pris- oners; forty standards, and the greatest part of their artillery and baggage, were taken: ancl such was the number of wounded left upon the field, that they could not all be dressed until two days after the battle. The French army advanced on the following day, and Marshals Bernadotte and Soult, with the imperi- al guards and the grenadiers of the reserve, were post- ed on the V)ute towards Hungary. In the mean time, Prince John of Lichtenstein had been sent on the night of the battle to Buonaparte, on the part of the Emperour of Austria, to propose an 95 armistice; in consequence of which, a meeting took place between the Emperour and Buonaparte, at which it was agreed that the French army should re- main in possession of its conquests, viz. part of Mo- ravia and Hungary, all Upper and Lower Austria, the Tyrol, the State of Vienna, Carinthia, Styria, Carniola, the country of Goritz and Istria; and lastly, in Bohemia, the circle of Montahar, with the whole space to the eastward, from Tabor to Lintz. The above immense tract was to be held by the Fi'ench army until the conclusion of a dejfinitive peace, or the rupture of the negotiations; in the latter of which case, it was stipulated that hostilities should not recommence within fourteen days, and that the cessa- tion of the armistice should then be announced to the plenipotentiaries of both powers, at the head of their respective armies. It was further stipulated, that the Russian army should, within fifteen days, evacuate the Austrian States, Moravia and Hungary, and within a month Gallicia; and that the routes should be prescribed to the Russian army. The Emperour Alexander indignantly refused to become a party to these humiliating conditions, and instantly (the 6th of December) directed his army to commence its retreat. Prince John on the part of the Austrians, and M de Talleyrand on the part of France, were deputed to conclude the definitive treaty. The following is Buonaparte's proclamation after the battle of Austerlitz; 96 « Soldiers! "I am satisfied with you. In the battle of Auster- litz you have justified what I expected from your in- trepidity. You liave covered yourselves with eiernal glory. An army of 100,000 men, which was com- manded by the Emperours of Russia and Austria, has been, in less than four hours, either cut off, or dis- persed; what escaped your swords, have thrown them- selves into the lakes. Forty stand of colours, the standards of the Russian imperial guard, 120 pieces of cannon, twenty generals, and above 30,000 prisoners, are the fruits of this ever-memorable battle. That in- fantry, so celebrated, and so superiour to you in num- bers, has proved miable to resist your charge; and henceforth you have no rivals to fear. Thus, in less than two months, the third coalition is conquered and dissolved. Peace cannot be at a great distance; but as I promised to my people before crossing the Rhine, I will conclude it only upon terms consistent with my pledge, and which shall secure, not only the indemnifi- cation, but the reward of my allies. **Soldiers! When the French people placed the im- perial crown upon my head, I trusted to you to enable me to maintain it in that high splendour of glory, which alone could give it value in my estimation: but at that moment our enemies entertained the design to tarnish and degrade it; and the iron crown, which was gained by the blood of so many Frenchmen, they woidd have compelled me to place on tlie head of my bitterest foe — an extravagant and foolish proposal, which you have brought to nought on the anniversaiy of your Emj)erour's coronation. You have taught them, that it is easier for them to defy and to threaten, than to subdue us. ©7 "Soldiers! When every tiling necessary to the Se- curity, the happiness, and prosperity of our country has been achieved, I will return you my thanks in France. Then will you be the objects of my tender - est care. My people will receive you with rapture and joy. To say to me, - ing to the castle in which iliis general was quartered. The unequivocal piwfs of de- licacy aid probity which Genen-U Bernadotte has given throughout tlie whole of his military career, leave no doubt of his entire innocence in this respect. As to what he received from the Comniander-iii-chiel, under tlie title of encouragemem, we will call to mind what Marshal ViUars wrote to Louis the Fourteenth, who had remarked to him. that his exactions were complained of: 'The first jiait, si.v." said the conquerour of Cenain, is for your majesty's treiisury, and serves to pay the troops ; rlie second is to assist my officers who are in want, and the tKndh to fatten 7>iy vcux." It was the name of a very fine estate belonging to the Mai shal; the pronunciation of which was the same as veau, (calf.) which made the pun upon tlie woi-ds. llie august monarch', who knew that war nttiit be mnintaineil bij war, laughed Iitartily at bis general's pUn, and approved of it by saying no more on the subject." 115 m the aspect of the affront with which this brave re- giment was on the point of being covered for ever, and from which, neither victory, nor the glory acquired in an hundred combats, would have purified it, the sol- diers, animated with an inconsiderable ardour, preci- pitated themselves on the enemy, whom they routed, and recovered their eagle. In the meanwhile the French line, cpm^oseil of the 8th of the line, of the 37th of light infantry, and of the gi-th, were formed, and attacked the Russian line, which had taken its fjositibn upon a irising ground. The fire of the mus- ketry was veiy brisk, and at point blank distance. At this moment General Dupont appeared on the road, with the 32d and 96th regiments. He turned the right Wing of the enemy. A battalion of the 32d rushed upon the enemy with its usual impetuosity, put them to flight, killing several of them. The only prisoners they made were those who were in the houses. The Russians were pursued for two leagues, and were it not for the coming on of night, the pursuit would have been continued. Counts Pa]ilen and Galitzen commanded the Russians. They left 1200 dead on the field of battle, and lost 300 prisoners and several howitzers. Laplanche, general of brigade, distin- guished himself. The 19th dragoons made a fine charge against the Russian infantry. It is not only the good conduct of the soldiers, and the talents of the general, which are most wortliy of remark, but the expedition with which the troops broke up from their cantonments, and performed a march which would be reckoned extraordinary for any other troops, without a man being missing in the field of battle. It is th]s which eminently distinguishes soldiers who have no other impulse but that of honour." 115 ■ Notwithstanding the hiilletin of the French chief, there is not a doiiht that the French received a check at the hattle of Mohringen; and the design of surpris- ing Koningsberg by a combined movement of the Marshals Bernadotte and Ney was frustrated. The retreat of the two latter officers enabled Benriingsen to concentrate his forces in the town and environs of Mohringen, whilst the right of his army rested on the Vistula, between Elbing and Culm. On the 29th and 30th Buonaparte broke up his can- tonments. He perceived the corps under General Von J^ssen, that covered the left flank of the Russian army, was posted at too great a distance from its main body to answer the purpose for which it was intended^ and therefore directed General Savary's corps to watch his movements, whilst another corps under Le Febre, at Thorn, kept in check the allies at Culm and Marien- werder, thus to secure for Buonaparte a safe retreat across the Vistula, in case of a failure in his attempt on the main body of the Russian army. The sanguinary "battle of Eylau* foUow^ed, the suc- cess of which was claimed by both sides. The French, however, remained seven or eight days on the field of battle, and buried the Russian dead. After the battle of Eyiau the French army was con- centrated in cantonments behind, that is, to the west- • A particular narration of this battle is rendered unnecessary, and would be fo reign to these memoirs, the corps under Marsha) Bernadotte not having been engaged tlierein. The Marshal was stationed at Strasburg. Sir Robert Wilson, in his Sketches, states tliat "Marshal Bernadotte was expected, but tliat he did not arrive till two day* afterwards." ward of the Passarge.* The t*rince of TPonte Corvo, (Marshal Beriladotte) with his corps, lay at I*russiaii Holland, and Braunsberg; Marshal Soult at Leibstadt and Mohringen; Ney at Gutstadt; Davoust at AUen- stien, Hohenstien, and Deppenj ftild Le Febvre before Dantzig. On the 26th of iFebriiary a iRussiah dietachment marched against Braunsberg, the most advanced of the French cantonments. The Prince of Ponte Corvo immediately detached General Dupont to attack the enemy. The Russians were repulsed with great loss, and driven across the Passarge. The siege of* Dantzig \Vd,S the point to which uni- Viersal attentidii was next directed. On the night be- tween the 2d' aiid od April trenches were opened be- fore it, aiiii although its relief was attempted by a Inaritime expedition, it capitulated on the 19th of May, On the Sth of June the grand French army was at- tacked by the allies at difFerent points of its line. Oii the right of the allies and left of the French, twelve Russian and Prussian regiments, forming two divi- sions, attacked the tete du pont of Spanden on the Passarge, which was defended by a regiment of light infantry strongly covered by entrenchments and re- doliTSti. They were repulsed seven times, and as of- ten renewed the attack. But immediately after the last assault they were charged by a regiment of dra- goons, that had come up to the assistance of the regi- * A small river which, passing by the town of Braunsberg, discharges itself, a little helow that place, into the Frisch-haaf. 16 118 ment of infantry, and forced to abandon the field of battle with a great loss in killed and wounded. Whilst inspecting the batteries at the head of the bridge of Spanden, Marshal Bernadotte received a wound, which, though slight, obliged him to quit the army for the remainder of the campaign, and the com- mand of his corps was transferred to Victor. When Buonaparte was preparing the way for the usurpation of Spain, the first step towards the accom- plishment of his design was to remove its best troops, and accordingly in conformity to treaty, 16,000 men, under the Marquis de Romana, were marched to Den- mark. . Marshal Bernadotte was at the same time sent with his troops to the latter kingdom. No sooner, however, did Spain rise in arms against Buonaparte, than the British government directed its attention to those Spanish troops who were now sta- tioned in the Danish islands. The British govern- ment were fulJy acquainted with the patriotic spirit of those troops. An oath of allegiance to Joseph Buona- parte liad been proposed to them, but, far as they were from Spain, with no probability scarcely of the hope of returning to it — ignorant of the spirit which had manifested itself there, and surrounded by French and Danish troops, who were equally hostile to the Spanish patriots, they planted their colours, formed a circle round them, and then swore on their knees to be faithful to their countrv. ^ii9 The task of bringing off these patriots was entrust- ed to Admiral Keats: the main body of these troops were with the Commander-in-chief upon the island of Funenj some were in Jutland, some in Zealand, and a smaller body in Langland. The admiral proposed that those in Funcn should secure themselves in a pen- insida on the north side of the island, from which, if necess^ary, they might be removed to the small island of Romsol. The Danish gun-boats could be rendered inactive, if the Spanish General had it in his power, and should think it proper, to seize on the town and port of Nyborg; but this measure the admiral conceived might endanger the safety of the troops in Zealand and Jutland, by inducing the Danes to act hostilely when they might otherwise be disposed to permit the quiet removal of the Spaniards. Little hope was in- dulged that any negotiation for their peaceable depar- ture would be successful; but immediately after the movements should have commenced, a declaration of the peaceable and unoffending object in view, might then be advantageous. The troops in Zealand, it was proposed, should attempt to force their way to the peninsula near Corsoer, where it seemed likely that they might be able to defend the isthmus till they could be removed to the neighbouring island of Sproe. Those at Frederisca, in Jutland, were to seize vessels and endeavour to unite with their countrymen at Funen; but, if the troops in Langland were strong enough to feel themselves in safety, it was deemed better to send all the others there, from whence they might be transported at leisure. The suspicions of the French officers and the Da- nish government were, however, awakened, and a premature execution of the plan becoming necessary, 120 Romanatook posesssion of Nyborg; whereupon the Bri- tish admiral dispatched a letter to the governour, in- forming him, that notwithstanding the state of war between England and Denmark, it was his wish to ab- stain from every hostile act, provided the embarkation of the Spaniards was not opposed. While this was going on he must necessarily co-operate with those troops^ and consequently, often communicate with the town of Nyborg; but the strictest orders had been given to all, to observe the utmost civility towards the inhabitants. If, however, the Spaniards were opposed, he must take measures that might occasion the de- struction of the town. The Danish garrison had yielded to circumstances; but an armed brig and cut- ter which were moored across the harbour, rejected all the pacific offers. Such small boats as could be collected were sent against them, and they were taken. The admiral now addressed a second letter to the Go- vernour, acquainting him that as his entrance into the harbour had been opposed, he Avas not bound to re- spect the property of the inhabitants. The Spanish General had occasion for some of the small craft in the port| unless the masters and crews w^ould assist in navigating them, it might not be in his power to secure them from injury; if they would, he pledged himself, after the short service for which they were required was ended, not only to secure them from injury by every means in his power, but also to grant them passports to return in safety. The artillery, baggage, stores, &c. were accordingly embarked with the troops, and landed upon Langland; and a convention was made between Romana and the Governour of that island, in which the latter agreed to supply the Span- iards with provisions, they on tlicir part abstaining from hostilities. Above a thousand troops from Jutland m effected their escape in the manner proposed, and jjoined their countrymen while at sea. Another thou- sand had got to Langland. One regiment in Jutland "was too distant and top unfavourably situated to escape, and two in Zealand, after having fired on the French general who commanded them, were over- powered and disarmed.* Q,n the Spaniards thus succeeding, through the efforts of the English, in embarking for Spain, Buo- naparte accused Marshal Bernadotte of great negli- gence. He, however, shortly after readily availed himself of the military talents of Marshal Bernadotte, \jty employing him in the campaign of 180&. When the Archduke Charles, on the 6th of April, i.809, declared, on the part of Austria, war against France, in the form of a proclamation, glowing with sentiments the most fitted to rouse indignation against the French, and awaken all their love for their own country, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, Marshal Berna- dotte, was appointed to command the Saxon army. Having proceeded from Dresden, through Nurem- berg, for Ratisbon, he so ably manoeuvred, as to com-> pletely deceive General Bellegarde. The latter officer had under his command a very considerable corps, and which was intended to co-t)perate with the Archduke's ' The remnants of Romana's army, who had it not in their power to escape with their brave countrymen, were confined tto garrison duty, aiid afterwards sent to Flushing, as being out of the way. 12S army; but, from the dispositions of Marshal Berna- dotte with his light troops, by which he threatened an invasion of Bohemia, General Bellegarde was com- pletely kept in check, and obliged, with his corps, to remain in a state ready to defend the frontiers of that kingdom. At the attack on Wagram,* in the night between the 5th and 6th of July, a great confusion took place in the division under the orders of Marshal Bernadotte: for a considerable time his columns fired upon each other by mistake, and occasioned much slaughter; and Buonaparte severely censured the subject of this me- moir for his conduct on that occasion; in consequence of which, he retired to France, under the pretext of re-establishing his liealth. The next and 1 ast military employ given to the Prince of Ponte Corvo by the Ruler of the French na- tion, was that of commanding the French army at Ant- werp after the landing of the British at Walcheren; but in consequence of a proclamation published by the • The most correct account of the battle of Wagram is given in the Royal Military Panorama, Vol. I. p. 413. It is drawn up by an eye-witness, and edited by an Austrian staff officer. This important paper should be read by all military men'. The battle of Wagram, in its result, had a powerful influence on the continental pobcy of Eu- rope, and a nai-rative of the real circumstances attending that great event, and what^ pait of them is to be ascribed to genius, talent, and profound military calculation, or vhat part in consequence of weakness and mere accident, must be of general interest to the British army. It is only by knowing the real circumstances attending great events, that we can form an accurate opinion in regard to the conduct of those con- cerned in them, or deduce therefrom any practical results, which may prove of general benefit to mankind. Tlie editor of this narrative appears not only to have possessed sufficient ability, but a desire to be a just and accurate observer of the events to which he was an eye-witness. Blinded neitlier by hatred nor pr ejudice, he lias been able to see events which might otherwise have escaped his notice. The clearness of his yiev/s, and the air of iinpaniaUty which pervades the whole narrative, will afford sufficient proof to those who are competent judges, that he was well qualified for the office Ifi has undertaken. 133 Marshal on the departure of the Earl of Chatham for this country, wherein he claimed to himself great merit for the manner in which he had disposed the forces entrusted to his orders; and at the same time obliquely hinted, that Buonaparte had overlooked many points to which he should have most particularly attended, in regard to the defence of the banks of the Scheldt, Marshal Bernadotte was recalled, and the command of the Antwerp army given to Marshal Bessieres. After the murder of Charles Augustus Augusten- burg, Crown Prince of Sweden,* the States of Swe^ den assembled at Orebro, for the purpose of electing a successor to the King on the throne. Four candidates offered themselves for this high honour — the eldest son of Gustavus IV.; the Prince of Holstein, eldest brother of the Prince of Augusten- burg; the King of Denmark; and the Prince of Ponte Corvo, Marshal Bernadotte, To conciliate the favour of the Swedes, the King of Denmark promised, in case of his becoming the suc- cessful candidate, to quit Copenhagen, and reside at Stockholm. Marshal Bernadotte was regarded as the candidate favoured by Buonaparte,f who addressed a letter to • June 20, 1810. t Buonaparte, however, insteafl of favouring Marshal Bernadotte, secretly encoui-a- Efed the Kji^ of Denmark to solicit the succession; although the Ruler of Francemusi y 124 the King of Sweden, condoling the Swedes for the loss which they had sustained, and declaring that nothing could be more grateful to him, than to see them once again in their former happy and flourishing state. Buonaparte observed, that it was his wish, as tlie Swe- dish people had regained their freedom and indepen- dence under so magnanimous a prince as Charles XIII. they might retain that which alone could restorfe them to their former rank in history, by choosing a man of like sentiments and fortitude: he, however, would not interfere in the election, especially as the enlightened members of the Diet must be the best judges. On the 18th of August, with the advice of his coun- cil, the King of Sweden proposed to the State;?, Mar- shal Bernadotte as a successor to the croWn. His Ma- jesty remarked, "He perceived with pleasure that the voice of his people, equally aware of the necessity speedily to choose a successor to the Sweedish throne, loudly and unanimously declared in favour of the Prince of Ponte Corvo. "Brilliant exploits have illustrated his name-Ss-ji warrior, at the same time that eminent talents mark him one of the most skilful statesmen of our age. Universally admired for the probity of his character, and the mildness of his temper, he found opportunities, even in the midst of the misfortunes of war, to shew his attachment to the Swedish nation, by the kind and friendly manner, in which he treated the Swedish offi- cers and soldiers whom the chance of war subjected to his power. All these circumstances and considera- have been sensible that Die Swedes would be disgusted with tlie very idea of being governed by a Dane, and consequnnlly that the king could not succeed. Bernadotte | therefore wai under no tie to Buonaparte, who was no otbcrwisu consulted by the Swedish covtmment than to obtain his consent. 125 tions could not but fix his majesty's attention, and de- termine his resolution, when the question was, to pro- pose a suGcessour to the Swedish throne. Yet his majes- ty has not failed to take on this important question the sense of the States of the empire; and at the secret committee of the council of state, a large majority of the former, and the unanimous opinions of the latter, perfectly coincided with his sentiments on this point. *'His majesty thinks, that by confiding the future destinies of Sweden to the Prince of Ponte Corvo, his well earned military fame, while on the one hand it se- cures the independence of the State, will on the other hand render it superfluous for him to engage in fresh wars; that his strong mind, tutored by long expe- rience, will maintain national tranquility and order, and secure to our faithful subjects a long and undis- turbed enjoyment of the blessings of peace; and lastly, that his son will remove in future times that uncer- tainty of succession to the throne, which some late la- mentable events have rendered still more important to this country. From all these considerations, his ma- jesty feels obliged to propose to the assembled States of the empire his Serene Highness Jean Baptiste Julien Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo, as Crown Prince of Sweden, and his majesty's successour to the throne of Sweden." The reply of the States-general of Sweden was, <'That judging it their duty to prevent and avert the danger to the independence and tranquility of the kingdom, as well as to the rights and privileges of the inhabitants, which might result from a vacancy of the throne, and a consequent election; exercising more- over the power renewed to them by tlie constitution of 17 i2Q the last year, of electing, in such case, a new dynasty, and considering that the high and mighty Piince and Lord, Jean Baptiste Julien Bemadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo, was endowed with virtues and qualities, which gave them a well-founded hope of enjoying, un- der bis reign, the fruits of a legal, energetic, and be- neficent goverament, voluntarily elected him by a free and unanimous suffrage for themselves and their de- scendants; under condition, however, that before his arrival on the Swedish territory, he should embrace the evangelical Lutheran religion, and sign the condi- tions which they should draw up." j9rt of Election of the Pnnce of Ponte CorvOf Marshal Bernadottef to he Crown Prince of Sweden. Stockholm, Sept. 1, 1810. «\Ve the undersigned. States-general of the king- dom of Sweden, counts, barons, bishops, representa- tives of the nobility, clergy, burghers, and peasants, assembled in the extraordinary Diet at Orebro, make known, that his Royal Highness Prince Charles Au- gustus, of Schleswig Holstein Augustenburg, elected Prince Royal of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals, being deceased without heirs male, and judging that it is our duty to prevent and to avert the danger to the independence and tranquility of the kingdom, as well as tlie rights and privileges of its inhabitants, which might result from a vacancy of the throne, and a consequent election; exercising at the same time, the power which is reserved to us by the ninety-fourth article of the constitution of the sixth of June, 1809, of electing in such case a new dynasty; — for these reasons, and considering that the high and mighty Prince and Lord, Jean Baptiste Julien Bernadotte, 1S7 Prince of Ponte Corvo, is endowed with virtues and qualities, which give us the well-founded hope of en- joying, under the reign of tha<^ prince, a good admin- istration and prosperity, the fruits of a legal, ener- getic, and beneficent government: we, the States-gen- eral of Sweden, upon the proposition of our august king now reigning, under condition that the said Prince and Lord, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, have before his arrival on the Swedish territory, embraced the evan- gelical Lutheran religion, and signed the conditions drawn up by us, have voluntarily elected by free and unanimous suffrage, for ourselves and our descendants, the high and mighty Prince Jean Baptiste Julien Ber- nadotte. Prince of Ponte Corvo, to the dignity of Prince Royal of Sweden, to reign in Sweden and its dependencies after the decease of our present august sovereign, (whose days may the Almighty prolong!) to be crow^ned King of Sweden, and receive the oath of fidelity; in short to govern the kingdom according to the literal sense of the constitution of the sixth of June, 1809, and of the other laws in force, as well fundamental as general and special, the whole con- formable to the answers which his Royal Highness shall now give, and afterwards at his accession to the throne. We also confer on the legitimate male descen- dants of his Royal Highness, the right of filling the throne of Sweden, in the order and manner which are literally prescribed in the law of succession which we have established. We, the States-general of Sweden have, in consequence, confirmed the present act of elecr tion, by the signature of our names, and affixing our seals. — Done at Orebro this 21st of August, in the year of the Christian era, 1810." The anaexed letter was addressed by the subject of 1S8 these mf moirs to the king of Sweden, upon the intel- ligence of his election heing communicated to him. "Sire, *'I will not attempt to represent to your majesty the feelings by which I was pervaded, when I understood that a nation, highly celebrated in the annals of the world, had thought fit to direct their attention towards a military character, who owes every thing to the affection of his country. It will be equally difficult for me to express my gratitude and astonishment at the wonderful magnanimity with which your majesty presented, as your successour, a person bound to you by no tics. The more your majesty has endeavoured to accomplish this object for the Swedish people, the more infinite is my gratitude. I do not conceal from nn self the extent nor difficulty of my duties; but if I can trust to my own heart, I shall fulfil them. There ncAcr existed in the soul of man a more powerful spring of action, and never was tliere a happier op- portunity presented for him to dedicate his existence to tlie welfare of a nation. As soon as your majesty's letter \\ as delivered to me by the Count Morner, I hastened to forward it to his majesty the Emperour and King. He was pleased completely to crown his goodness towards me, by autiiorizing me to become the adopted son of your majesty. According to what you have been pleased to address me, I shall hasten my dcpartui-e, to lay at your majesty's feet my grate- ful homage, and to make your majesty the depositor of njy oalh. To this day I have placed my whole fame and character on serving my country; but France will, I venture to flatter myself, assist me in my exertions for the benefit of Sweden. She cannot, without emotion, see one of her children destined by 129 the voice of a magnanimous people to govern a king- dom which has been long numbered among her allies. "I am, vs^ith profoundest respect. Sire, your most devoted and obedient. <«J. Bernadotte,** After making his solemn profession, the Prince of Ponte Corvo, on the 15th of October, crossed from Wyborg to Corsoer in Zealand, passing through a fleet of 500 merchant ships which were under a strong British convoy, and from Zealand he proceeded in a Swedish vessel to Helsanburg. The subjoined letter was addressed by the Crown Princ« of Sweden to the King, upon landing in Swe- den, and in answer to the King's presenting him with the Swedish orders. *^J\'*o'Demher 1, 1810. *< ary; armies estrange"-«4^|!>Mi to tlie Nations of Europe, Cc, lay time when he requirerl all the strength and capahilities pf Sweden, evidently, notwithstanding the declaration before noticed, inclined to the cause of his adversaries, as it seemed impossible for Sweden to remain in a state of neutrality. On the 8th and 12th of December, the following letters were addressed to Buonaparte by the Prince Royal of Sweden: — Stockholtrh Ifec, 8, 1810. ««Sire, ^*By my letter of the 19th of November, I had the honour to inform you, that the King, faithful to the sentiments which he expressed to your Majesty, re- solved to declare war against England, notwithstand- ing every thing which the safety of his States opposed to that measure, and with the object alone of pleasing your Majesty. « tation; it has painful duties to fulfil, but this has pro« cured it a fresh claim to the general esteem. "The different departments of the chancerj^ of state have rivalled each other in giving the quickest dis- patch, compatible with the formalities required by our laws and customs, to all business which has come un- der their cognizance. "The secretary of state's department for church af-^ fairs has, since the 17th of March, expedited nearly 600 causes; that of the interiour, 9B2; that of finance and commerce, 1653; and the war department, 2535. The causes in which final decission has not yet been given, and which are confined to a very moderate num- ber in each department, in comparison to the extent coming under their several denominations, are either of such nature as to require your Majesty's decision, or to be again brought forward for final determina- tion. "Should your Majesty deign to recognise, in the sketch whicli I have laid before you, the desire which has actuated me to deserve tlie high confidence., you have shewn towards me, this would prove next to the joy which I feel on your Majesty's re-establishment, the most pleasing recompense for all my pains. May heaven, in accordance with my prayere, lengthen your Majesty's days; and that Sweden, protected by your virtues. Sire, may find an imperishable guarantee for her future destiny, in the absolute devotion which my heart has vowed to your Majesty, in the respectful attachment of my son, in the sanctity of the laws of the State, in the uprightness of the public functiona- ries, and in the union, the courage, and the patrio- tism of all Swedes! "With the most sincere sentiments of attachment, and with the most profound respect, I am. Sire, your Majesty's most humble and faitjiful subject, and good sou. "C. John. "Palace at Stockholm^ f'Jaiu 7, 1813." From this document it will be observed, that by adopting the continental system, and declaring war against Great Britain, the produce of the Swedish customs had been ruined, and her commerce reduced to a mere coasting trade; that notwithstanding her adoption of the Napoleon system, cruisers both under the French and Danish flags had committed great out- rages on Swedish property. These outrages Buona^ parte promised to redress, instead of which, however, the same system of injustice was pursued. It will be further remarked from this document, that at the pe- 155 riod of its publication, Sweden was also upon an ami^ cable footing with Prussia* Russia, Austria, and Tur- key. But the most important feature of this interest- ing document is, that it pointed at a system of inde- pendent neutrality. In the same month, tile Swedish minister at Paris finding that the depredations of the French~privateers on Swedish vessels were daily augmenting, represent- ed to the French minister the immense losses which thence resulted to his nation^ but he could neither ob- tain the restoration of the captured vessels, or even the repression of the abuses for the future. To possess a pledge that might in a degree influence the conduct of the Swedish government in the war that was breaking out at the commencement of the year 1812, Buonaparte had seized on Swedish Pome- rania. In the month of January 20,000 French troops under General Friant, entered that province, and on the 26th they took possession of its capital, Stralsund. On the Swfedish commandant, Peyron, informing- the French general that it was his intention to resist the occupation of the Isle of Rugen, the latter replied, tliat he, Peyron, was his prisoner; and immediately put seals on the custom-house. Rugen was afterwards occupied by the French, and the vessels and packets on the coast were detained for their service, and the French colours hoisted in place of the Swedish, A fleet, with General Englebauht on board, arrived off Stralsund in the month of February, to ascertain the state of the French troops in Pomerania, and to 156 bring back those of Sweden, but it was permitted to have no communication whatever with the shore. The attention of Europe was now fixed upon Swc* den. Her conduct assumed a more determined aspect, and it was generally believed the Prince Royal of Swe- den would become a competitor in the field with his former associate in arms, and attempt the salvation of Europe. Great expectations of the success of the cause were therefore universally indulged on the idea, that if the Prince Royal joined the allies, it would be a decisive indication of the hopes entertained by that wary gene- ral, relative to the result of the campaign — he being fully acquainted wdth the personal character of Buo- naparte, and with the real extent and amount of the French resources. But notwithstanding the distrust he now felt as to the views of Buonaparte, in regard to Sweden, he still appears to have desired to prevent the bloodshed and misery which was approaching the nations of the continent. On the 14th of March, 1812, the Prince Royal of Sweden, from Stockholm, addres- sed the following sensible and most honourable letter to Buonaparte. "When the voice of the Swedish people called me to succeed to the throne, I hoped, on quitting France, to be always able to unite my personal affections with the interests of my new country; my heart cherished the hope that it might identify with the sentiments of this people; yet always preserving the remembrance of its first affections, and never losing sight of the glory of France, nor of the sincere attachment which it has vowed to your Majesty, an attat^mient founded on a 157 confraternity in arms, which so many great deeds have illustrated. '«It was with this hope that I arrived in Sweden; I found a nation in general attached to France, but still more so to their liberties and their laws; anxious for your friendship. Sire, but never desiring to obtain it at the expense of their honour and independence. Your Majesty's minister wished to irritate this national feel- ing, and his arrogance has offended every one; his communications bore no character of those regards which are mutually due from crowned heads to each other. I, fulfilling your Majesty's intentions, pleased his passions. Baron Alquier spoke like a Roman pro- consul, Avithout reflecting that he was not speaking to slaves. That minister has, therefore, been the first cause of the distrust which Sweden has begun to dis^ cover with regard to your Majesty's intentions con- cerning her. Subsequent events have added weight to it. «I have already. Sire, had the honour, in my letters of the 19th November and 8th December, 1810, of giving your Imperial Majesty information of the situ- ation of Sweden, and the desire which she had of find- ing in your Majesty a supporter. She could not but perceive in your Majesty's silence &.n unmerited in- difference, and she owed it to herself to provide against the storm which was about to break out on the conti- nent. Sire, humanity has already suffered too much. The blood of man has for the last twenty years, inun- dated the earth, and there is nothing wanting to your Majesty's glory but to put a stop to it. **If yoHr Majesty thinks proper that the King should 32 f$8 cause tlie Emperour Alexander to be informed of the possibility of a reconciliation, I augur sufficiently well, from the magnanimity of that Monarch, to dare assure you that he will willingly agree to overtures, that may be equally equitable for your empire and for the north. If an event so unexpected and so universally desired, could take place, how many nations of the continent would not bless your Majesty! Their gratitude would be augmented by reason of the horrour which inspires them against the return of a scourge which has lain so heavy on them, and the ravages of which have left such cruel traces behind it. "The plan adhered to by the Swedish government while the success of the nothern campaign remained dubious, was dictated by the soundest policy relative to the circumstances of the country. Exhausted as Sweden was by a former war, and by no means free from party dissentions at home, the Swedish govern- ment would have exhibited the greatest imbecility if it bad plunged into a dangerous quarrel before there ex- isted the strongest grounds that the cause in which it was to engage would be finally attended w ith the most beneficial effects to tUe nation." Shortly after the last communication from the Prince Royal to Buonaparte, the Swedish minister. Baron d'Engerstrom, addressed a letter to the Count de Niep- perg, Austrian minister to the court of Stockholm, in which he observed, that Sweden would be sufficiently justified for all the engagements she might make with the enemies of France, from the menaces of that pow- er. Her reiterated attacks upon the Swedish com- merce; the carrying off nearly 100 vessels destined for friendly ports, and subject to France; from the se- 159 questration placed upon Swedish property in Dantzig and other ports in the Baltic; and from, at last, the invasion of Pomerania, done in contempt of treaties. In this note the Baron also makes the following im- portant observations: — "However just the complaints which she has against that power, she does not desire war, and she does not like to be forced to make it, even to preserve her independence and laws. Sweden is therefore ready to listen to any conciliatory proposi- tions which shall be made to her — Justice is on her side. If Sweden was convinced that the Emperour Alexander armed to subjugate Europe, and subject every thing to the Russian system, and extend his States to the north of Germany, Sweden would not hesitate a moment to declare and fight against this ambition; she would be directed by the state principle which should make her fear the increase of so danger- ous a power; but if, on the contrary, Russia only arms in her own defence, to preserve her frontiers, her ports, and even her capital, from all foreign inva- sion — if in it she does but obey the imperious duty of necessity, it is for the interest of Sweden not to bal- ance a moment in defending the interests of the north, since her own are common with them, "Sweden cannot flatter herself with being able, as a second power, to avoid that servitude with which France threatens States of the first order. A war un- dertaken to reconquer Finland would be in no manner for the interest of Sweden. Europe is informed of the causes which made her lose it. To undertake a war to again obtain possession of it, would be not to under- stand the interests of the Swedish people: this conquest would occasion expenses which Sweden is not in a con- 160 dition to support; and its acquisition, admitting that it could be accomplished, would never be able to balance the dangers which would result from it to her. The English, during the absence of her armies, would give her fatal blowsj her ports would be burned or destroy- ed, and her maritime towns reduced to ashes. Besides, as soon as a change should be effected in the political system of Russia, whether after success or defeat, her ancient views upon Finland would not fail to make a disastrous w ar weigh heavy upon Sweden: the Gulph of Bothnia separates the two States; no motive of di- vision exists, and the national hatred daily disappears, in consequence of the pacific dispositions of tlie twp sovereigns, "If France will acknowledge the armed neutrality of Sweden, a neutrality which must carry with it the right of opening her ports with equal advantages for all powers, she has no motive to interfere in the events which may take place. France engages to restore Pomerania, and in case she should refuse this restitu- tion, which, at the same time, the rights of nations and tlie faith of treaties demand, his Majesty the King of Sm eden accepts for this object only, the mediation of their majesties the Emperours of Austria and Russia. His Majesty will agree to a reconciliation compatible with the national honour and interests of the north. His Majesty the King of Sweden, persuaded that all the preparations made by his Majesty the Emperour Alexander are for a purely defensive purpose, and in- tended but to prepare for his empire that armed neu- trality which Sweden wishes, in concert witli Russia, to establish, engages to use all his efforts with his Im- perial Majesty to prevent a rupture taking place, till a period is fixed, which will enable Swedish, French^ 161 Austrian, and Russian plenipotentiaries to meet, and agree, in a friendly manner, upon a system of pacifi- cation, which, founded upon the said mentioned neu- ta'ality, in determining the differences now subsisting between the north and France, may insure to Europe the repose of which it has so much need. ^ote from M. DWhsson, Swedish Charge d'affaires, at ' • Faris, to the Duke of Bassano, dated May 38, 1812. «nal courage, and tlie Swedes recollected, that after having defended their liberty on their own shores, they had known how to pass beyond them in pur- suit of tiiranny. Thus the love of independence saved the country from the precipice from which it was about to be plunged. "Your Majesty, convinced of the danger into which you had been drawn by the rapid march of events, judged, that it was time to come to an accommodation with the English cabinft, and to open yourself to that of Russia, with a noble frankness. Your Majesty with pleasure saw the Marquis Wellesley, then minister for foreign affairs, disposed to receive your proposals, and impressed with the dangers, wl;i(h, at that period, impended over Europe. Some lime afli-r.you concluded atOrebro.a treaty of peace with Engliuid, advantageous to both countries; and the relations of amily were drawn closer with Russia, by a new compact, the execution of which must place Sweden in security tVoip all the commotious of continental poli- tics. "Your Majesty lucked upon the ignorance in which the 185 and interests of the country require. They will be commanded by Marshals Toll and Essen. Give them ail your confidence — you owe it to their services, their patriotism, and their experience. Emperour of the French had left Sweden, as a proof of his determination to drag her despotically into his conti- nental system, from which she found herself naturally de- tached by the seizure of Pomerania. Your Majesty be- held also a striking example in the fate which a German power, the friend of Sweden, had undergone, — which, after being long left in uncertainty, whether its offers to contract an alliance would be accepted, was all at once overwhelmed by French troops, and compelled to surren- der at discretion. *'After the annexation of the Duchy of Oldenburg to the French empire, it was known, with certainty, that differences both ou that point and on the continental sys- tem, had taken place between the courts of France and Russia; and that the preparations for war, which were made on both sides, would easily lead to open hostilities. France, however, bad still never testified the smallest desire, nor made any overture to your Majesty, tending to engage Sweden in a war with Russia. "Meanwhile, though all friendly relations must have been regarded as broken by the occupation of Pomera- nia, the following proposition was made, not officially, bat through a channel not less authentic, ou the part of the Emperour Napoleon. After giving a long exposition of the so often dwelt-upon deviations of Sweden from a strict observance of the continental system, which, it ■was said, had at last compelled the Emperour to cause his troops to enter Pomerania, without, however, occu- pying it, his Majesty demanded — " 'That a new declaration of war should be made against England: that all communication with English cruizers should be severely prohibited: that the coasts of the Sound should be armed with batteries; the fleet equipped, and English vessels fired upon with artillery. " 'That, besides, Sweden should set on foot an army of from 30 to 410,000 men, to attack Russia at the mo- ment when hostilities should commence between that power and France. " 'To indemnify Sweden, the Emperour promised to her the resiitutiou of Finland.. 486 «'Iu separating from my King, my Sou, and from you for some time, it is not to disturb the repose of na- tions, but to co-operate in the great work of a general " 'His Imperial Majesty would also bind himself to pur- chase colonial produce, to the amount of 20 millions of francs, on condition that payment should not be made till the goods were landed at Dantzig or Lubetk. " 'Finally, his Imperial Majesty would permit Sweden to participate in all the rights and advantages enjoyed by the States of the Rhenish confederation.' "Your Majesty at once perceived the immense differ- ence which existed between the sacrifices thus demanded, and the indemnification which the kingdom could promise I itself. You could not overlook the fact, that a state of active warfare with Russia, the necessary consequences of which would be open hostilities with Britain, sur- passed the strength and resources of Sweden; that the presence of an English fleet in the Baltic would paralyze, during summer, the Swedish operations: and that besides, since the treaty with Russia, there existed no ground of complaint against that power; that in the mean time our coasts and ports would be abandoned to the vengeance of England; that the complete stagnation of commerce, and the interruption of the coasting trade, would occasion general misery; that the pressing wants of Sweden in re- spect of grain, imperiously required pacific relations, both with Russia and England; that the sudden termina- tion of war between France and Russia would infallibly leave Sweden without any augmentation of territory, es- pecially if the Swedish arm}', in consequence of the war with England, was prevented from leaving its own con- fines; and that moreover, these preparations, and a sin- gle year of war, would require an expenditure of from twelve to fifteen millions of rix-dollars. A multitude of other considerations determined your Majesty to look to nothing-'but the happiness of your subjects, and the pros- perity of your kingdom; and with this view your Majesr ty opened your ports to the flags of all nations. "The eftbrts of France to engage Sweden in open war Mith England and Russia, were not confined (o those I have just now mentioned. The Austrian minister at your Majesty's court, received by a courier from Prince Schwartzenburg, the Austrian ambassadour at the French court, the account of au alliaace concluded at Paris, ou 187 peace, for which Sovereigns and nations have sighed for so many years. **Soldiers! — A new career of glory, and sources of prosperity, are opening to our country. Treaties the 14th of March last, between France and that power. Prince Sehwartzenburg charged the minister of his court at Stockholm, in communicating this information to your Majesty's ministers, to employ ail his influence to induce Sweden to take part in the war against Russia. Your Majesty replied to this as you had done to the former pro- position, by declaring that you wished to preserve tlie tran- quility of your kingdom, and that you accepted the medi- ation of the Emperours of Austria and Russia, in all that regarded the unjust invasion of Pomerania; that besides, your Majesty offered, if it was agreeable to the Emperour Napoleon, to write to the court of Russia, to endeavour to prevent the effusion of blood, till Swedish, Russian, French, and Austrian plenipotentiaries could assemble, for the purpose of settling the disputes which had arisen. "Events having proved that these oflfers were not accept- ed by the Emperour of the French, your Majesty con- sidered it as a sacred duty to place your kingdom in a state of defence: and you employed for that purpose a portion of the resources which your faithful states of the realm had placed at your disposal, in order to cause the national independence to be respected and maintained. "The long experience of times past, and the examples of the present, sanctioned the measures of prudence which your Majesty has taken for the security and integ- rity of your States. "A note had been already addressed to M. de Cabre, the French charge d'Atfaires, to demand of him an ex- planation with regard to the seizure of Pomerania. He was invited to declare whether he resided at Stockholm as the agent of a friendly or hostile power? Many months having elapsed without an answer, and some dark in- trigues, incompatible with the law of nations, having taken place, M. de Cabre was dismissed. ''At a moment when all the powers surrounding Sweden have increased their military force to a point hitherto unexampled, your Majesty has also been obliged to sub- 188 founded ii])on sound policy, and wliich have the tran- quillity of the North for their ohjcct, guarantee the union of the people of Scandinavia. Let us make mit to the imperious necessity of the times; and having nothing in view but the prosperity and happiness of Swe- den, you have prepared the means which may place it in a situation to depend substantially on its own force, and that of the governments its friends. If, to attain this ob- ject, some sacrifices are necessary, your good Swedish people will zealously second your Majesty: for they have always been the firm support of monarchs who respected their liberty. "Ancient habits had long induced Sweden to consider France as her natural ally; this opinion of times past — these impressions generally received, long acted pow- erfully on the mind of your Majesty; farther fortified by the regard of the Prince Royal towards his former coun- try — a regard, however, always subordinate in his heart to his duties towards Sweden, that when France wished to interdict peninsular Sweden from traversing the seas which almost surround her and to deprive her of the right of ploughing the waves which wash her shores, it be- came the duty of government to defend the rights and in- terests of the nation — to escape the situation of those pow- ers, which, by their submission to France, find them- selves without ships, without commerce, and without finances. The alliance of France, while it exacts in the first instance the loss of independence, conducts by de- grees to all sacrifices which annihilate the prosperity of a State. In order to become her ally, it is necessary to have no connextion with England, and to make good the loss of the revenues of customs, and of the profits of commerce, by imposts always increasing, for the purpose of supporting the wars into which her capricious politics have drawn her during the last eight years. Had Sweden submitted to the wishes of France, then Swedes would have been seen in Spain, in like manner as we now see there Germans, Italians, and Poles. They would have been seen even in Turkey, had Napoleon conquered the Kmperour Alexander. ♦'If, to secure the destinies of Sweden, by procuring for it safety for the present, and security for the future, your Majesty is compelled to put your armies in motion^ It will not be with a view of conquering provincies unless 189 ourselves worthy of the splendid destiny that is pro- mised us; and let not the people who stretch out their arms to us, have ever cause to repent their confidence. to the prosperity of the Scandinavian peninsula. The in- dependence of that peninsula is the constant object of your Majesty's cares; and no sacrifice must be reckoned too costly by the Swedes to attain that great and impor- tant result. Your Majesty has rejected the degrading treaty which it was wished to make you subscribe; you have placed yourself above a subservient and versatile policy; and you have not feared to make your appeal on the question to the courage, the loyalty, the patriotism, and the honour of the nation. Your Majesty has formed a just opinion of the Swedes, and your reward is in the unbounded confidence which they have placed in your wis- dom. ''The vessel of the state, navigating a stormy sea, and assailed by the tempest, was long in danger of shipwreck; your Majesty took the helm, and seconded by your son, you have had the happiness, in spite of the shoals with which her route was interspersed, to bring her into port. I present this sketch in order to enlighten those persons, who, always uneasy with regard to their future fate, feel alarmed at the slightest adverse occurrence, and imagine that they have reached land only to enjoy in peace all the conveniencies of life. Your Majesty has promised liberty to the Swedes; you will keep your word. The 450ttage of the poor, as well as the palace of the rich shall enjoy that inestimable blessing. Arbitrary authority, can never penetrate thither; and by night as well as by day, the law shall guard all its approaches. Proud of their rights, united to their Sovereign; the Swedes will march to meet their enemies. The recollection of their illustrious ancestors, and the jiistice of their cause, shall be pledges of their success. I am, with the most profound respect, (Signed) Lawrence Engerstrom. Stockholm^ Jan. 7, 1813." JSTotefrom Baron D^Engerstrom to M. de Cabre, Charge d^ Affaires, from France at Stockholm, dated Decem- ber 20, 1812. "From the moment in which the invasion of Swedish Pomerania bv the French troops, contrary to the faith 26 190 "Soltliers! — Our ancestors distinguished themselves by their bold daring, and their steady courage. Let us unite to these warlike virtues the enthusiasm of military honour, and God will protect our arms. "Charles Johx. *^M Carhcrona, May 8, 1813.'* of treaties, and the most solemn engagements, made known the full extent of his Majesty the Emperour Na- poleon's intention with respect to Sweden, the King, justly astonished at this unexpected aggression, did but reiterate his requests to obtain a free and loyal explana- tion from him, whilst the French government only re- plied to them by fresh acts of hostility, his Majesty be- lieved, that if force gives rights, as the misfortune of our times sufficiently attest, the cause of justice, and the sentiments of bis own dignity, might also demand some of them. "He has not thus seen with indifference, one of hi^ provinces occupied by the same power which had guar- anteed the integrity of it; the troops which the Ring had left there declared prisoners of war, and as such carried to France; as well as the continual depredations of French privateers against Swedish commerce. "His Majesty, in consequence, charged M. de Berg- stedt, in the month of August last, and particularly the undersigned, to officially address M. de Cabre; at first to demand the reasons which had caused the said hostilities; and lastly, to declare to him, that as his court, after a long delay, would not explain on this head, and likewise gave it to be understood, that it would not return to a more pacific system with respect to Sweden, M de Cabre could no longer be regarded as the agent of a friendly power; and that his diplomatic relations with the King's ministers would cease till the time that the explanations demanded of the cabinet of the Thuilleries should be re- ceived. "More than three months have elapsed since that epoch, and the French government continuing always the same silence, the King has thought it due to himself and to his people, not to depend upon an explanation which, besides, so many actions appear to render illusory. "Upon these considerations, and upon others at least as important, the undersigned has received the orders of 191 . , On the 17th of May the Prince Royal landed at Monasgut, near Perth, and passed the night at the cas- tle of Puthus: the next day he arrived at Stralsund, the King his master, to declare to M. de Cabre, that his presence here becoming absolutely useless under actual circumstances, he desires you should quit Sweden as soon as possible; and the undersigned has tbe honour of seud» ing you inclosed, the necessary passports for your journey. The undersigned has the honour, &c. (Signed) '*Baron D'Engerstrom." Copy of a Letter from M. de Cabre, Charge d? Affaires from his Majesty the Emperour of the French, King of Italy, at the court of Stockholm, to his Excellency the Baron d'Engerstrom, chief minister of state to his Sivedish Majesty, dated Stockholm, December 21, ISIS. •'The undersigned Charge d'Aftaires to his Majesty the Emperour of the French, King of Italy, has received the official note, which his Excellency M. the Baron D'Engerstrom addressed to him yesterday, the 20th of December, in which it is stated iu substance — • '' 'That his Swedish Majesty having in vain awaited an explanation relative to the entrance of the French into Pomerania, relative to the removal of the King's officers to Madgeburg, and the capture of Swedish ships by French eruizers, his Majesty has ordered his minister of state and of foreign affairs to declare to the undersigned, that, his presence at Stockholm being altogether useless, his Majesty desires that the undersigned shall quit Swe- den as soon as possible, and that he should, at the same time, be furnished with the passports necessary for his voyage.' "The undersigned conceives it unnecessary to dwell upon the imputation in the said official note, insinuating that his Majesty the Emperour and King had acted con- trary to the faith of treaties. It would be easy for the un- dersigned to refute this charge by recalling the conditions of the treaty concluded at Paris on the 6th of January; and proving by facts that Sweden has not fulfilled in any one point the obligations imposed by her engagements in that instrument, although France has shewn the most zealous desire to restore to her that same Pomerania which had been conquered by the imperial and royal arms in the last war. and was met by the generals and members of the go- vernment on the Fahrbrucke, whence he proceeded, under the thunder of cannon, the ringing of bells, and amid the joyful acclamations of the populace, to the palace of government. He was accompanied by the Field Marshal Baron Von Stedengk, and the Count *»The undersigned has to observe, that it has never, either verbally or by writing, been notified to him, that his diplomatic relations would be suspended, until he had given a categorical answer to the explanations demanded of him by the Swedish ministry. His Excellency the minister of state and of foreign aft'airs, in his letter of the 7th of September last, addressed to the Charge d'Af- faircs of France, limits himself to demanding of the un- dersigned, 'Whether he is in Sweden as the agent of a friendly or hostile power?' — declaring at the same time to the undersigned, that his continuance in the States of his Swedish Majesty depends on the answer which he shall find himself prepared to give to this question. '' <'With respect to the principal object of the official note from his Excellency the miniser of state and of foreign aS'airs, the undersigned will not lose a moment to bring it under the cognizance of his court; but it depends not upon him to obey the desire of his Swedish Majesty. On the contrary it is his duty to declare, that he will never consent to abandon the post which the Emperour and King, his august master, lias deigned to contide to him, before he shall have obtained his Imperial and Royal Majesty's orders to that effect. '•But if his Swedish Majesty, in virtue of his sovereign rights, will cause it to be signified to the undersigned, offi- daily and in u-ritivg, that he will no longer permit his residence in Sweden, the undersigned conceiving, that under these cicumstances he will only be yielding to force, will not hesitate to avail himself, wilh the shortest jios- sible delay, of the passport, which he has now the honour to send back herewith to his Excellency M. the Baron d'Engcrstrom. minister of state and of foriegu afi'airs; be- cause, till the existence of the circumstances which he has specified, it will be impossible for him to make use of it, and therefore to no purpose to keep it. "The undersigned has the honour to be, &c. "Aug. de Cabke." i 193 ChaHcelloi* Wetterstedt. The Prince immediately af- tet his arrival inspected the new fortifications. Some deputies of the nobility at Rugen having waited on the Prince Royal, they were received in the Copy of a Letter from his Excellency M. Baron dPEnger^ Strom, to M. de Cabre, dated Stockholm, Becember, 33, 1812. *'I have received the letter, sir, which you have done me the honour to address me, under date of the 21st of this month, and having, in the course of my official duty, laid it before the King, his Majesty charges me again to repeat to you, that your presence at Stockholm cannot be tolerated any longer. Your diplomatic character having now ceased, you will find yourself, sir, in the situation of all ordinary foreigners; and, consequently, subject to the execution of all orders which the police may find it neces- sary to give respecting you. The chief governour of that department, to whom reports, very little to your advan- tage, have been made respecting you, has received orders to make you quit the capital within four and twenty hours. A commissary of police will accompany you to the frontier; and by these means you will not have any further occasion for the passports which you have sent back to me. (Signed) "Baron d'EFGERSTROMT. Copy of a Letter from M. de Cabre. to his Excellency the Baron d'' Engerstrom, Sfc. dated Stockholm, December 23, 1812. «I have just this moment received the letter which you have this day written to me, in which your Excellency, announcing to me for the first time, 'that my diplomatic functions have ceased,' informs me at the same time, ' 'that I become subject to the orders of the police, and that the governour has received instructions to cause me to be conducted to the frontier.' ''This determination of the Swedish government, and the manner in which it is communicated to me, appear to me more than sufficient to justify me in the eyes of my court, for abandoniug the post which I have filled with honour for more than a year at the court of his Majesty the King of Sweden. I request, in consequence, that 194r most flattering manner; and in his address to them he made the following observation: * "The battle of Dresden and the plan of the campaign were areanged and advised by General Moreau and the Prince Royal of Sweden: they are, no doubt, some of the grandest ideas that they had ever projected. General Moreau was in earnest conver- sation with the Emperour Alexander, in the midst of the battle of Dresden, and in the act of giving his opinion on some military movements, while passing with the Emperour behind a Prussian battery, to which two French batteries were answering, pne in front, and the other in flankj and the British minister, Lord Cathcait.and 203 Majo^generaJ Sir Robert Wilson were listening to him,\^en a ball struck hif thigh, and almost carried his leg off, passing through his horse, and carried aMa; the calf of bis otlier leg. He uttered a deep groao, but immediately after the first agony of pain ■was over, spoke with the utmost tranquility, and perceiving the oiBcers around him in the greatest distress, he observed, "Soyez tranguilles, inessieurs, c'est mon tort^ and leaning on Colonel Rapatel, who supported him in bis arms, he observed, though I am lost, to die in so good a cause, and io the presence of the Emperour Alexander, is sweet." •It has been observed, that in addition to the entire confidence of all the legitimate sovereigns in Europe, which General Moreau enjoyed at the time of his &te, Louis Xvni had given him unlimited powers, with respect to France, pledging his word that he would take no measures either of internal or external police, without coi> suiting him. On hearing of bis death, that prince exclaimed, 'I have lost my crown a second time!' (J^ai perdu 7iia couronne une seconde fois.) At the suggestion of the Prince of Conde, he intended to give General Moreau th^^ank of Constable of France, tlie highest situation tmder the old monarchy, and the French blue ribband." Vide the Author's Memoirs of General Moreau. S03 Notwithstanding the extraordinary and continual losses experienced by Buonaparte from the commence- ment of the campaign in Russia, he was, at the expi- ration of the armistice, at the head of an array more numerous than any that he had before commanded. The force under his own immediate command amount- ed to 300,000 men. In addition to this force, Mar- shal Davoust commanded a strong corps, with which Hoist ein and Hamburg were defended, and Pomera- nia threatened. Buonaparte's position was a semi- circle round Lusatia, of which Dresden was the cen- tre, and the Lower Elbe the base. His forces were closely concentrated, and prepared to make a grand attack on the divided armies of the allies. The positions occupied by the allies, were, in a mil- itary point of view, less advantageous than those of Napoleon; their strength was divided into three corps, each acting at a distance from the other, and possess- ing but imperfect communications. In addition to the accumulated strength acquired by the accession of Austria to the cause of Eliirope, the allies likewise obtained the advantage of turning the barrier of the Elbe, (great part of that river flowing through Bohemia) where they might have passed un- opposed. The grand army, consisting of the whole Austrian force and considerable Russian and Prussian detachments from Silesia, therefore, took up its posi- tion in Bohemia, with its head quarters at Toplitz, whence they could threaten Saxony and the rear of the French army. In Silesia, Marshal Blucher com- 804< niandcd a force amounting to 100,000 men; it was composed of the remains of the Russian and Prussian regulars, and of a large hody of well-organized mili- tia. The Prince Royal had his head-quarters at Berlin, and commanded a force styled the army of the North of Germany:* it was composed of the whole Swedish army, large corps of Russian and Prussian regulars, the militia of Brandenburg, and the troops levied from the Hanse Towns, &c. This army amounted to 120,000 men: on one side it covered Berlin, and was prepared to act as affairs might demand against Buo- naparte's grand army: on the other side it watched the movements of Marshal Davoust and the garrison of Magdeburg. » It is cliiefly to the operations of this aiTOy that the subsequent pages will be devoted, and 1 shall content rayself with a brief sketch of the movements of the rest of the allies, as it would be irrelevant to introduce in tlie Memoirs of the Prince Roya} of Sweden a detail of the campaign of the corps under Marshal Blucher and Prince Zchwartzenberg. In my account of the Campaign from the termination of the arraie. tjce, which I shall give to the Public shortly after the appearance of these Memoir^ and which will form a continuance to my work, entitled the ''Northern Cainpaigoi of 1812 and 1813," the movements of each corps will be distinctly reviewed— In the "Northern Campaigns," I have given a detail of the militaiy events on the continent of Europe from the commencement of the war between France and Russia, in 1812 To the period of the armistice in 1813.— Various foreign State papers, of great and general interest; every important circumstance, political and militanj, connected with this great contest; a review of the conduct and principles that influence the members of a society established on the continent, under the title of the Tugent Bund or Tugent Fereind (the united in virtue;) the proclamations and manifestoes issued by the seve- ral chiefs engaged in the struggle; anecdotes relating to Buonaparte and his army during the retreat from Moscow, communicated by officers serving in the allied armies; tlie tieaties of alliance, offensive and defensive, entered into between the dif. ferent powers; topographical notes; and an Appendix, containing all the bulletins of Buonapaite published previous to the armistice. The account of the Campaign from the termiiiBtion of the amustice, will be pub- Hthed on a similar plan to the above* ''iflbMilMlii|MMriii#Mtj««9»«^^ 205 The following is the first bulletin ot the Prince Royal of Sweden from which will be seen the positions of the allied army under his command, on the 13th August, three days after the termination of the ar- mistice. The Prince Royal's bulletins are admirably compos- ed, and furnish almost a perfect view of the Consist- ency of his different movements, and the comprehen- siveness of his plans. I shall, therefore, give them in their order, with occasional remarks and notes, as such shall appear necessary. From these interesting documents the reader will perceive the interest enter- tained by the Prince Royal of Sweden to lead the sub- jects of that nation to victory in the field, which he naturally hopes hereafter to govern in peace and happi- ness at home. The Prince and people will thus be- come mutually endeared to each other, by the pleasing recollection of common glory achieved, common dan- gers encountered, and common sufferings endured. In the language of that estimable writer, Madame la Baronne de Stael Holstein, the Swedish nation has chosen the best means of repairing adverse times, by calling a Prince to the throne, in whom admiration is blended with homage due to the sovereign. *'In this election we behold," observes the Baroness, "the dawn of a glorious day, and prosperity to Sweden. Valour, and the genius of an experienced warriour, are the indisputable qualifications for a chief of an empire tottering from amidst the shocks that have en- gulphed so many other nations, because their Princes knew not how to conduct their own subjects to tlie 206 field of battle. During long and bloody wars, mati^ generals have acquired the reputation of being fear- less of danger; but it is rare indeed to have been with- out reproach in an epoch of civil commotions. The Prince Royal of Sweden has carried chivalry in re* piiblicanism as well as in royalty: France is indebted to him for having defended her in the most critical pe- riods, long before its present Ruler was in question^ and who has subsequently, by a thousand artifices, ca- parisoned himself with military glory."* '•^riRST BULLETIN. '^'Head-quarters at Oranienhurg, *9tig, 13, 1813. **His Royal Highness the Crown Prince arrived here yesterday, and has fixed his head-quarters at this place. <*The united army of Northern Germany, of which liis Royal Highness has the command, occupies the following positions: — «A part of the 4tli Prussian corps d'armee, which forms the reserve, under the command of Lieutenant General Count Tauenzeen, has its head-quarters at Munchenberg, and stretches its right wing towards Berlin. The 4th Prussian corps d'armee, under Lieu- ten ant-General Von Bulow, has its head-quarters at Berlin, and, in conjunction with Count Tauenzeeii's, corps, forms the left wing of the allied army. • Vide "An Appeal to the Nations of Europe against the continental system, by Madame la Baronne de StaelHolstein."— Richardson, Loudon, 1813. §07 «The Swedish army, commanded by Field Marshal Count Von Stedingk, is assembling in the vicinity of Oranienburg, with its head near Spandau. The head- quarters are here. Tlie first Swedish division is under the command of Lieutenant-General Skiolde- brand, and the second under that of Major-General Baron Posse. This last division, together with a se- parate brigade detached from the third division, forms a corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Baron Sandils. The whole Swedish force is in the centre of the allied army. The right wing consists of Russian troops, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Baron "Winzingerode, whose head-quarters are at Branden-? burg. Lieutenant-General Count Woronzoff's corps belongs to this wing, with its head-quarters at Plan. ^«A Prussian corps, under Major-General Herseh- feldt, is in front of Magdeburg. «It is connected by its left wing with the Russian army, and by its right with the corps of observation on the Lower Elbe, under Lieutenant-General Count Wallmoden, Its head-quarters are at Schwerin, and its advanced posts reach from Leuzin to Dassau, and the middle towards Lubeck. Lieutenant-General Ba= ron Von Vegesack belongs to this corps d'armee; he has under his command 3000 Swedish troops, 3000 Prussians, and 3000 Mecklenburgers. "Separate corps, belonging to Count Tauenzeen's army, blockade Custrin and Stettin. *^Major-General Gibbs has landed at Stralsund, with a corps of 3000 English troops. "General Baron Aldreuitz is at the head of the gen- eral staff of the united army of the North of Genna- iiy, and has under him the Major-General Baron Tarvast, and Count Gustav Lowintejeln, as Adjutant^ General, to receive and forward orders. "The army is so disposed, that within a march and 3, hajf, upwards of eighty thousand men can he in the line. "Whilst his Royal Highness, on the 11th inst. in the forenoon, was reviewing the troops which are block- ading Stettin, and causing them to manoeuvre, and at the same time to threaten the fortress works, a howit- zer was pointed at his Royal Highness; the grenade fell thirty paces behind him, and burst. His Roj'al Highness, who discovered some French soldiers-creep- ing forwards before the outer works, and whom the Cossacks, after the shot having taking place from the fortress, were on the point of attacking, caused the French commandant to be called to him, and who ac- cordingly appeared before his Royal Highness, accom- panied by a commissary at war. The Prince Royal mildly stated to him, that the commanding officer in fort Prussia had broken the truce, and fired on his Royal Highness's escort, and added, I might make you all prisoners of war, were I to command the ca- valry to attack you, and you could not defend your- selves, being without arms. The officer made excuses, and expressed his sorrow for the accident. After his Royal Highness had conversed with him for a §l>ort time, lie retired. The French soldiers expressed their lieai'ty wishes for the restoration of peace, and to see an end put to the calamities of war. g09 ««To judge from the preparations of the allies at Stettin, it is to be expected that the fortress will be stormed on the conclusion of the armistice. By the zeal and industry of those officers who have the charge of supplying the army with provisions, it has not as yet suffered any deficiency. The number of sick is very trifling.'^ Three days after the publication of the above» the head-quarters of the Prince Royal were removed, and his Royal Highness issued the annexed bulletin and address to the army. The latter of these articles is undoubtedly a master-piece of political wisdom, and it went further in the estimation of all reasonable men in confirming their hopes of success to the cause of Eu- rope, from the exertions of the Prince Royal, than any document he had published, or step he had taken, till that time. In this address, the Prinee Royal ob- serves, with a happiness of illustration which every one must allow as just, that the same sentiment which prompted the French in 1792, to assemble and combat the armies which entered their territory, must now animate their opponents in the defence of their native land, their wives and their children. The territories of all have been either invaded or threatened with in- vasion; the independence of all has been menaced or subverted, and it could not but incite the combined army of Northern Germany to deeds of distinguished heroism, when tbey reflect that they were fighting for the liberty of all Europe, and the peace of the whole world. «>SECO]SrD BUILETlir. ^'Head-quarters, Fotadanif Aug. 16, 1813. ««The Prince Royal removed his liead-quartei-s to this city last night. <«The army is concentrating. «At the expiration of unavailing negotiations en- tered upon at Prague, the armistice was denounced on the 10th by the allies, so that hostilities may be re- newed to-morrow. On the 11th, at one in the morn- ing, Count Metternich delivered to the Count de Nar- bonnee, at Prague, the declaration of war by Austria against France. <'His Royal Highness has just addressed to the com- bined army under his orders, the following procla- mation:— "COMBINED ARMY OF THE NORTH OF GERMANY. <«T/tc Pnnce Royal, Generalissimo — to the Army, «Soldiers! — Called by the confidence of my King and of the Sovereigns his allies, to lead you in the ca- reer which is about to open, I rely for the success of our arms on the Divine protection, the justice of our cause, and on your valour and perseverance. "Had it not been for the extraordinary concurrence of events which have given to the last twelve years a dreadful celebrity, you would not have been assembled 211 on the soil of Germany; but your Sovereigns have felt that Europe is a great family, and that none of the States of which it is composed can remain indiiferent to the evils imposed upon any one of its members by a conquering power. They are also convinced that when such a power threatens to attack and subjugate every other, there ought to exist only one will among those nations that are determined to escape from shame and slavery. «From that moment you were called from the banks of the Wola and the Don, from the shores of Britain, and the mountains of the North, to unite with the German warriours who defend the cause of Europe, *- sars of Pomerania, attacked the enemy at Zesch, and took 52 men and 21 remount horses, belonging to a re- giment of Hesse Darmstadt cavalry. « <*The enemy^ as far as is yet known, has not passed the frontier, except with reconnoitring parties. The French General of Division De Jomini, chief of the staff of the army commanded by the Frince of Moskwa, came over on the ±5th to the Mlies, and, pas- sing through the army of General Bluclier, proceeded to the Russian head -quarters. He has confirmed the intelligence of the Emperour Napoleon's project to attack the army covering Berlin.* ** General Blueher occupied Breslau on the 14th.'* • The defection of General De Jomini, although by birth a Swiss, afibrded to Flench Generals the beneficial example of leaving Buonaparte to bis falling fortunes, and repairing to the standard of the cause of independence and of humanity: an esaiaa pie that was directly tbilowed by several other French officers,— Jt F. 29 214' ^ "FOTTRTH BUllETIKT. "Petxidani) Aug7ist21, 1813. "The position of the Prince Royal's army is remov- ed from Potzdam to Trebhin and Beleitz; — that the enemy had under Oudinot 20,000 men at Liicken- walde. Some affairs of advanced posts had taken place. "General Walmoden reports, that two battalions of Lutzow had been attacked near Lauenburg, on the 17th, and 18th, by six battalions; but they had been repulsed. ( riFTH BUIXETIN. "BATTLE OF GROSS BEREN. **Ruhlsdorff, JVoon, Mgust, 24, 1813. <'s, which t'Xfcuttd the operation witli the greatest g;illantry and success. The eneniy next made attemps upon the vijage of Ruhlsdortf, and upon other parts of the line, which were equally fruitless: and they consequently desisted, and fell back iu the lUrection of Dresden.— J. P. M7 3^ainst the light Swedish troops placed in front of that village, the Prince Royal oixlered some battalions, supported by artillery, to reinforce the advanced posts, and Colonel Cardell was directed to push on with a battalion of flying artillery, to take the enemy in flank. Hitherto the results of the affair of Gross Beren are 26 cannon, 30 caissons, and much baggage, and 1600 prisoners, among whom are 40 ofiicers, the Colonel of IQhlans of the Saxon Guard, and several Lieutenant- Colonels and French Majors. The number of killed and wounded of the enemy is very considerable, and the woods are filled with stragglers, whom the light cavalry are bringing in every moment. "The enemy have retired beyond Trebbin, which is already occupied by two regiments of Cossacks. General Bulow, Tauenzeen, and O'Rourke, are in pur- suit of the enemy, as well as the whole light Russian icavalry. *'The Prince Royal found among the prisoners, offi- cers and soldiers who had served under his orders, and who shed tears of joy in seeing their old general agaitto" From the preceding very interesting Bulletin it will be observed, that the Prince Royal completely out- manoeuvred the attack directed upon Berlin, and hav- ing gained the battle on the 34th with his left wing, ^18 be followed up his successes by advancing both his wings and his centre as far as circumstances would permit, defeated his enemy in every direction, and took a considerable number of pieces of cannon. Immediately after the first victorious accounts were received at Berlin from the Prince Royal, a deputation was sent to thank him in the name of that city for the protection he had afforded it; to which the Prince Royal returned the following answer; ^'Gentlemen, <*I have not deserved your thanks: but I rejoice much in this generous participation in the fortune of our arms, and in your attachment to your exalted Monarch. We shall conquer: the advanced guard of our army has already driven the flying enemy into Saxony. Let us only have confidence in ourselves, and Prussia shall soon be restored to her former great- ness, and we will then celebrate the festival of victory togetheir. Salute, on my part, the worthy inhabitants of Berlin, and forget us not. Adieu, Gentlemen.** "SIXTH BCILETIKT. ^^Head-quarters, Saamiundf dug, 28, 1813. *«The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to tliis place on the 26th of August. "The corps of General Hirschfeldt was posted, the 26th, between Seckau and Golzow, where he had hopes of cutting off the rear-guard of General Gi- rard*s, which was proceeding from Ziesar to Bruck; S19 but the enemy passed in such haste that he could not effect it. <*0n the 25th, two officers and 104 soldiers of the enemy, of dijfferent nations, were brought to Potzdam; who were willingly made prisoners by 20 men of the militia cavalry. They grounded their arms. They assert this disposition in general. '^ *'The pursuit of the enemy is so brisk, that on the 25th, General O'Rourke arrived at Gotten, where the Dukes of Reggio and Padua, and General Regneir, passed the preceding night with a large division of their army. «»The enemy having forced Colonel Adrianoff to re*- tire to Juterbock, and having taken post therein with two battalions of foot and 600 Polish hulans> probably with the view of facilitating a retreat and keeping open his communication with the Elbe; he was dis- lodged quickly on the 26th, by a part of the troops under General O'Rourke, and two Prussian squad- rons, under Major Hell wig. Colonel Krasoffski at- tacked and took possession of the town. General Ben- kendorfF pursued the enemy with four squadrons of Russian cavalry. The two Prussian squadrons, and two pieces, which were in the villages of Sohrbeck and Boschav, joined him. The enemy lost in this affair more than 300 men killed, besides many pri- soners. **Several French officers have come over to us, and have been embodied with our troops. '^General Tchernicheff occupied Belzig the night of "tlie 26th with his Cossacks. General Girard, who had stopped at Lubnitz in order to pass the night, was alarmed on the spot; a brisk action ensued near Belzig. He did not, however, succeed in keeping possession of tite town. *en, Sept. 1, 1813. <«His Royal Highness removed his head-quarters to Bucholz on the 30th August, from whence it was shifted liere yesterday at eight o'clock in the morn- ing. «The enemy had possession of the towns of Marza- tin, Schwabeck, Eckmansdorff, and Feldheim. Can- non shots were yesterday exchanged between him and our reconnoitring corps. General Baron Adlercreutz was detached by his Royal Highness to view the ene- my's position, and rode forward, accompanied by Gen- eral Baron Tawast, within 400 paces of his batteries. "The united army is collected together; the Prussian and Russian vanguard are in pursuit of the enemy, on the road to Wittenberg. A corps of Swedish troops, composed of Morner's regiment of hussars, two battalions of yagers, and four pieces of artillery, under the command of Adjutant-general Baron Cc- n%7 dorstrom, is joined with the Russian vanguard. Gen- eral Tchernicheff' s and Colonel Brendell's light troops swarm about the enemy. The Generals Tauenzeen and Hirschfeldt direct their motions by those of the army, and are in connexion with it. "The Prince of Eckmuhl, still continued in his po- sition near Schwerin, on the 28th of August. His Royal Highness has this day sent of General Bjonsti- erna with a flag off truce to the French advanced posts, to deliver the commandant of Luckau's capitulation." Extract of an Official Letter from Treuenbriet'Z>enf of the 3d September. * occupied by the corps of Tauenzeen. *'The reports of the country people, of the out- posts, and of secret agents, announced positively that the enemy was taking the route of Torgau. These accounts came in every hour: only one single person brought word that the enemy intended to proceed to Juterbock," ELEVJilfTH BUlLETIIf. "BATTLE OF DENNEVITZ. ^'Jntsrbock, Sept. 8, 1813, <'Tbe Prince |loyal set out on the 6th of Septem- ber, at three o'clock in the morning, from Rabcnsteini 233 sntl collected fie Sweeiglits of Lobessen. His Royal Highness waS waitin.^ the reports of General Taaenzeen, whom he thought farther advanced, when he received an ac- count from General Bulow, announcing that the whole army of the enemy was in full march upon Juter- bock.* The Prince Royal ordered him to attack im- _ mediately the flank and rear of the enemy, before General Tauenzeen, who defended the approaches of the town, should be overwhelmed by numbers. The Swedish army, who had been marching upwards of two German miles, proceeded to Juterbock, which was yet distant three German miles, and was followed by the Russian army, with the exception of the advanced guard, under the orders of Count WoronzofF, and of the corps of General TchernichefF, which continued before Wittenberg. The cannonade and musketry be- gan immediately between the Prussian troops and the army of the enemy. The Russian and Swedish corps, after their forced marches, were obliged to halt for a moment, in order to form in the order of battle. The Prussian army, at most 40,000 men strong, sustained in the mean while, with a courage truly heroic, the re- peated efforts of 70,000 of the enemy supported by 200 pieces of cannon. The struggle was unequal and mur- derous. The Prussian troops, however, were not dis- concerted even for one moment; and if some battalions ^ere obliged to yield for an instant the ground which they had gained, it was only for the purpose of re-oc- • The allies haying retired from before Dresden, Marshal Key returned to hit «ovps, and brought with him the detachments ■which had been withdrawn from it to strengthen the position of Buonaparte at Dresden; and findir.g that the Prince Royal's army was divided, he formed the design of attacking one of them separately. That part of the army which liad been brought to the left bank of the Elbe, in order to oppose the euterprizes of his Royal Highness, now altered its movements, and sud* denly repassed at Wittenberg, and marched upon Juterbock, where General Taueo- aeen's corps was posted.— J. P. S34 cupyiiij^ it the moment after. Wliilst this was passing, 70 battalions of Russians and Swedes, 10,000 horse of both nations, and 150 pieces of artillery, advanced in columns of attack, leaving intermediate spaces for de- ploying. Four thousand Russian and Swedish cavalry had advanced in full speed to support some points whither the enemy principally directed his attack. Their appearance began to check him, and the ap- pearance of the columns did the rest. The fate of the battle was instantly decided. The enemy's army beat a retreat; the cavalry charged them with a boldness resembling fury, and carried disorder into their co- lumns, which retreated with great precipitation upon the route of Zahna. "The enemy's force was composed of four corps d'armee — those of Marshal Duke of Reggio, of Gen- rals Bertrand and Regnier, and of that of the Duke of Padua, and of from three to four thousand Polish troops, foot and horse, the whole under the command of the Marshal Prince of Moskwa. The res ult of this battle, which was fought near the village of Denne- vitz, by the name of which it will be called, was al- ready, yesterday morning, five thousand prisoners, three standards, from five-and-twenty to thirty pieces of cannon, and upwards of two hundred ammunition waggons. The field of battle, and the road over which the enemy passed, are strewed with dead and wounded, and with a quantity of arms; six thousand of the former have already been collected. Vigor- ously pursued, the enemy, who appeared willing to proceed to Torgau, will not reach the Elbe before he has suffered losses yet more considei*able. So early as yesterday evening, General Wobeser, who had been ordered to proceed with 5000 men from Luckau upon 2S5 Zahna, attacked in that town, where the Prince de la Moskwa and the Dukes of Reggio and of Padua had taken up their quarters, part of the enemy's army that intended to go to Dresden, and made 2500 pri< isoners. Major Helwig, with five hundred horse, ad- vanced upon Sweinitz and Hertzberg, and attacked a column of the enemy in the night, taking 600 pri- soners and eight pieces of cannon. General O'Rourke, at the head of his cavalry, has made upwards of one thousand prisoners, and taken several pieces of can- non. The light troops were every day bringing in more; and General Regnier remained a long time ex- posed to the fire of our sharp-shooters, in the situation of a man desirous of death. We may estimate that the enemy has lost, up to this moment, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, from sixteen to eighteen thousand men, more than fifty pieces of cannon, and four hundred ammunition waggons. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded must have been immense. Half of the escort of the Prince de la Moskwa was killed; Marshal Duke de Reggio charged himself the infantry of the Count de Tauenzeen. The loss of Prussian troops is great, and amounts to between four and 5000 men in killed and wounded. However, the results of the day ought to contribute to the consolation of every true patriot, who will find the triumph of the cause of his country insured by the death of these brave men. The Swedish and Russian troops, have lost little. "The corps vied with each other in courage and de- votion. The heroic example shewn on this occasion by the Prussian army is calculated to exist for ever in the annals of military fame, and to inspire all those who fight for the independence of Germany. The Rus- 2S6 ^ian and Swedish troops who took part in the engage- Bient, have valiantly seconded the efforts of tlieir brethren in arms. General Bulow has displayed the coolness and bravery of a warriour, who has no other object than the glory of his king, and the defence of his country. The officers under his command have imitated his honourable example. The Prince of Hesse Hombourg, Generals Oppen, Borstel, and Thumen, and Colonel Krafft, have distinguished themselves in the most brilliant manner. * factory to the allied powers." .52 238 TWELFTH BTJIXETIN. "Head-quarters, Juterhock, Sept. 10, 1813. "The last was of tlie 8th inst. Every day brings fresh proof that the consequences* of the battle of Dennevitz are of greater weight than were at first ex- pected. It is already calculated that 10,000 prisoners, 80 cannon, upwards of 400 ammunition waggons, three pair of colours, and one standard were taken. After General Wobeser had put to flight the enemy's army at Zahna, it continued its retreat on Torgau. Our light troops did not desist from following him and taking prisoners, ammunition waggons, and baggage. The enemy has broken down the bridges over the Es- ter, in the vicinity of Annaberg and Hertzberg. "The cavalry, indeed, may cross the river, but the bridges must be repaired before the artillery can be got over it. Eight Imndred prisoners were ta/ken^close to the tete-de-pont at Torgau, and some battalions, wliich found it impossible to reach Torgau, Iiave turn- ed towards Muhlberg, and taken their route towards Dresden. "The Marshal Prince Von Eckmubl had, in the night between the 2d and 3d of September, left Schwerin with the whole of his army. Considering the strong position in which he was, this motion appears • Tlje consequences of this and tlic ather successes of the Prince Royal's army ■were immense. They more than compensated for tlie temporary advantages Buona- parte had acquired by repelling tlie allies from before Dresden. The losses of the enemy were great in men, ammunition, and artillery, and Buoimparte became sensible that his forces which at the termination of llie annisiice, as already observed, were equal m point of numben to tbe allies, were now considerably inferiour.— J. F. S39 to be a consequence of the progress made by the allied army on the side of Saxony. The enemy had time enough to put every thing in readiness for his retreat, so that we could not come up with his artillery and baggage: he had, besides, a great start of Generals Wallmoden's and Vegesack's corps: the first of which was at Crewitz, and the latter near the Warin. "The corps d'armee under the Prince of Eckmuhl marched, in two columns, on the road from Gades- busch and Rhena, and halted about half a German mile from Ratzeburg. **General Loisson's division retreated in the same direction from Wismar through Grevesmuhlen to Schenberg. At this place the Danish troops separa- ted from the French. The latter marched to Ratzeburg, and the first to Lul)«ck, where they left a garrison, and afterwards encamped farther off, at Oldelsohe. The whole French army has retired across the Steiknitz, on the banks of which intrench- ments are thrown, and they have destroyed all the means of crossing the river. The enemy's loss in this hasty retreat exceeds 1000 men, of whom upwards of 600 have been taken prisoners. The Cossacks of the corps of Lutzow and Von Reiche, with the Hanseatic cavalry, have made several attacks on the enemy's rear-guard. On General Vegesack's side the enemy was pursued under the guns of Lubeck. *«Major Armine, who commanded the Hanseatic cavalry with great ability, was there killed by a can- non ball. "The Mecklenberg yagers attacked a Danish squadron in the vicinity of Dessau, and caused it a considerable loss. '^General Vegesack has again taken his position at Grevesmuhlen. General Count Wallnioden had again returned to Schwerin, but marched from there to Do- mitz, where he caused a bridge to be built to cross the Elbe, on the ground of a part of the enemy's force be- ing detached to the left side of the river. "General Tettenborn's advanced posts stand near Boitzenburg. *iFii'-rrrf|iri>iiiggtfr M5 FOURTEENTH BULLETIN. "ilead-quarterSi TCoswig'f' Sept 14, I8I3. <*The Prince Royal removed his head-quarters to this place the day before yesterday. "The army has made a general movement to the filbe. It is engaged with the means of having strong points upon that river, in order to assist the grand army. "The armies of the centre, commanded by Generals Blucher and Benningsen, are approaching Dresden. The Swedish Captain Platen, of the Morner hussars, who was sent to effect a junction with General Blu- cher, has accomplished that purpose in the vicinity of Bautzen. "The ardent wish of Napoleon to annihilate the combined army of the North of Germany, has occa- sioned that sovereign to lose much time and many men^ in marches and counter-marches. In order to sup- port the operations of Marshal the Prince of Moskwa, he sent the corps of the Duke of Ragusa to Hoyers- werda, on the 7th of September. This corps, about 25,000 strong, had orders to proceed to Berlin, and to effect a junction there with the Prince of Moskwa. A strong detachment was, hereupon, to be sent upon the right flank of General Blucher, and to force him to About this period the Emperour of Austria conferred on the Prince Royal of Sweden, the Grand Cross of the Militai? Order of Maria Theresa. 33 retreat. The Duke of Ragusa arrived early on the 8th at Hoyerswerda; but on receiving the intelligence of the battle of Dennevitz, he hastily retreated two hours afterwards, marching by way of Konigsbruck to Dresden, which the Emperour Napoleon, who was before him, entered on the morning of the 9th. *enmark, which had yielded to the threats and the vaunting intelligence of Baron Alquier, on the third of September declared war against Sweden, It is strange, that in this declaration the hostilities which had previously been committed against Sweden, both by land and sea, are passed over in silence. We must hope that the Danish government, being inform- ed of the occurrences in the progress of the war, will at length perceive the danger it runs; and, compelled by the total derangement of its finances, will take its resolution, and acceirt the proposals which will be made to it. In the contrary case, and if tliat court will not join the common cause until it has already triumphed, it will then be no merit, nor be of any utility in obtain- ing for it such moderate conditions. The whole North sees with concern the delusion of the Danish govern- ment: the minister Alquier, who is kept there, must be himself astonished at the power and effect of his com- mands. At the moment when all the Princes of the Rhenish confederacy are preparing to throw off the yoke, it is a hard matter to account foi* the subaiis- siveness of the court of Copenhagen," SEVENTEENTH BTJULETIN. "Head-qiiarterSf Zerbst, Sept 22, 1813. "General Ho waisky, with his Cossacks, and Gene- ral Dobschuss, with four squadrons, which made a part of General Tauenzcen's advanced guard, on the sea nineteenth instant, between Borack and Schwediss, met with the first, eighth, and tenth French regiments of horse chasseurs, and attacked them so successfully, that scarcely thirty men escaped of these three regi- ments. Colonel Talleyrand, two Lieutenant-Colo- nels, sixteen other oificers, and 500 men, were made prisoners, and the rest were either killed or wounded. A remarkable circumstance, and which can only be attributed to the want of union which prevails in the enemy's troops, was that our whole loss consisted in a single wounded Cossack. General Dobschuss has oc- cupied Cosdorflf and Muhlberg. General Wobeser ob- serves Torgau. Two great boats, which came down the Elbe, laden with ammunition and clothing for the garrison of the latter fortress, have been taken. Cap- tain Von Zeunert, who had been sent with thirty men of the Landwehr, on horseback, to the left bank of the Elbe, has destroyed the entrenchments thrown up near Rogatz. The enemy sent from Wolmirstadt 100 men to prevent this; but Captain Zeunert fell upon them, at the head of his thirty men, and after an ob« stinate resistance, cut them down. Some prisoners were made, who had been all wounded. Captain Zeu- nert himself was wounded severely in this action. **Colonel Bjornestierna having been detached with Swedish troops to the left bank of the Elbe, marched on the twentieth to Kemberg, in the hope of surpris- ing there a troop of Poles: but it had already left that place, and taken the road to Leipzig. The Colonel went last to reconnoitre the bridge-head, near Witten- berg, and took under the very cannon of that work an advanced corps, and a courier with several letters upon him. Among these are several from the Govern- 264 o«r-General Lapoype, addressed to Marshal Ney, Duke of Elchin.^en; to the Duke of Reggio, to Gene- rals Regnier, Narbonue, and Margaroii. The con- tents of these letters shew that not only the soldiers, but even the officers and sergeants of the weak garri- son of Wittenberg, are daily deserting. "General Count Wallmoden reports, under the date of the nineteenth, that General Tettenborn has pursu- ed the flying enemy to Bleckede, Brackede, Lunen^ burg, Winsen, and even to Harburg; we have every where picked up soldiers that had been left behind. General Pecheux has made his escape with five or 600 men, which he collected at Lunenburg, where he ar- rived early in the morning on the day after the battle, and proceeded on his march to Winsen and Hoptc, without stopping. The enemy'g General Osten had gone before with a detachment from Harburg to Winsen, but left that place when our detached party api)roached it. A number of wounded were still laying dispersed on the roads. General Tettenborn collected them, and sent in besides, ?ome ammunition waggons that had been left behind. The number of prisoners had increased to 1300 during the pursuit; a pair of colours belonging to the third regiment of the line, was taken. On the eighteenth, tlie enemy had made a strong rcconnoisance from Mollen towards Zarrcn- ticn, and, at last, threw himself back on Boitzenburg with his right wing. Count "Wallmoden has received orders to attack the Prince of Eckmuhl, with his joint force. He is to be sup]3orted by 15,000 men of the Mccklenberg Landsturnii under the command of the Hereditary Prince. ^*The levics-en-raasse are organizing every where 265 on the right bank of the Elbe. This example will soon be followed likewise on the left bank of the Elbe; and a national tvar will shortly he seen extending from the Elbe to the Bhine, similar to that with which the liberation of Spain commenced.* The chiefs of the dis- tricts wait only for the signal for collecting their forces; and this, moment is now not far distant. ''General Bluchcr has pushed forward a strong de- tachment on Konigsbruck. Count Von Tauenzeeii has taken possession of Liebenwerda and Elsterwerda, and the line behind the Elster. The enemy had broke up his camp at Stolzeuhagcn, near Elsterwerda, in the night between the nineteenth and twentieth: Jt is esti- mated at 4000 men. According to the latest accounts, the King of Naples is still at Grossenhayn. "The Emperour Napoleon in person, on the t^velfth, attacked the post of Hollendorf, in the narrow passes of Bohemia, but was repulsed by the Austrian corps of Generals Colloredo and Meerveld, with the loss of seven cannon, one standard, 4000 prisoners, and the General of Brigade Kreutzer, who was taken. f *«The united array of the North of Germany has taken more than 28,000 prisoners since the end of the truce. From the seventeenth of August till the eigh- teenth of September, there have passed through Ber- • These spirited and admirable compsitions of the Prince Royal of Sweden had the most desired effect: they awakened the understandings of thousands to the true «tate of affairs: and whilst they augmented his forces they produced an irresistiljje ardour in his followers, from which he knew well how to profit. t In this attack Buonaparte was at first successful; he obtained possession of the important pass of Hollendorff, and of part of the plain beyond, but Prince Schwart. zenberg made a general attack on all the posts he occupied, repelled him, and on the 4eventeei»th the two arnues occupied the same positions they held befrre the advance •f Napoleon. / 266 lin as prisoners of war, 18,357 common soldiers, and 299 officers: and upwards of 2000 more were on the road to that city: from two to 3000 have remained behind sick in the hospitals of Juterbock, Treuenbriet- zen, Belzig, and Brandenburg; and the corps d'armee under Count Wallmoden, which sends its prisoners to Stralsund, has made more than 4000 of them. If we add to this number that of the killed, wounded, and missing, we may reckon the total loss of the army op- posed to that of the North of Germany, at not less than 45,000 men, since the seventeenth of August. "The prisoners taken by the army under General Blucher, and the grand army of Bohemia, amount to 40,000. We may, therefore, without exaggeration, estimate the enemy's loss, since the recommencement «f hostilities at more than 100,000 men, and 250 pieces of cannon. <tember, after vain efTorts, repelled on all sides, they were driven across the £lbej near Hamburg, wedged into a comer of Lu8ace,driven up to the rigljt bank of the Elbe, '^<Jensdorf at the gates of Leipzig. "Where was Buonaparte during the whole of September.' At Dresden, and its vicinity; again at Dresden and its vicinity; perpetually at Dresden and its vicinity. He sent his sick and wounded to Leipzig and Erfurt; burned (by accident, as was prfr tended, but designedly as we know) his magazines at Dresden; kept the king of Sax- ony and his family at Dresden, to give himself the semblance of security, and make of Dresden his Paris, his Germany, his Europe. It was from Dresden tliat those bags of k-tlers were dispatched, which being intercepted and published, have comnxini- cated just ideas of the true situation of the Fiepcb army and of the disposition of the troops. 2^5 jlle the enemy has lost upwards of 600 men. We had one officer killed, ten wounded, and about 300 privates killed and wounded. <'Field Marvshal Count Von Stediiigk would have passed the night in the tete du pont; and it required all the persuasion of his Royal Highness the Prince Royal to prevail on him to abstain from that resolu- tion. '^Lieutenant- Colonel Merevitz, who had been de- tached as a partisan to support the operations of Gen- Besides, from the twenty-third of September, the retreat of that army was begunj on the twenty-eighth the Emperour, the King of Saxony, and the Royal Family, escorted by the guards, quitted Dresden, taking the only route which remained to them— that of Leipzig. "The treaty of alliance concluded at Toplitz, between Austria, Russia, and Prus- sia—the negotiations opened with Bavaria— the unequivocal movements of the gi'and combined army towards the Maire— the siege of Wittenberg resumed with vigour,in which were used the formidable Congreve rockets — the junction of the army of Blu- cher with the Prince Royal's, have proved to Napoleon the necessity of retreat more effectually than his minister and generals had hitherto been able to do. "The feeble attempt near Dessau necessarily failed.— The Prince Royal and Gene* ral Blucher passed the Elbe at the same time, in the early part of October, and are in line before Leipzig, ready to give battle and attack the enemy. "Russia, Austria, and Prussia, have mutually guaranteed their States on the footing of 1805; furnishing each other 60,000 auxiliary troops, and setting out with the un- changeable principle of not permitting a single French bayonet to remain in Ger- many. "Already the sceptre of the King of Westphalia is broken in pieces ; the city of Cas- sel,through the instrumentality of General Tchemicheff, has placed its keys in the hands of the Prince Royal. The old order of things succeeds to the most oppressive anarchy. "At London, the news of the successes in Germany, and of those in Spain, were re- ceived almost at the same time. From that capital we learn, that on the thirtietli of August, St. Sebastians was taken by assault; Soult beaten on the thirty-first: that on the ninth of September the citadel capitulated; and that Suchet had i-azed and aban- doned Tarragona. "The trenches are opened before Dantzig, Stetten, and Glougau. Their garrisons are destitute of necessaries; they have many sick. Even Magdeburg is ill provisioned. Napoleon is even placing the fortresses on the Rhine in a st^te of defence." S7« eral Tettenborn, has forced himself into Brunswick, surprised the troops there, and made one colonel and 400 officers and soldiers prisoners. **The Russian Captain Barotzi was attacked at Halle, by troops superiour in numbers to his own, but that brave officer manoeuvred so well, that he drove the enemy back, and made some prisoners. «A detachment that was sent against Mersburg, found that town already evacuated by the enemy. — General Count Woronzoff, having learnt that the ene- my had turned himself towards Cothen, caused the Captains Orescott and Lowenstein to march against him with a detachment of Cossacks. They threw themselves on three squadrons of Polish Uhlans, over- threw them, and took the commanding officer and forty men prisoners. «'The Emperour Napoleon's communication with France is cut off to that degree, that his messengei*s are obliged to be escorted by whole divisions. It was hitherto only the light troops that carried on this kind of warfare; but latterly the inhabitants of several dis- tricts have begun to follow the example of the Span- iards and Russians, in making common cause with tlie military of the Allies. "The desertion from the enemy*s army is very great — thirty or forty men daily come over to us. "Wc have intercepted several dispatches from Count Yon Durnotb, the Danish Minister at the Court of Saxony, to M. Von Rosencrantz. As these were intended to give the Danish Court the needful information concerning the state of affairs at Dresden, care will be taken that they shall arrive at their des* tination.'* TWENTIETH JUllETlK. Uead-qiiarters at Dessaiif Oct 4, 1813, **The Prince Royal has this day transferred his head-quarters to this place. "The attempt made by the enemy on the twenty- ninth of September to carry the works, scarcely trac- ed out, of the bridge of Roslau, was more fatal to him than had been supposed. The officers and soldiers made prii^oners, the deserters and inhabitants of the country, coincide in estimatin,^ their loss at 1500 men, at the lowest calculation. From Seven to 800 men were buried here. General San dels occasioned him this loss v^ith only three battalions, ''General Blucher, by one of those marches,^ of which history scarcely furnishes an example, and which his enthusiasm for the liberty of his country could alone suggest, advanced, with the greater part • The just nnd honourable meed of praise bestowed by the Printe Royal on this grand movement of Marshal Blucher, is highly creditable to the heart and understand? ingof his Royal Highness; The attention of Europe was riveted at this moment td the movements of these two distinguished chiefs, and the Prince Royal, divested of all sentiments of rivalship, and only anxious to testify his earnestness, in the cause, be= stows oni the vetei^an marshal tho^e enconiiiims that are due to him. At a period when tuch a movement «ras least expected by the enemy, Marshal filucher broke up from Bautzen, and although obliged to carry along with him pontoons, he marched with such rapidity, as to reach in three days Elster, situated near the confluence of the river of 'hat name with the Elbe; and passing the latter river, defeated the corps cflTO= mended by General Bertrandi— J. P. 37 278 of his army, from the environs of Bautzen to £Ister$ and though he had to carry with him a bridge equip- age, he effected the passage in as short a time as a simple traveller could have done. After passing the Elbe, he attacked the fourth corps of the enemy's ar- my, commanded by General Bertrand, on the third of October, near TTartenberg, put it to rout, killed a num- ber, drove it from all its entrenchments, and took six- teen guns, seventy harnessed caissons, and 1000 pris- oners. "Lieutenant-Colonel Lowenstern, with a small de- tachment of Cossacks, fought against upwards of 2000 of the enemy in the streets of Bernburg. After a conflict of two hours, and the enemy having been rein- forced with artillery, the town was abandoned, but retaken next day. The skill and courage displayed by the Cossacks on this occasion, as well as on all preceding ones, does them the greatest honour. These undaunted troops are not only the eyes of the army, but they likewise fight in the ranks, break squadrons, attack squares of infantry, swim over rivers, and put themselves into the enemy's rear, where they spread dread and disorder. The Russian army this day crossed the Elbe at Ac- ken. General Winzingerode has caused his van- guard, under the command of Count Woronzoff, to ad- vance to Cothen. "The Town of Acken vijill in a short tin)e bp so well fortified, that it will require a regular siege to take it. It is a point on the left bank which the enemy has neglected to occupy, and from which the allied ar- my will now derive essential benefit. <*The Swedish army having thrown a bridge of boats over the Elbe, at Roslau, passed the river this morning at day-break, and again moved upon Des- sau — Its advanced posts extended to Raguhn and Jon- itz, and its junction with General Blucher's army is accomplished.* Marshal Ney's army left Dessau and Jonitz at five o*clock this morning: its rear-guard was vigorously pursued, and some prisoners have been tak- en. **It will still require five or six days before the works at Roslau can be completed. They are traced out upon a fine plan, which does great honour to Gen- eral Sparre. « f^dersfbly harassed the enemy, and cut off his suppUeii faausen, witb six pieces of cannon. By a brilliant charge, the guns were taken, the enemy dispersed, and more than 400 prisoners made. Colonel Bedriaga was killed on this occasion. This officer, who possess- ed uncommon valour, is regretted by all the Russian army. The fugitives were pursued into the city; but as the streets were barricadoed tlie Russians at length fell back. <«The King collected two battalions of guards and a thousand horse, and fled by the road leading to Frank- fort. Colonel Benkendorff charged four squadrons of light horse, forming part of the escort, not one of whom escaped; he took 250 men and ten officers. General TchernichefF was then apprised that Genera! Bastineller was advancing against Cassel, He marched during the night of the 28th upon Melzulgen^ in order to meet him with his entire force. The hostile corps dispersed, no more than twenty cuirrassiers and two guns were taken. The troops that followed the King dispersed in like manner; more than 300 of them joined General Tchernicheif, and marched with him on the 30th against Cassel. He made use of the artil- lery captured from the enemy, and cannonaded the town. The Leipzig gate, witli the cannon planted there, was carried by Colonel Benkendorff. At that moment General Tchernicheff offered terms of capitu- lation to the general of division Alix. He obtained a free passage for the French and Westphalian troops, with their arms and military baggage. These troops were to be escorted by Cossacks, two miles from Cassel. The city was occupied on the evening of 30th by the Russians: the joy of the inhabitants was beyond all description. The greater part of the Westphalian troops are ranging themselves nnder the banners of 283 the allies; more than 1500 were already enrolled at the departure of the courier; and the confusion given to the kingdom of Westphalia is of the most violent description. **It is at this moment that the North of Germany ought to justify the hopes which Europe entertains of its patriotism, and of the courage of its inhabitants. "The advanced guards of the combined army of the North of Germany, and of the army of Silesia, are only half a league distant from one another. *ig, Oct. 21, 1813. "The movements and marches of the combined ar- my, which have preceded the grand results just ob- PRUSSIAN MILITARY REPORT. "Leipzig, October 20, 1813, "Yesterday, at eight o'elock, the Prince Royal, with his whole army advanced against Leipzig, 'wheretheenemy received us witli a very warm reception of oannon balls and grenades from a battery which he had preserved for the purpose of prevent- ing a too vigorous pursuit. This was, however, soon silenced. About an hour before the city was totally evacuated, the Prince Royal was informed by the Emperour of Russia, that the King of Saxony, who was in Leipzig, had, by a flag of trace, surren- dered at discretion, and had only requested that the inhabitants and their property might be spared; and that his majesty the Emperour of Russia had returned for answer, 'That the King of Saxony might make himself easy concerning the city of JLeipzig and its inhabitants, but that in his own personbis Imperial Majesty could only see an hostile-minded prince.' ' *His Royal Highness the Prince Royal was at the same time informed, that the iEinpeniur Napoleon had, in the true style of a protector of the Rhenish confederacy, S88 taihed, have necessarily suspended the pHblieation of the operations, in order to present at once the plans and their consequences. <«TheEmperour Napoleon quitted 'Dresden the -fifth; of October, and marched in two columns upon Mei*- sett, one taking the left, and the other the rig'ht bank df the Elbe. Arrived at Wurtzen, he halted his troops. This movement, which was four daysi too late, has been fatal to the French army, and has des- troyed in two battles the spell of Napoleon*s invinci- bility. The armies of Silesia and of the North of Germany wer." on the left bank of tl»e Elbe. They possessed, in fact, neither a post, nor a strong place on either bank; but strong in their union and the bravery of their soldiers, they had formed the resolution of not repassing the river without giving or receiving battle. **The Prinee Royal and General Eliicher, wishing to get promptly out of tiiis precarious situation, united with Prince William of Prussia, the seventh of Octo- •ent word to the unfortunate Augustus, 'that he must make the best terms he could with the allies, for be could give him no assistance.' " [Here follows nn account of the Emperours of Austria and Russia, the King of Pru»> sia, and the Priiice Ro} al of Sweden, entering by the different gates, meeting in the markeb-place, and exchanging mutual salutations.] "Twenty-six French generals are prisoners. At the head of them are Generals Reg- Tiier and Laur'iston; General LaCour Maubourg had one of his feet taken off here, and vet Kapoleou forced hijn to leave the place, in consequence whereof, he died not far from hence. Three other French generals have this day had limbs amputated. The Prince Royal's ai'my has taken and found 130 cannon. The loss of the combined army is considerable, but certainly cannot be put in competition with the total destruction of Napoleon's whole force. The Swedish army has sustained the least loss. The number of baggage and ammunition waggons taken, are calculated at 1500. We have at I*ipzig 23,000 French soldiers, sick and wounded, besides wliich 30,000 have been taken prisoners. A great number of gun carriages have been found, besides those already mentioned, and 3O,C00 muskets, packed in chests, have fallen into our handi." 389 berf atMiihlbeckxJn the-MuIda. They determined to march upon Leipzig. Tiie Einperour Napoleon, wish- ing to outstrip tliem, formed the design of attacking the army of Siliesia. He marched against it with the intention of penetrating its line, and preventing it from regaining the bridge it had constructed at Warten^ berg. This movement was foreseen^ and tlie army of Sy«sia passed from the right to the left bank of the Miilda. In the night of the tenth and eleventh, the two armies quitted their positions at Zorbig, Jessnitz, and Radegast, in oi'der to place themselves behind the Saale: the army of Silesia marched upon Halle, and that of the North of Germany upon Rothenburg and AU3TRIAN MILITARY REPORT. Leipzig, October 10, 1 8 13 , fOn the niDeteeth, at day.break,the enemy still held in force Zwey Naundorff, and the ■wind.mill in front of the suburbs towards Sonnewitz. The general attack was renewed at seven in the morning, and the enemy driven towards Leipzig. Here he sought to gain time to -withdraw his troops, artillery, and baggage; for which pilrpose he sent a flag of truce, proposing to deliver up the rest of the Saxon ti-oops, on condi- tion that Leipzig should not be attacked, and that the French garrison, with all the propei'ty of the army, should be aUowed freely to depait. ., '^This proposal ^vas rejected. The allies were already masters of tlie suburbs: the enetpy wished still to continue the defence of the city, into which the allies were al- ready pouring their fire. The Saxon troops who were in the place suddenly turned their arms against the French; a Baden regiment of infanti7 followed the example of the Saxoni; the affray became universal, tlie enemy were thrown into the greatest confusion; every individual thoTigbt only of liis own escape, and the allies were mas- ters of the city." After enumerating the tropliies of these signal victories, the Report proceeds as follows:— "Prince Poniatowsid, who on the sixteenth had been appointed a French Marshal, ■when he found that he could not escape by a bridge over the Elster, endeavoured to cross the river on horseback: and, according to the account of one of his Adjutants, made prisoner, was drowned in the attempt. "This evening eight Polish infantry regiments have abandoned the enemy's stand- ards, and come over to the allies. "The field of battle, three miles in length, and as many in breadth, on which there )hai ^een nearly three full days fighting for the indepeodeuce of Germany and the re- Bernburg. The Emperour Napoleon, astonished at this march, arrested his movement upon the Elbe, and afterwards took the resolution of continuing it. He seized upon Dessau, the works and bridge of Ros- lau, detached two corps of his army upon Wittenberg, and caused General Thumen, who commanded the blockade of the fortress, to be attacked. That Gene- ral, after a valiant defence, fell back upon the corps of General Taucnzeen, who had re-crossed the Elbe. The enemy immediately marched upon Roslau, and attacked General Tauenzeen, who, in conformity to his instructions, made a retrograde movement, to co- ver Berlin. The enemy moved upon Acken, with the design of destroying the bridge. The troops posted on the right bank defended the approaches of certain batteries scarcely completed, but were at length forc- ed to retire to the left bank of the river, and carried off some boats that composed the bridge. They sus- tained no loss. That which they suffered in the pre- pose of Europe, is so thickly bespread with the dead bodies of the eneray, that the loss of the French army at all points may be computed at 40,000 men, at the lowest. The total loss of the allies, in killed and wounded, may be estimated, at the bighe.$t, at 10,000 men. '-The three allied Monarchs were, during tbe decisive battle of yesteiday, on the heights between Wachau and Probsthayda, the eye-wituesses of the extraordinary va- lour of their troops. "His Imperial Majesty himself invested, on the fielcl of battle, Field ^Marshal the Fdnce of Schwartzenberg, Commander in Chief, with tlie great cross of the order of Maria l"heresa; tds Majesty the Emperour of Russia was also pleased to confer upon bis Highness the order of St. George, first class; and his Majesty the King of Prussia the order of the Black Eagle. "Upon the General of cavalry, Blucher, who, by the wisdom and energy he had di«» played in the mnstdifncult operations during the course of the campaign, had contri- buted so much to the glorious results ot these battles, his Imperial Majesty was pleased to confer the grand cross of the order of Maria Theresa; and upon General Gneisenau, the Quarter-Master-General of that officer, the cross of Commander of the same or- der. "The combjmed army is in motion to pursue the enemy." 291 ffous affairs, in the vicinity of Dessau, Cosurg, and Wittenberg, did not amount to more than 400 men. '^Information having been received from every quarter, that the Emperour Napoleon had assembled a considerable force between Duben and Wittenberg, in order to debouche through that city upon Magde- burg, and extricate himself from his hazardous posi- tion, the army of the North of Germany re-crossed the Saale on the thirteenth, and moved upon Cothen, with the design of following the march of the Empe- rour's army, and of attacking it wherever it might be met with. Intelligence had been received that the fourth and seventh corps of the second corps of caval- ry were upon the right bank of the Elbe, the eleventh at Wittenberg, the third at Dessau, and the old and young guards at Duben. The Duke of Kagusa was at Delitzseh. The enemy, the same evening, attack- ed the town of Acken. The division of the Prince of Hesse Homberg moved in that direction; but General Hirschfeldt had already succeeded in repulsing that part of the third French corps which had made the attack. Reply of the Emperour Alexander U the King of Saxcrafs Offer of Capiivlatiom "His Imperial Majesty gave his answer aloud, in the hearing of many hundred of&. cers, with remarkable force and dignity. He said in substance, that an army in pur* suit of a flying enemy, and in the hour of victory, could not be stopped a moment by considerations for the town; that therefore the gates must be immediately opened, and in that case the most strict discipline should be observed: that if the German troops in the place chose to join their countrymen in this army, they should be received as brothers: but that he considered any proposal sent, while Napoleon was at band, as extremely suspicious, as he well knew the enemy he had to deal with; tliat as to the King of Saxony personally, who bad taken a line of deiennined hostility, he gave no answer, and declined making any communication. "The heavy cannon and columns of attack were ordered to advance. In the meau" while the Prince Royal attacked and stormed the city on the other side, a Prussian corps being the first in the square."— lorrf CathcarCs Despatdi, Oct. 19. 29S #^**Thc bridge of Acken was already re-establislied, and every preparation made to cross the Elbe by main force, when accounts arrived that theEmperoiir Napoleon had made several corps of his army retro- grade, and had re-assembled his troops between Duben and Wurtzen. Tiie presence, however, of two corps between Dessau, Wittenberg, and Duben, excited a suspicion that he intended to strike a grand blow, af- ter having changed his plans. But being continually watched, all his movements were ascertained, and those of the army of the North of Germany were re- gulated accordingly. That army marched on the iiftcentli October, upon Halle. The Emperour con- ceiving that it was going to re-cross the Saale, con- centrated his army in the vicinity of Leipzig. The grand army of Bohemia commanded in chief by Prince Schwartzenberg, approached that city at the same time, and every moment rendered the situation of tlie French army worse. On the sixteenth Octo- ber, the army of the North of Germany, instead of marching opon the Saale, moved to the left, and di- rected its march upon Landsberg. General Blucher, who had already marched upon Schkenditz, moved Tlte annexed brief description of t}ie misery proceeding only fromthe first day^s battle, it given in a narrative published fur t/ie relief of t/ie xinfortunate Inhabitants of Leip- "Weeping Mothers, with beds packed «p in baskets, leading t«'o or three start naked cliildren by the hand, and with perhaps another infant at their back; fathers seeking tlieir wives and families; children, who had lost their parents in the crowd; trucks witl> sick persons forcing their ivay among the thousands of horses; cries of rail" ery and despair in every quarter:— such were the heralds that most feelingly pro- claimed the presence of the warriours who have been celebraied in so many regions, and whose imposing appearance has been so often admired. All these unfortunates crowded into the filthy corner formed by the old hospital and the wall at the Kohl- garter's gate, 'llieir cries and lamentations were intermingled with the moans and groans of the wounded who were going to tlie hospital, and who earnestly solicited bread and relief. A number of French soldiers, probably such as had loitered in the i-car, searched every basket and every pocket for provisions; they turned without cer. craony tlic sleeping infants out of the baskets, and cared not how much the enraged S93 upon Freyroda and Radefeld, where he, the same day, attacked the enemy, and compelled liim, after an ob- stinate engagement, to fall back behind the Partha. He took, upon this occasion, 2000 prisoners, an eagle, and thirty pieces of cannon. *«Every account announced that the Emperour Na- poleon would attack the army of Silesia next day with the greatest part of his united forces. The army of the North of Germany put itself in march on the 17th, at two in the morning, from its position at Landsberg, and at an early hour, arrived upon tlie heights of Brei- tenfield, where it encamped. The day was tranquil. The following morning Prince William of Prussia and General Blucher joined the Prince Royal. His Roy- al Higliness was informed, that the army of Bohemia would attack the enemy that day, and he resolved to take a vigorous part in the attack. He concerted with mothers lacerated tTieir faces in return. The scenes of horrour changed so quickly, that you could not dwell more than half a minute upon any of tliera. The tendevest heart hecame torpid and insensible. — One tale of woe followed on tlie heels of another.— 'Such a person too lias heen murdered ! Such an one's house has been set en fire!— This man is cut in pieces; that man has been transfixed with the bayonet!— Those poor creatures are seeking their children!' Such was the intelligence brought by every new fugitive. If you asked the French wlien the march would be over, you received the consolatory answer— 'Not before six o'clock in the morning.' During the night, the sounds of drums and trumpets incessantly announced the arrival of fresh regiments.— At length, about midnight, the bustle somewhat subsided; at least, so far as regarded the marching of troops. I now seized the favourable moment, and felt myself as it were a new creature: when Iiaving made my way through tlie crowd, once more set foot ia the city. Thus the morning and the evening completed ttte first day ofhorroun'" From the same interesting Pamphlet, the foUoiniing paragraph is extracted, it being a further proof, if proof ivere necessary, of the guile which distinguisltes the Rider of the French Nation, and which has so often materially contributed to his success:— "I have forgotten to mention a portanities in the service of the good cause in which we are engaged, and of which j-ou lately gave so many proofs in the battles near Leipzig, on die eighteenth and nine^ teenth instant, have induced me to request for you of the King, my master, the honours of a Grand Cross, and oommander of the royal military order of the Sword. I reserve to myself the delivering of tlie insignia of this order into your hands. "I deem myself happy in giving you herewith a proof of the well-deserved esteem which I bear to yau, and of the value which I attach to the services rendered by youc Excellency. "I have to conclude with prajing God to keep you, Lieutenant-Genetal Stewart, under his most high and gracious protection. Your well affectioned, &c. (Signed) "CHARLBS JQHlt. "From my Head-quarters, at Arfem, Oct<35, 181»." in considerable force. General Baron Palilen, brave- ly supported by Colonel Arnoldi, of the horse artillery, who had lost a leg on this occasion, made a brilliant charge, seized the village, surrounded two Saxon bat- talions that were there, and made them prisoners. The cavalry then advanced, and effected a junction Tvith the advanced guard of General Neipperg, form- ing part of an Austrian division, commanded by Gene- ral Count Bubna, belonging to General Benningsen's army. The Hettman Platoff arrived at the same time with his Cossacks, and, a few moments after, his Im- perial Highness the Graad Duke Constantine. *'The enemy, who had abandoned the village of Paunsdorff, vigorously attacked it again with infantry and several batteries. General Bulow's corps, which just came up, was ordered to attack that village. It was carried with great bravery. The enemy commenc- ed a brisk cannoi>ade. Several Russian and Prussian batteries returned the fire, and covered themselves with glory. The Russian cavalry, with Generals O'Rourke, Manteuffle, Pahlen, Bekendorff,and Chos- tak, at their head, remained several hours exposed to the fire of 100 pieces of artillery, with the most deter- mined contempt of death, which appalled the enemy. Towards three o'clock he began to debouche his mass*- es from the villages of Sellershausen and Volkmers- dorff. The PrinceRoyal ordered the Russian cavalry to charge. The movement of the enemy was slack- ened, and he lost four pieces of cannon, and re-entered the villages. A few moments after General Manteuffla was struck with a cannon ball, of which he is since dead. This accomplished officer is universally regretted. **Our columns were moving upon Leipzig, whea strong masses of the enemy were seen debouching between Molka and Englesdorff, threatening to turn our left. General Blucher who happened to be plac- ed before the village of Stetteritz, ordered his troops to maJce a front movement, which was executed by General Count Neipperg, and the enemy was thus placed in the presence of his division. A Saxon offi- cer of artillery had already passed over to us with ten pieces of cannon.* The troops placed at that point did not appear to be sufficiently numerous. It was necessary to reinforce them. The Prince of Hesse Homburg was ordered to proceed thither, and he executed his movement with the precision and re- gularity of a parade. General Buh)w charged and seized the villages of Stuntz and Sellershausen, which were strongly occupied and protected with cannon. The resistance was obstinate, the Prussian troops maintained themselves there during the nigbt, in de- fiance of the repeated efforts of the enemy. This, at- tack decided the results of the day on that side. The enemy, however, continued to advance upon our left, in order to arrest our march upon Leipzig. As there was a want of artillery in that direction, the Prince B-oyal directed the Russian General, Baron de AVitt, to invite, on his part, the officer conimanding the Sax- on batteries, to lend the use of his artillery until the arri\ al of the batteries of the army, which were de- tained in the defiles. This officer having already served under the Prince, hastened to do so, and the ten pieces intended a little before to consolidate the slavery of Germany, were afterwards employed to se- cure its independence. This exaujplc should prove to • A considerable body of M'estphalian and Saxon troops joined the Allies, and acy cepted the offer of the Prince Royal to head them, as they turned their giuis against tlte eneqjy. ^97 conquerors, that the terrour which they inspire termi- nates with the power which has created it. Colonel Diederichs, commanding the Russian artillery, attach- ed to General Bulow's corps, rendered great services on this occasion. Captain Bogue, commanding the English rocket company, signalized himself in like manner. This brave officer was killed, and is univer- sally regretted.* The rockets produced thje most de- cisive effect. «risoners: suspi« cious as Tiberius, and cruel as Nero, he established in Fi'ance a system of universal espionnage^ which ab- sorbs one half of the ac tivity of all the public func- tionaries; every liberal idea was proscribed, every independent voice was smothered; the silence of death hovered, and still hovers over that country, inhabited by one of the most enlightened and ingenious nations of Europe: flattery alone is heard, and by a monstrous scafibliiing of lies it endeavours to conceal such a mul- tiplicity of horrours. His system of intcmal govern- ment has ruined the prosperity of France; his con- duct in foreign relations forms only a tissue of Ma- chiavelian perfidies. <*In the wars which his wild ambition has kindled for the last ten years, all those veterans, the old de- fenders of their country, have perished in succession; the youth of France, torn from their peaceful occupa- tions, has been thinned, without pity! If the glitter of victories gained by French valour was for some years able to produce illusion, that illusion is now destroy- ed. Buonaparte, by abusing fortune, has at last tired her out; he now experiences reverses alone, and his success was his only merit. He has not one faithful ally: all of them aspire to shake off the yoke of vas- salage, which im])erious circumstances imposed, and which he docorated with the name *alliance.' He has still satellites, whom fear for their own safety attaches to his person: he has not one friend in the whole world. "The moment approaches, wh^i thi3 man, who so long wound his way in darkness to a height at which 317 he seemed to tread under foot the human race, is ahout to re-enter his original nothing. It is in vain that he Would confound his name and interests with those of France: he has nothing in common with her: it is only his usurpation and tyranny which have hitherto con- nected the fate of France with his. The allies have loudly declared, that they do not make war upon the French nation, but upon Buonaparte alone. Amidst so many millions of men whom he calls his subjects, the tyrant is insulated; a gjeneral amnesty is proclaiined for all those who have served him, provided they- re- linquish his party, and act against him: he alone is proclaimed an outlaw against humanity. "Never did a more august Senate preside over the destinies of Europe, than that which the allied Sover- eigns form at this day. Can it be supposed that the Prince Royal of Sweden would not raise his voice in that Senate, in favour of his country, were the dismem- berment or subjugation of France even hinted at? But France may obtain the most honourable peace, the moment she chooses to set limits to her despot's abuse of power. "The allies wish only to re-establish the tranquility and independence of the civilized world. The Prince Royal of Sweden cherishes the remembrance of France; he ceases not to pray for her happiness. It is Buona- parte who has neither French blood nor a French heart. — After the manner of the ancient knights, the Prince Royal has nobly thrown down his glove: let his adversary take it up if he dare; let him come and ter- minate this great contest in single combat: the event would not be doubtful. — Methinks I see the Prince Royal of Sweden advance within the list, with that se* ^2 SIS rcnc front, that air so open and noble, which recalls the image of the Bayards and the Du Guesclins, against his adversary, bloated with pride, but loaded with curses, and his forehead already furrowed with the thunderbolts of celestial wrath, Methinks 1 sec the shades of heroic Kings of Sweden appear in the clouds, to be witnesses of this judgment of God: me- thinks I see Gustavus AdoJphus dart a look of indig- nation at him who profaned the name of the battle of Lutzen, by saying that it had been fought a second time by him for the liberty of Germany. Nations, the spectators, would applaud with enthusiasm, the generous enterprize of their defender; they would pre- sage to him the victory: the monster would be thrown to the earth, and the world would resound with shouts of gladness." From this necessary digression I turn with plea- sure to a continuation of the brilliant manoeuvres of the Prince Royal. The battle of Leipzig seemed the forerunner of a peace to Europe. It was the most san- guinary and extensive battle that had taken place dur- ing the war, and success in its amplest measure had attended the vast efforts of the allied chiefs. To each chieftain Europe is indebted for the glorious triumph acquired at Leipzig, but to none more than to the Prince Royal of Sweden. TWENTY-SIXTH BULLETIN. Head-qiiarters, HeiligenstadU Oct. 30, 1813. <«Thb Prince Royal has this day removed his head- quarters to this place. 319 "The Emperour Napoleon continues his retreat to the Rhine: the allied armies pursue him, and are con- tinually disturbing him. All information received as- sures us, that he has not ahove 50 or 60,000 men with him, the remainder of his army is dispersed, and is wandering ahout without guidance and without arras among the mountains. "General Tchernicheff, who commands one of the vanguards of the allied army of the North of Germa- ny, on the twenty-fifth instant, near to Elstrode, not far from Eisenach, caused a detachment of 800 caval- ry, commanded by the General of division Fournier, to be attacked. He drove it into a defile, where the greater part of these men were cut to pieces, and 300 made prisoners. "The Cossacks who made this attack were not more than two or 300 men strong. On information being received on the twenty-seventh, that a part of the young French guards had spent the night at Fulda, General Tchernicheff drew General Ilowaiski the sec- ond to him, and detached Colonel Benkenddrff to Fulda. "This officer drove away the enemy, took 500 pris- oners from him, and destroyed the magazine of corn established there. As it appeared that the young guards formed the van guard of the French arsay. General Tchernicheff posted himself between it, and the army following it under the command of the Em- perour Napoleon, and thus awaited the approach of the enemy's columns. "As soon as he perceived its head, he caused it to be attacked. Three squadrons of the gens d'armerie of the .ejuards were attacked and driven back upon the troops that followed them. "General Tchernicheff dispersed the van guard of the Emperour Napoleon, destroyed the magazines from which he thought to supply his army, and ren- dered the roads impassable, "Lieutenant-General Count Woronzoff, early on the twenty- eighth caused Cassel to be garrisoned by a part of his van guard. A few hours afterwards, the corps of Count St. Priest, from the army of Silesia, en- tered that place. Count Von Woronzoff has followed them there to-day, and he will be followed by GeneraJf Baron Von Winzingerode, with his whole army. "The king of Westphalia, who was ignorant of the result of the battle near Leipzig, was still quiet at Cassel on the twenty-fourth, and had not more than four or 5000 recruits with him. It was not until the next day, the twenty-fifth, that he was informed how badly his brother had fared, and on the twenty-sixtU he set off without delay by ' the way of Wetzlar for Coblentz, «< General Carra St. Cyr has again entered Bremen, but most probably will not remain there long. **The Marshal Prince of Eckmuhl still remained on the twenty-sixth in the position he had taken behind the Steiknitz, but preparations were observed making for thro- ing a bridge over it near to Zollenspecker. ■yrhat he intends doing, is not yet exactly known. Some people, who think themselves well informed, as- SSI sert that the Emperour Napoleon has given him orders to defend himself in Hamburg to the last extremity, to prevent the Danes from declaring against France as long as possible. <«The French do not agree well Mith the Danes: these wish for nothing more earnestly than to make common cause with the allies, and expect their king's declaration with the greatest impatience. *«The Saxon army which joined the allies, and re- ceived the army of the North under arms when it en- tered Leipzig, will take the field without delay. Their generals, officers, and soldiers, wish to avenge the in- sults that have been put on them. * be° 336 Bisciiloff, which has already distinguished itself on inanj other occasions, was there covered with glory. Major Knoblock, of the corps of General Borstell, surprised the town of Neus, ojiposite DusseldorflF. An eagle, a colonel, eighteen officers, and some hundred soldiers, were there taken. Possession was also obr tained of a magazine of forage and regimental cloth- ing. Colonel Hole, who commanded the expedition, pursued the enemy as far as the road to Juliers. Thus the troops of the army of the North of Germany find themselves on the French territory. It is still hoped, however, that the grand confederation, armed for the liberty and independence of the Continent, will not be forced to pass on, and seek in ancient France, that peace of which all the inhabitants of the earth have S)ich need. '♦After a short bombardment, the corps of General "Winzingerode lias possessed itself of the fort of Roth- enburg. The garrison have been taken prisoners of war. cause the French power, in a state of greatness and strength, is one of the foundation of the social edifice of Europe. They wish that France may be happy,— that French commerce may revive, — that the arts, those blessings of peace, may ag^in flourish; be* cause a great people can only he tranquil in proportion as it is happy. The powers con- firm to the French empire an extent of territory which France, under her kinE:s, nevef knew; because a valiant nation does not fall from its rank, by having in its turn esp& lienced reverses in an obstinate and sanguinary con^estjin which it has fought with its accustomed bravery. "But the allied powers also wish to be free, tranquil, and happy, themselves. They desire a state of peace, which, by a wise partition of strength— by a just eqiiilibriun^ piay hcnceforwanl preserve their people from the numberless calamities which have overwhemed Europe for the last twenty years. "The allied powers will not lay down their arms, until they have attained this great and beneficial result- this noble object of their efforts. They will not lay down their arms, until the political state of F.urope be reestablished anew— until immovable prin- ciples have rtsinncd tli-ir rights over vain pretensions— until the sanctity of treaties shali have at last secured a real peace to Etuope." ^ <*The Prince of Erkmiihl, with a view of obtaining intelligence, and to make prisoners, has made a sortie from Hamburg with all his cavalry: he had supported them with a reserve of several battalions. This corps, under the orders of the General of Division, Vichery, attacked an advanced post of the Cossacks placed at Tondorff, and pursued its march with so much impet- uosity, that it entered Rahlstedt along with the picket. The regiment of Cossacks which entered that place, was obliged to retire upon Seik, where General Pahlen was, with six squadrons of regular cavalry, placed by General Woronzoff. In less than four minutes, these last forces were under arms. General Pahlen, well known in the army by his military talents and manly intrepidity, immediately led them to the charge. Colonel Tumen, at the head of a squadron of the regi- ment of Izoum, began the attack with so much vigour, that it immediately overthrew the enemy, who was from thenceforth in complete route. They were pur- sued to Wandsbeck. The road between Seik and Wandsbeck was strewed with dead; more than 200 were counted; and above 150 prisoners, of whom one was an officer, were taken. The Colonel of the Jut- land dragoons was wounded, and died soon after of his wounds. "General Dornberg attacked, with three battalions, three regiments of Danish infantry that had come out of Oldeslohe. The enemy was briskly pressed as far as Bode, and night put an end to the combat. The Gen- eral made some prisoners. **A squadron of dismounted hussars attacked the village of Benthorst, where there was a company of 388 Danish infantry. It made twenty prisoners and dis- persed the rest, *«A detachment of the advanced guard of General Wallmoden has taken a part of the enemy's baggage at Eckenfohrde, and made some hundreds of prisoners. "General Tettenborn, who has passed the Eyder with his corps, has occupied Frederickstadt, Tonnin- gen, and Husam, and has sent detachments towards Flensburg and Sleswick. He has surrounded the fort of Vollerwyk. He has surprised, at Harnau, 120 car- riages, conveying the sick of the hospital of Altona. One hundred and twenty of the escort were made pris- onersj the rest saved themselves by favour of the night. At Husum he took seven cannon. The General has also disarmed the Landsturm of Tonningen and Hu- sum. More than 300 muskets were taken there. One of his detachments has detroyed the depots of cavalry which were at Itzehoe. The enemy has lost many men in killed and wounded. One officer, 100 soldiers, and 120 horses, have been taken. i "The Swedish army has advanced upon the Eyder, between Rendsburg and Kiel. Its detachments occu- py this latter place. The head-quarters of Marshal Count Stedingk are at Preetz. "The inhabitants of Ploen, and of Eutin, have re- ceived the Swedish troops with great acclamations of joy. Those towns have been illuminated. "General Skioldebrand, wlio was engaged in pur- suit of the enemy, came up witli them in front of Bornhoft. He found that tlieir force, consisting of 389 tht*ee battalions of infantry, and two regiments of cavalry, was drawn up in battle, and had a battery of six pieces upon their left flank. The fire of their grape shot became lively and destructive; but Gen- eral Skioldebrand himself, at the head of his troops, charged with so much vigour, that the battery was carried, the battalions broken, and forced to lay down their arms. The enemy's cavalry took to flight; all that of General Skioldebrand pursued it, leaving only a squadron to receive the battalions which had Surrendered. By treachery, or at the instigation of some of their officers, these troops took up their arms, fired upon our cavalry, and did great mischief. Some squadrons of hussars which pursued the enemy, im- mediately returned to the charge, and sabred those battalions. As the enemy had in the village of Born- hoft a considerable corps of reserve, only the battery, iind about 300 prisoners could be taken. Their loss in killed and wounded is very heavy: ours amounts to about 200 men, and as many horses. Captain Plant- ing, and Adjutant Cock, of the Morner hussars, have been killed; and Colonel Cederstrom, of the same reg- iment, wounded. The Swedish cavalry displayed in this affair a rare intrepidity: it charged on very diffi- Tjult ground three different kinds of corps (cavalry, artillery, and infantry,) and obtained complete suc- cess. ««It is painful to be obliged to mention combats which have taken place between the children of the North. They ought only to produce mourning and silence. The Sovereign whose policy has provoked them, can alone desire that they should be prolonged. Let us hope, that the King of Denmark will put an end to this war of brethren; and that his kingdom. 340 and that of Sweden, will present the image of one faro- ilyj to be tranquil and happy. "The enemy, cut oflf from Rendsber^ by General Wallmoden, retired upon Kiel> pursued by General Skioldebrand. He passed the canal, and proceeded by the opposite bank, upon the fortress, after having de- stroyed the bridges. It required twenty-tour hours to repair them. General Wallmoden, who had advanced to Klawenseek, threw others across; and detached General Dornberg upon Eckernforhrde, after having received intelligence that the enemy was retiring upon that point. The advanced guard of General Wallmo- den had passed long before. Some battalions, and a regiment of hussars, which should have guarded the bridge, and kept up the communication with General Dornberg, were attacked at Ostenrode by the enemy's army, which, fearing no doubt that it should be de- stroyed in its march upon Colding, took the sudden resolution of piercing to Flendsburg. The corps of General Wallmoden being separated, could not arrive in time to take part in the action. This General sus- tained, with one regiment of iiussars, four battalions^ and four pieces of cannon, a long and obstinate com- bat, against a force of 10,000 men at least, with a nu- merous artillery. Success was a long time balanced; but at last the enemy were enabled to gain possession of the road to Rendsberg. The soldiers were often mixed with each other; and although the number of Danes was in the proportion of three to one, the field of battle remained with Count Wallmoden. The foot and horse chasseurs of Mecklenberg, which formed the advanced guard of General Vegesack, arrived in time to take part in the engagement, and to decide it. Its cavalry made a brilliant charge against the regi- 341 meiit of Holstein, ami under the cross-fire of several^, battalions, which were placed behind the hedges.-— Prince Gustavus of Mecklenburg, who has distinguish- ed himself in an extraordinary manner, has been wounded. His gr^at valour having borne him into the midst of the enemy, he fell into their hands; but he was afterwards exchanged for an officer of the same rank. It is hoped that his wounds will permit him to continue the war. His conduct has been above all praise. Colonel Muller, of the Mecklenburg chas- seurs, has conducted himself in a brilliant manner. — Count Wallmoden has lost in this affair one cannon, and from five to 600 men killed, wounded, or missing. The loss of the enemy, by his own confession, is more than 1000 men. In this engagement, which does great honour to Count Wallmoden, and in the preceding, which consisted of skirmishes, that General has taken eight pieces of cannon, and 400 prisoners. Young Lieutenant Muhlenfels, of the hussars of the legion; and Lieutenant Maurenholz, of the hussars; with a score of hussars, and the same number of Hanoverian chasseurs, have performed prodigies of valour, and taken five cannon. "The Prince of Hesse has demande^l an armistice. It is probable that the differences between Sweden and Denmark will soon be settled, and that Denmark will at last join herself to the allies." THIRTIETH BTIXLHTIN. "Head-quarters f Kiel f December 16,1813, "The armistice demanded hy the Prince of Hesse has been granted. It began on the fifteenth instant, 46 34'S at midnight, and will finish on the twenty-ninth, at the same hour. We shall profit by this interval to push the operations against Hamburg". The Danish army has been able to enter Rendsberg as it were by a miracle. Two hours later, «nd it would have been forced to lay down its arms, or to disperse. The fort of Vollerwyk has surrendered to the corps of General Tettenborn, after having been cannonaded for some days. The garrison are prisoners of war, and are not to serve again till they are exchanged. Eighteen cannons and ten mortars have been taken there. The number of pieces of cannon taken by General Tetten- born, since his entrance into the Duchies, amounts ta thirty-eight. *'The characteristic talents of the Cossacks, of ex- tricating themselves out of difficulties on all emer- gencies, has shewn itself on this occasion. For want of artillerymen, they themselves served the artillery, with which they fired against the battery. The most severe weather, roads almost impracticable, nothing stops these warriours. An army which has Cossacks at its command, will always find its operations, and its success, facilitated by their vigilance. "The forts of Frederiksort, and Gluckstadt, are not included in the armistice. If the Danish government wishes for peace, these places will not experience the horrours of a bombardment. The army has halted in the midst of its successes; the time which it loses by waiting for the conclusion of a peace, is of incalcu- lable importance. Thus have the allies given to Denmark and to Europe, an evident proof of their moderation. If hostilities re-commence, it will doubt- less be a great misfortune; but no one can reproach the allies with those consequences. *llanfl; and, moreover, to the exertions of the Prince Royal must be attributed the complete overthrow of the fabric of the pretended Westphalian liin.^dom, and the restoration of the houses of Hesse, Brunswick, and Hanover, to the dominions of their ancestors, A brief statement of the late operations may be here necessary. On the fourth of December all the corps of the Prince RoyaPs army moved forward^ and on their crossing the Strecknitz, Marshal Davoust precipitate- ly retired u]ion Hamburg, leaving quite exposed the right wing of the Danes, which was posted at Oldes- lohe. The French marshal was pursued by General Woronzoff, who moved beyond Bergedorflf, and de- feated the whole French cavalry in a sanguinary en- gagement at Wandsbeck. General Wallmoden march- ed direct upon Oldenslope, Marshal Stedingk ma- noeuvred on Lubeck; and General Baron de Tetten- born, with his light troops, pushed into the iiiteriour of Holstein by Trettau, and hung on the flanks and rear of tlie French. From the first day, the last named officer cut off all communication between the French tiy. I have just paid this debt of the Swedes— Lubeck is free. I had the happiness of g-ainij»K possession of the city without bloodshed. This advantage is dearer to me than a \-ictoi'y in a pitched battle, even though it might not cost me many men. How happy are we, my dear son, when we can prevent tlie shedding of tears!— How sound and quiet isoiu- sleep. If all men could be convinced of this truth, there would be no more conquerours, and natims would be governed only by just Kings. I set off, to-nior* row, for Oldeblolie, and the day after, whither events may call me. I do every tiling to make them conducive to the good cause and the benefit of my country. The only re- eouipense I ^tsire, is. that it may second you, my deai- child, in every thing you will cue day undertake for its prosperity and welfare. Your affectionate Father, "CHILES JOHN, "Lubeck, Dec 7, I8i3.»' * 345 and the Danes, and took from the latter a considerable number of prisoners, carriages, and ammunition wag- gons, and likewise intercepted some important dis- patches. Prince Frederick of Hesse did not hold out against all these combined movements, but commenced a pre- cipitate retreat on the Eyder. Lubeck was evacu- ated by the Danes, who were defeated on the seventh of December by the Swedes, and vigorously pursued by General Wallmoden, when an obstinate engage- ment ensued with a part of his troops, against the wiiole Danish army. The action was well contested, and the Danes were finally obliged to retire to Rends- burg. The communication between General Dornberg, (who had been detached upon the right bank of the Eyder) and General Wallmoden being momentarily cut off, and the enemy having been reinforced at Schleswig by four battalions, a regiment of cavalry, and ten pieces of cannon, arrived from the interiour of the country; the critical position of General Dorn- berg obliged General de Tettenborn to direct his ope- rations towards Schleswig, which place he was pre- paring to attack, in case the enemy did not accept a summons he had sent him to evacuate the place, when intelligence arrived of the following armistice having been concluded with the Danes by the mediation of Austria. Suspension of arms between the allied armies and the Danish forces. "It is agreed upon — f*l. That all hostilities between the Allies and the 346 Danish forces shall cease, from the fifteenth of this month at midnight, with the exceptions contained in the second article, and the armistice shall be in force vintil the twentieth instant, at midnight. <*2. Pending the duration of the armistice, the Al- lies shall he at liberty to possess themselves, if they ean, of the fortress of Gluckstadt, and that of Fried- rickstadt, Prince Frederick of Hesse having declared, that it was not in his power to cede those places, be- cause they were not under his command. **3. The Allied forces shall evacuate the Duchy of Schleswig, with the excejjtion of the points herebeforc mentioned, which shall be occupied by them, as well as all the territory situated between the line which these points form and the Eyder, viz: Eckrenforde, Golteburg, Heckeburg, Selk, HoUingstadt, and Hu- sam. *«*. The high road of Rendsberg to Schleswig shall he opened to couriers. The Danish army shut up in Rendsburg, are to draw their means of subsistence by this route alone, for the numbers actually under arms, and the sick in the hospitals. There shall be granted from ten to twelve thousand rations per day; and the Danes are at liberty to provision the place every three days, for wiiich purpose commissaries shall be appoint- ed on both sides, to take cognizance, by approxima- tion, of the rations carried into the place. "5. During the cessation of hostilities there shall not be carried into the place of Rendsburg, either am- munition or troops. The garrison is not to be aug- mented, under any pretext, before the resumption of 34^7 hostilities. The Commander-in-chief of the Danish troops, Prince Frederick of Hesse, pledges himself be- sides, not to add to the fortification of the place, nor construct any fluckes, &c. On the other hand, the Al- lied army will not throw up any fortifications whatever against the place, and they shall, during the duration of the armistice, remain behind Swenstedt and Ster- feldt, and Swenburg, towards Holstein, which places shall remain neutral, and on the side of Schleswig, behind Schirnum, BunsdorfF, Duvenstadt, Lorsbruck, Holm, and Elsdorff, and they may be occupied by the advance posts of the place, *<6. The garrison of Rendsburg shall not make any sortie, attack, or march against the Allied forces, dur- ing the armisticej and, on the other part, the Allied troops shall not make any attack or march against the place. ««7. There shall not be at Schleswig more troops than such as are appointed for the guard of Prince Charles of Hesse, and these shall not exceed 1000 men. Troops coming from the interiour shall not proceed beyond Honeburg. «8. The Allied army not to augment the number of their forces in the Duchy of Schleswig, before the ar- mistice shall have expired. (Signed,) '«Comte GusTAVE de Lowenhielm, "Comte De Bandenfibtts. (Accepted,) ^'Frederick, Prince de Hesse. "Rendsburg, Dec, 15, 1813." 34^8 THIRTY-rmST BULLETITf. " Head-quarter Sf Kiel, Dec. 21, 1813. "General Benkeiidorff has made himself master of Gertruydenberg; General Loranga.^e who commanded there, is to return to France with his garrison, on con- dition of not serving against the allies for one year. <'The fortress of "Williamstadt was evacuated with so much precipitation, that the enemy abandoned twen- ty gun-boats that were tliere. <*In all the towns of Holland that have been restored to freedom, Burgher-guards are forming, **Gluckstadt is surrounded. If the place be not surrendered by the first post, it will be stormed. The garrison had established near the village of Soenfloth, in a very advantageous position, a battery of four thir- teen pounders, with 200 infantry to serve it. A bat- talion of the brigade of General de Boyle made itself master of tlie battery, pursued the enemy under tiie grape-shot fire of the fortress, and made many pris- oners. <*A11 the preparations had been made to attack the fortress of Fredericksort; the troops of the second brigade, under General Baion de Posse, were at 300 paces from tlie wall. After a very sharp fire, which lasted a day and night, and which our soldiers sus- tained with their northern sang-froid, the conimand- ant capitulated on the nineteenth. "We found in the 349 place, 101 pieces of cannon, much ammunition, includ- ing four or 500 quintals of powder. The garrison are prisoners of war." Whilst the negotiations for a peace with Denmark were carrying on, the French Marshal Davoust, who commanded in Hamburg, exercised the most wanton and tyrannical conduct towards the inhabitants, and upwards of 30,000 men, women, and children were forced to leave their houses, destitute of every means of support. The following is an extract from the French Mar- shal's orders of the twentieth of December; "The following shall leave the city within twenty- four hours, that is, on the twentieth, between twelve and two, viz. — all inhabitants born without the walls of Hamburg, **1. All Foreigners, of both sexes, who have not their usual residence in the city, and have paid no di- rect tax since the first of January, 1813. "2. All students born out of Hamburg. *«3. All commercial servants, journeymen, manufac- turers, and apprentices, born out of Hamburg, and not named in the list of the fifth article. **4. *^A11 beggars and vagabonds. 46 350 *<6, Excepted from tlic rest are labourers employed Oil the fortifications, or other public works, by the en- gineers or artillery, on the bridges and causeway?, and with the civil and military authorities," &c. The Prince Royal of Sweden, on hearing of the above order, instantly directed the sum of 40,000 dol- lars to be dedicated to their immediate relief, and sub- scriptions for the same purpose were opened in diflfer- ent towns on the continent. The following address to the exiled Hamburgers was also issued by order of the Prince Royal. "By an order of the twentieth of December, the Prince of Eckmuhl turned jou out of your homes and plunged you into misery. Do not give way to des- pair; be firm, be courageous. As the faithful inter- preter of the principles which guide the allied powers, the Prince Royal of Sweden calls you to him, and of- fers you relief. *'■' ^^^. // ^ 0' ^ K « ^ C " \^ . <. ■*>- * N ^ -Ci" * ' o , y . , "^^sM^^J ' ■" Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. ?">^ n tv43s ° Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide -, oC Treatment Date: ,,,r onrn -, xx Treatment Date: , , ,/, <=i^>;y r»' ■- \X treatment Date: ,,,n ornw *" * . . A ■» ^ \'?''^ , PreservationTechnoIogie! ^ ^' "^ ^ A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATIO ^' V. * •i^ 111 Thomson Park Drive '^V. I'V -■ •'' Cranberry Township, PA 16066 ,0 o C^^ "^. '^ !< ft ^0^^. 'VM'I- ■ ! ■ 'Mi Pit -;:;.;i:l'-.f!H3