Murat and Caulaincourt, rendered the enemy's numbers irresistible. The Russians were compelled to retire on their second line, taking with them many of their guns.

Napoleon, perceiving the retrograde inovement of the Russians, pressed forward his right, directed the guns which had just been left against their former possessors, and replaced those which had been taken away. Bagration, having received from Kutusof a reinforcement of cuirassiers and huhlans, advanced with a determination to regain the position he had lost. Notwithstanding the thunder of the French artillery, they urged their way with irresistible courage, and, after sustaining a lamentable carnage, obtained on the disputed ground an equal footing with the enemy. At the moment when they were struggling for the absolute possession of the height and the redoubt, the militia and light troops under Tutschkof, who had been stationed in the wood, rushed from their ambush armed with pikes and hatchets, to the assistance of their brothers in arms. Their fury, and the dexterous employment of their hatchets, could not be withstood. The French, after sustaining an almost incredible loss, retired in dismay.

Beauharnois, in the mean time, sup ported by the division of Morand, endeavored to carry the redoubts that protected Borodino, but the right of the Russian army rendered all his exertions unavailing, and after considerable, loss, he abandoned the attack.

The success of the right enabled Kutusof to detach from it a considerable reinforcement to the imperial guards, who were engaged in the centre, where the battle raged with unmitigated fury. The discharge of 1000 cannon from both of the hostile armies, the continued firing of volleys of musketry, the struggle, arm to arm, of a host of embattled infantry, presented a scene unexampled in the annals of antient or modern warfare. Nor did the rage of battle subside till beneath the darkness of the night the French relin quished the field to the victorious Russians,

Even from the account of Napoleon himself, it appears that he was unsuccessful in the three great objects of his attempt; the capture and retention of the redoubt, the penetration of the Russian centre, and the turning of its left. The contest was more sanguinary than it had yet fallen within the province of history to record and the carnage on both sides, in the early part of the action, was nearly equal. The loss of the French, according to the papers of Buonaparte found at Moscow, was as follows: generals of division, killed and wounded, 17; generals of brigade, 22; colonels, 57; majors, 14; chiefs of battalion and squadron, 105; officers of the general staff, 17; subaltern officers, 1367 privates, including those made prisoners, of whom two-thirds were wounded, 50,876. Among the killed, were general Montbrun, commander-in-chief of the light cavalry; general count Caulaincourt, governor of Napoleon's pages; general Gardin and Dessner; general Beloy, general Frederic, and general Barson D'Alton. Among the wounded, were generals Friant, Rominé, La France, Nansouty, and marshal Davoust.

The loss of the Russians could not amount to less than 40,000 men in killed and wounded. Prince Bagration was mortally wounded by a ball which shattered his left leg; but he refused to be borne from the field of battle till he had witnessed the issue of the conflict. His fate was shared by many brave companions in rank and arms, and, before the close of day, by those illustrious soldiers Tutschkof, Garchikof, and Konovitzen.

While Platof, with his cossacks, hovered over the retiring columns of the enemy, prince Kutusof transmitted intelligence of the battle of Borodino to St. Petersburgh. The news arrived at the moment when the people were chanting Te Deum for the birth of the emperor, and was communicated to the congregation assembled in the great cathedral. Alexander conferred upon Kutusof the rank of fieldmarshal, with an additional pension of 100,000 roubles; medals, and a present of five roubles each, were distributed to

the soldiery, and orders of knighthood and crosses of merit adjudged to the most distinguished and most deserving officers. The numerous reinforcements which ar rived to the army of Napoleon rendered it impossible for the Russian general to act on the offensive. While part of the French army retained its position in front of the Russian lines, a great proportion of the reinforcements filed off to the left of the Russians by the way of Zwenigorod on the road to Moscow, and several detachments were directed to move upon the road which crosses the country to Veria and Borosk. In order to secure his flanks from being menaced by these movements Kutusof, who had not received the expected reinforcements from Toula and Kalouga, determined to retire on the Moscow road, and having passed by rapid marches through their antient capital, his forces turned to the right, and after a series of skilful movements, occupied a position on the Kalonga road in the neighbourhood of Podel.

On the 10th of September Buonaparte issued the following bulletin, which presents a singular combination of unblushing falsehood and plausible exaggeration, and the reader will be enabled by comparing the opposite accounts of this memorable battle to estimate the credit of the respective parties.

French accounts of the battle of Mojaisk or Borodino.

EIGHTEENTH BULLETIN OF THE GRAND

ARMY.

"Mojaisk, Sept. 10, 1812. "On the 4th the emperor set out from Ghjat, and encamped near the post of Gritneva.

"The 5th, at six o'clock in the morning, the army put itself in motion. At two in the afternoon, we perceived the Russians formed with their right upon Moskwa, the left upon the heights on the left bank of the Kologha. At 1200 toises in advance of the left the enemy had begun to fortify a fine height, between two woods, where they had placed 9000 or 10,000 sen. The emperor, having reconnoitred

it, resolved not to lose a moment, and to. carry this position. Orders were given to the king of Naples to pass the Kologha, with the division Compans and the cavalry. Prince Poniatofsky, who had marched on the right, was in a condition to turn the position. At four o'clock the attack commenced. In one hour the enemy's redoubt was carried, with the cannon; the enemy's corps driven from the wood, and put to flight, leaving the third part on the field of battle. At seven in the evening the firing ceased.

"On the 6th, at two o'clock in the morning, the emperor surveyed the enemy's advanced posts; the day was passed in reconnoitring. The enemy were in a position much contracted. Their left was weakened by the loss of the position on the day before; backed by a large wood, supported by a fine height, crowned by a redoubt, planted with 25 pieces of cannon. Two other heights, crowned with redoubts at 100 paces from each other, protected their line, as far as a large village, which the enemy had destroyed, to cover the ridge with artillery and infantry, and to support the centre. Their right extended behind the Kologha, in the rear of the village of Borodino, and was supported by two fine heights, crowned with redoubts,. and fortified with batteries. This position appeared strong and favorable. It was easy to manenvre, and to oblige the enemy to evacuate it, but that would have been renouncing our object, and the position was not judged sufficiently strong to. render it necessary to avoid fighting. It was easy to perceive that the redoubts were but half formed, the fosse shallow, and neither palisadoed nor defended with chevaux-de-frise. We reckoned the enemy's force at about 120,000 or 130,000 men. Our forces were equal, but the superiority of our troops was not doubtful.

"On the 7th, at two in the morning, the. emperor was surrounded by the marshals in the position taken the evening before. At half past five o'clock the sun rose without clouds: it had rained the preceding evening, "This is the sun of Austerlitz, said the emperor. Though but the month

of September, it was as cold as a December in Moravia. The army received the omen: the drum beat, and the following order of the day was read:

"Soldiers! behold the field of battle you have so much desired! Henceforth victory depends on you: it is necessary to us; it will give us plenty, good quarters for the winter, and a speedy return to your country. Behave yourselves as you did at Austerlitz, at Friedland, Vitepsk, at Smolensko: and that the latest posterity may speak of your conduct this day with pride, that it may say of you,' He was at that great battle under the walls of Moscow.'

"At the imperial camp on the heights of Borodino, 7th of September, two o'clock A. M.

"The army answered with reiterated acclamations. The ground on which the army stood was spread with the dead bodies of the Russians killed the preceding day.

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Prince Poniatofsky, who was on the right, put himself in motion to turn the forest on which the enemy rested his left. The prince of Eckmuhl marched on the skirt of the forest, the division Compans at the head. Two batteries of 60 cannon each, commanding the enemy's position, had been constructed in the night.

"At six o'clock general count Sorbier, who had armed the battery on the right with the artillery of the reserve of the guard, commenced the fire. General Pernetty, with 30 pieces of cannon, put himself at the head of the division Compans (4th of the 1st corps,) who skirted the wood, turning the head of the enemy's position. At half past six general Compans was wounded; at seven the prince of Eckmuhl had his horse killed. The atThe attack advanced the musketry commenced. The viceroy, who formed our left, attacks and carries the village of Borodino, which the enemy could not defend; that village being on the left bank of the Kologha. At seven the marshal duke of Elchingen put himself in motion, and, under the protection of 60 pieces of cannon, which general Foucher had placed the evening VOL. II.

before against the enemy's centre, bore upon the centre. upon the centre. A thousand pieces of cannon spread death on all sides.

"At eight o'clock the positions of the enemy were carried, his redoubts taken, and our artillery crowned his heights. The advantage of position, which the enemy's batteries had enjoyed for two hours, now belonged to us. The parapets, which had been occupied against us during the attack, were now to our advantage. The enemy saw the battle lost, which he thought had only commenced. A part of his artillery was taken; the rest was withdrawn to his lines in the rear. In this extremity he attempted to restore the combat, and to attack with all his masses those strong positions which he was unable to protect. Three hundred pieces of French cannon, placed on these heights, thundered upon his masses, and his soldiers died at the foot of those parapets which they had raised with so much labor, and as a protecting shelter.

"The king of Naples, with the cavalry, made various charges. The duke of Elchingen covered himself with glory, and displayed as much intrepidity as coolness. The emperor ordered a charge of the front, the right in advance; this movement made us masters of three parts of the field of battle. Prince Poniatofsky fought in the wood with various success.

"There still remained to the enemy his redoubts to the right. General count Morand marched thither, and carried them; but at nine in the morning, attacked on all sides, he could not maintain himself there. The enemy, encouraged by this advantage, made his reserve and his last troops advanced to try his fortune again. The imperial guards formed a part of them. He attacked our centre, which formed the pivot to our right. For a moment it was feared that he might carry the village which was burnt; the division Friant advanced thither: 30 pieces of French cannon immediately arrest, and then annihilate, the enemy's columns, which stood for two hours in close order, under the chain-shot, not daring to advance, unwilling to retire, and renouncing the hope of victory. The

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king of Naples decided their uncertainty. He caused the 4th corps of cavalry to make a charge, who penetrated through the breaches which our cannon-shot had made in the condensed masses of the Russians, and the squadrons of their cuirassiers; they dispersed on all sides. The general of division, count Caulaincourt, governor of the emperor's pages, advanced at the head of the 5th regiment of cuirassiers, overthrew every thing, and entered the redoubt on the left by its gorge. From this moment there was no longer any uncertainty. The battle was gained. He turned upon the enemy the 21 pieces of cannon which were found in the redoubt. Count Caulaincourt, who had distinguished himself in this fine charge, has terminated his career. He fell dead, struck by a bullet; a glorious death, and worthy to be envied.

"It was now two in the afternoon; the enemy had lost all hope; the battle was ended, the cannonade still continued; the enemy fought for retreat and safety, but no longer for victory.

"The loss of the enemy is enormous; from 12,000 to 13,000 men, and from 8000 to 9000 Russian horses, have been counted on the field of battle: 60 pieces of cannon and 5000 prisoners have remained in our power.

"We have had 2500 killed, and thrice that number wounded. Our total loss may be estimated at 10,000 men; that of the enemy at from 40,000 to 50,000. Never was there seen such a field of battle. Out of six dead bodies, there were five Russians for one Frenchman. Forty Russian generals were killed, wounded, or taken; general Bagration was wounded.

"We have lost the general of division Montbrun, killed by a cannon-ball; general count Caulaincourt, who was sent to occupy his place, was killed by a shot of the same kind, an hour afterwards.

"The generals of brigade, Compere, Plauzonne, Marion, and Huart, were killed; seven or eight generals were wounded, the most of them slightly. The prince of Eckmuhl has received no injury.

The French troops covered themselves with glory, and displayed their great superiority to the Russian troops.

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Such, in a few words, is a sketch of the battle of Moskwa, fought a few leagues in the rear of Mojaisk, and twenty-five leagues from Moscow, near the little river Moskwa. We fired 60,000 cannon-shot, which are already replaced by the arrival of 800 artillery carts, which passed Smolensko previous to the battle. All the woods and villages from the field of battle to this place are covered with dead and wounded. We have found here 2000 killed or amputated Russians. A number of generals and colonels are prisoners.

"The emperor was never exposed; neither the foot nor the horse guards were engaged, or lost a single man. The victory was never uncertain. Had the enemy, when driven from his entrenchments, not endeavored to retake them, our loss would have been greater than his; but he destroyed his army by keeping it, from eight o'clock till two, under the fire of our batteries, and in obstinately attempting to regain that which was lost. This was the cause of his immense loss.

Every one distinguished himself. The king of Naples, and the duke of Elchingen, were peculiarly conspicuous.

The artillery, and particularly that of the guards, surpassed itself. The actions which have rendered this day illustrious shall be made known in detailed reports,"

1st, The 12th division, forming part of the 7th corps, composed of the infantry regiments of Smolensko, Narva, Alexopol, and New Ingria, as well as of the 6th and 41st regiments of foot chasseurs, and commanded by major-general Palitzin, who had succeeded general Kulbakin, wounded at Mohilof, received its recruits, which were drawn from depôts, and brought up by Miloradowitz on the 3rd instant, in consequence of which the regiments of infantry were raised to 800 each, and the chasseur regiments to 1200, which makes the strength of this division to have amounted, before the battle, to 4800 men, exclusive of two companies of artillery, with 24 pieces of cannon, from 6 to 12 pounders.

"On the day of the battle of the 7th of September, this division was stationed in the centre of the first line. About two in the afternoon it had already sustained great losses, and was in want of ammunition. A lieutenant of the regiment of Alexopol, named Peter Voronin, who, having been sent to the reserve to demand more, lost

his way among the brushwood, and was taken after the retreat of the army, declares that general Rajefsky, comiranding the corps d'armée, received a severe contusion, which obliged him to quit the field of battle, and that the general-in-chief prince Bagration was wounded. All the prisoners of this division agree in stating that it lost more than half its number; that its confusion was complete at the time of its retreat; and that it owed its safety solely to Platof and Uvaroff, who covered it. Those of the 41st chasseurs say, that there scarcely remained 50 men to each company.

"2nd, The 1st division of grenadiers, consisting of the grenadiers of the bodyguard of St. Petersburgh, Ekaterinoslav, Taurida, Pawlowski, and Arakschezeff, commanded by count Strogonof, and forming part of the 3rd corps d'armée, was on the extremity of the left, in the rear of the battery, where it suffered considerably by the fire of the artillery: it was flanked by two squadrons of cuirassiers, which equally suffered without being brought into action. The respective strength of these grenadier regiments amounted, before the battle, to from 800 to 900 men.

"Their loss is estimated at one-third, which they ascribe to the cowardice of the officers, who abandoned their ranks, and concealed themselves in, the brushwood.

"Two regiments of chasseurs attached to this division, which were stationed in advance, were dispersed; their loss is unknown.

"A soldier, named Gregoriot de Pskow, who has served for nine years in the regiment of St. Petersburgh, declares that he never saw his regiment give way as it did on this occasion. He says that, before the battle, general Kutusof rode along their line and harangued his troops, which, however, did not produce much effect. This man adds, that he heard major Dalin, the commandant of his regiment, say, that, about mid-day, Beningsen had gone 40 wersts beyond Mojaisk, to prepare there the means of defence: he believes that he went to Little Viasma.

"It was not known what had become of