Narrative of events during the invasion of Russia by Napoleon Buonaparte, and the retreat of the French Army. 1812. Edited by ... the Rev. H. Randolph

Front matter

GENERAL SIR ROBERT WILSON'S RUSSIAN JOURNAL J NARRATIVE OF EVENTS DURING THE INVASION OF RUSSIA BY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, AND THE RETREAT OF THE FRENCH ARMY. 1812. BY GENERAL SIR ROBERT WILSON, K.M.T. HARON OF AUSTRIA AND OP THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE; G.O.ST. A. OF RUSSIA; K.C.ST.G. OF RUSSIA, ETC., ETC. RRITISH COMMISSIONER AT THE HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY. EDITED IiY HIS NEPHEW AND SON-IN-LAW, THE REV. HERBERT RANDOLPH, M.A., OF I1ALLIOL COLLEGE, OXFORD. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1860. The right of Translation is reserved. LONDON: FEINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET, AND CHARING CROSS. CONTENTS. Page Introduction xhi Preliminary Remarks 1 Commencement of Hostilities 8 Composition of the Confederated Army .. .. 10 Napoleon's Proclamation 14 Composition of the Russian Armies 16 Passage of the Niemen 22 Alexander's Proclamation, &c 23 Advance of Napoleon and Retreat of the Russians 25 Positions of the Armies 28 Question of the Nationality of Poland 30 Movements of the Second Army under Prince Bagrathion .. .. 37 CampofDrissa 41 Alexander's Proclamation to Russia 46 „ „ Moscow 49 Action near Ostrowno 52 „ Peczouka 53 Retreat on Smolensk 55 Napoleon at Witepsk 56 Second Army 58 Secession of the King of Westphalia 59 French at Mohilew 60 Davoust attacked at Sal tanowka 63 Operations of the First Army under Tormanssow 66 Tormanssow attacked at Gorodeczna 68 Wittgenstein — Essen— Extreme Right Wing of the Russians .. 73 Moscow CONTENTS.

VI Page Action with Oudinot " Alexander at Moscow "° „ S. Petersburg and Abo 79 Junction of Barclay and Bagrathion 80 Napoleon concentrates his troops to move on Moscow 81 Battle of Smolensk , 87 Evacuation of Smolensk and Retreat of Russians 89 Operations of Ney and Junot 92 Battle of Loubino 94 Operations of Barclay and Bagrathion 97 Mission of Sir Robert Wilson 98 Despatch of Sir Robert Wilson relative to Smolensk and Loubino . . 100 Mission of Sir Robert Wilson to the Emperor — Message from the Army Ill Interview of Sir Robert Wilson with Alexander at S. Petersburg — Delivery of the Message — Affairs of Turkey (See Appendix No. 9) 114 Confederate Army — Impatience of the Poles 120 Army of Wittgenstein — Attack on S. Cyr at Polotzk 122 Napoleon quits Smolensk 128 Imperial Russian Army — Barclay superseded by Kutusow .. .. 129 Battle of Borodino 13g Borodino and Eylau compared 154 Death of Bagrathion 156 Uncandid Despatch of Kutusow 157 Russians retreat on Moscow — attacked by Murat 158 Rostopchin's proposal to fire Moscow Ig2 Evacuation of Moscow jg^.

French enter Moscow Igg Burning of Moscow jgg Position of the Russian Army on the road to Kalouga 170 Sir Robert Wilson communicates his view of the capture of Moscow to the Courts of Constantinople, Vienna, and London 174 Manœuvres of the hostile Armies j7g Patriotism of Rostopchin i7c Contemplated treachery of Kutusow CONTENTS. VII Page Conference of Sir Robert Wilson with Kutusow, and result .. .. 184 Lauriston in the Russian Camp 189 Alexander's Proclamation on the occupation of Moscow 191 Alexander's Instructions to the Russian Generals 196 Movements of Steingell 198 Russian main Army — Unauthorised interviews between the Generals of the hostile Annies - 200 Letter of reproof from Alexander to Kutusow 203 Czernicznia — Dispositions for the attack 207 Combat of Czernicznia and brilliant conduct of Murat 208 Evacuation of Moscow 213 Berthier's Letter to Kutusow and reply 214 Destruction of the Kremlin 216 Particulars of the Retreat 218 Russian Council of War — Sir Robert Wilson's advice to the Council 220 Battle of Mai o-Jaroslavets 223 Vacillating conduct of Kutusow 231 Remonstrances of Sir Robert Wilson 234 Inaction of the French 235 Napoleon holds a Council of War 236 Napoleon retreats on Smolensk, favoured by Kutusow 238 Milarado witch attacks Davoust 242 Davoust assisted by the Viceroy 243 Reconnoissance by Sir Robert Wilson 245 French fire Wiazma 247 French order of march from Wiazma 249 Napoleon re-enters Smolensk 250 Passage of the Vop 251 First appearance of snow 253 Horrors of the Retreat 254 Milaradowitch pursues the French 261 Napoleon re-organises his Army 262 Napoleon quits Smolensk 264 March Routes of Kutusow 265 Napoleon enters Krasnoi 266 Davoust effects a junction with the Viceroy at Krasnoi CONTENTS.

Appendix

. LETTERS AND DESPATCHES. 1. — Marquis Wellesley to Sir Robert Wilson 373 2. — Lord Castlereagh to Sir Robert AVilson ib. 3. — Sir Robert Wilson to the Marquis AVellesley 374 4. — Sir Robert AVilson to Mr. Liston 376 5.— Mr. Liston to Sir Robert Wilson 380 6.— Mr. Liston to Sir Robert Wilson 381 7.— Sir Robert Wilson to Earl Cathcart 382 8.— Sir Robert Wilson to Earl Cathcart 384 9. — Sir Robert Wilson to the Emperor Alexander 387 10. — Lord Castlereagh to Sir Robert Wilson 391 H.— Earl Cathcart to Sir Robert Wilson — Extract 392 12. — Earl Cathcart to Sir Robert Wilson ib. 13.— Sir Robert Wilson to the Duke of Gloucester 393 14. —Sir Robert AVilson to the Duke of Gloucester 398 15.— Mr. Liston to Sir Robert Wilson 400 16. — Mr. Liston to Sir Robert Wilson — Extract 401 17. — Duke of Wurtemberg to Sir Robert Wilson 401 18. — Count AVoronzow to Sir Robert AVilson 403 19w— The Duke of York to Sir Robert AVilson ib.

X CONTENTS. Page 20. — Sir Robert Wilson to the Emperor Alexander 404 21. — Lord Dumfermline to Sir Robert Wilson 405 22.— Admiral Tchichagow to Sir Robert Wilson 406 23.— Lord Holland to Sir Robert Wilson 408 24. — Count Ludolf to Sir Robert Wilson ib. 25. — Translation of Russian Order of the Day 409 26, — Count Italinsky to Sir Robert Wilson