Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

pal part of the field of battle; a decihion, however, taken with the utmoft reluctance, because Gen. Reife had fucceeded to the extent of his most fanguine hopes, and had advanced, about four o'clock in the afternoon, nearly to Haydenheim.

The Auftrians loft on this occafion from 1200 to 1500 men. · The French lofs in killed and wounded is estimated at above 2000; befides, more than 1200 prifoners are already brought in, four pieces of cannon, and feveral ammunition waggons.

This morning the whole army of his Royal Highness has taken exactly the fame pofition that it had on the roth. I have the honour to be, &c.

C. CRAUFURD.

MY LORD, Donawert, Aug 14. I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that the Archduke marched with his main army to this place on the 13th, where he was joined by Generals Hotze and Reife. The enemy did not attempt to interrupt this movement, though it was made in the day, nor have they advanced fince, which is a convincing proof that the affair of the 11th checked very materially their intended plan of operations.

The pafs of Bregentz continues to be defended by Gen. Wolf, and that of Freuffen will be covered by Gen. La Tour's left. I have the honour to be, &c. C. CRAUFURD.

Downing-Street, Sept. 20. Dispatches have been received from Robert Craufurd, Efq; by the Right Hon. Lord Grenville.

MY LORD,

[ocr errors]

Laufen, Aug. 27. I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that the main body of the Auftrian army of the Upper Rhine paffed the Danube at Donawert on the 13th inftant, and halted near that place on the 14th; the rear guards ftill occupying the road leading from Norlingen and Hockstadt to Donawert, the former at the defile of Haarbarg, the latter at a village about a league eastward of Blenheim. On the 15th, his Royal Highness, leaving General La Tour with a confiderable part of the army of the Upper Rhine to defend the Lech, marched with the remainder down the right of the Danube, with an intention of re-croffing it, in or der to operate against General Jourdan's right flank, whilft General Wartenfleben thould advance and attack his front.

The rear guards were of course withdrawn from the above-mentioned poits, and Donawert evacuated in the courfe of the day.

When his Royal Highness commenced this manoeuvre, General Wartensleben was in the pofition near Amberg. To turn the left of this pofition, General Jourdan had detached a confiderable column on the great road leading from Nuremberg, through Neumark, to Ratibon; and, in order to oppose this column, Major-General Nauendorf was advancing from the latter place with a corps of four of the battalions newly arrived from Auftria and fome light troops.

On the 17th the troops which the Archduke had brought from the army of the Upper Rhine, repaffed the Danube >> in two columns, at Neuburg and Ingolstadt, and encamped near thofe places, the latter of which being capable of defence, and important from its fituation on the river, a garrison was thrown into it. The column that paffed at Neuburg was commanded by Lieut.-General Hotze. On the 18th the troops halted.

The intention was to proceed from. hence with the right column from Ingolftadt towards Beilugriefs, and Lieut. General Hotze's confiderably further to the left; but, in the night from the 18th to the 19th, intelligence was received that General Wartenfleben had been obliged to quit the pofition of Amberg and return behind the Nab.

The above mentioned projected movement of the Archduke's corps now became very dangerous; as its communication with General Wartenfleben would have been in the greatest degree precarious, and its retreat, in cafe of defeat, (being cut off, as it might have been from the road to Ratisbon), extremely difficult: His Royal Highness therefore directed his march more to the right, and arrived on the 20th inftant with his right column at Hemman. From this time Major-General Nauendorf's corps, which advanced the fame day to the heights of Tafwarg, formed his Royal Highnefs's advanced guard, Lieutenant General Hotze's corps marched towards Beilugriefs.

By this march, the Archduke fecured the road to Ratifbon, and the right flank of Jourdan's army was equally threatened, he having advanced to the Nab.

A heavy cannonade, heard in the direction of Schwartzfeld on the zoth in

Rant,

ftant, and other reafons, made it neceffary to proceed but slowly until more certain intelligence of General Wartenfleben's fituation could be obtained, and a combined plan of attack finally arranged. The above-mentioned cannonade afterwards proved to have been an affair of no importance.

On the 2zd, the enemy's corps, which had advanced from Neumark, and taken poft behind a deep ravine, through which the great road paffes near the village of Teining, was attacked by the advanced guard under General Nauendorf, and obliged to quit its pofition and retreat towards Neumark.

On the 23d, the Archduke and Lieut.General Hotze's corps, having reunited, advanced in several columns, and drove the enemy from their pofition behind Neumark. General Hotze pursued them to within a league of Altdorf, and at the fame time pushed forward a confiderable column of cavalry, and fome light infantry, under Major-General Prince John of Lichtenstein, on the great road to wards Nuremberg.

The right column of the Archduke's corps encamped hear Neumark.

On the 24th, the long-intended combined operation took place against General Jourdan's army. This operation was performed in feven columns-That of the right of General Wartenfleben's army advanced towards Weger; another large column proceeded from Schwartzfeld; having a third of fmaller force to its left; and a fourth advanced from Swandorf towards Amberg; in the neighbourhood of which place the three latter columns were to unite, and that of the left to form a junction with the Archduke's right; which proceeded from Neumark by Caftell, to Amberg, having two ftrong corps to the left; of which the one under Lieut.-General Staray advanced to Herfchpruck, and the other under Lieut.-General Hotze to Lauffen. This excellent difpofition would certainly have been followed by a very decifive battle, had not the enemy, alarm ed at the menacing movements of the Archduke's corps, retreated fo precipitately as to make it impoffible.-Their lofs muft, however, have been confiderable; and two battalions of their rear guard, which defended as long as pofGble the defile of Anberg, were completely annihilated by fome fquadrons of Auftrian cavalry. The different corps

encamped in the evening in the neighbourhood of Amberg, Herfchpruck, Lauffen, &c. General Jourdan is continuing his retreat towards Forcheim.

Whilft thefe operations were carrying on, General Moreau crossed the Danube at Donawert, and acted with his whole army against General La Tour, who has been obliged to quit the pofition of the Lech, and on the 24th took another behind the Ifer.-General La Tour's lofs has been very inconfiderable, although the great fuperiority of the enemy obliged him to retreat.

Thus, my Lord, have I endeavoured to give your Lordship an accurate account of the late events and movements, and it is with the deepest concern I muft conclude it by informing your Lordship, that my brother, Lieut.-Colonel Craufurd, was unfortunately wounded and taken on the 25th inftant.

The Archduke has been pleased to write to General Jourdan, reclaiming him; and I have no doubt of their giving him up, as it would be contrary to every rule to detain a perfon as prifoner of war, who was not, at the time of his being taken, employed in a military capacity.

It is impoffible for me to express to your Lordship how much the Archduke, and, I may fay, all the principal officers of the army, have fhewn themselves interefted about Colonel Craufurd; nor can I conclude without affuring your Lordship, that his being taken was not owing to any imprudence; though indeed his conduct, ever fince he has had the honour of being attached to the Auftrian army, has been marked by that confpicuous zeal, activity, and courage, which he cannot help displaying, even when only a spectator of military operations. I have the honour, &c.

ROBERT CRAUFURD.

MY LORD, Bamberg, Aug. 31. I have the honour to inform your Lordship, that after the affair of the 24th inft. General Jourdan continued his retreat in feveral columns through Velden, Pegnitz, &c. in the general direction of Ebermanftadt and Forcheim; he has been clofely pursued by the Archduke's army, under which denomination I comprife that lately commanded by General Wartenfleben, as well as thofe troops which his Royal Highness brought with him from the Danube.

On the 25th inft. the advanced guard,' under

under Lieut. General Kray, marched by fchaid. On the left of the Rednitz, Sultzbach to Hohenstadt, and a confi- Lieut.-General Hotze advanced to Burg derable column of the enemy's baggage Eberach, pufhing forward his advanced was taken or deftroyed in the defile guard under the Prince of Lichtenstein between that place and Velden. The to Eltman on the Maine. Lieut.-Genetroops which had encamped the prece- ral Staray's corps, which had followed ding evening near Amberg, followed General Hotze's march, advanced to General Kray's march, and the Arch- Clofter Eberach. Very early on the duke took his head-quarters at Sultzbach. morning of the 30th, Jourdan's army On the 26th Lieutenant-General Kray that is, the heavy artillery, &c. began to pursued the enemy in the direction to- cross the Maine at Hallftat. wards Graæffenberg, and LieutenantGeneral Hotze, advanced from Lauffen towards Erlangen on the Rednitz; the former having his right covered by Major-General Elfnitz, in the neighbour hood of Velden, Neuhang, Blech, &c. as had the latter his left, by Major-General the Prince of Lichtenftein, who had paffed through Nuremberg. The Archduke's columns marched from the camp of Sultzbach to Herschpruck on the Pegnitz.

On the 27th Lieutenant-General Hotze, having croffed the Rednitz, moved towards Hochftadt on the Aifch, Prince Lichtenftein's corps forming his advanced guard, Lieut. General Kray's corps marched to Graæffenberg, Betzenftein, &c. and the army from Herfchpruck to Lauffen.

On the 28th the Prince of Lichtenftein's light troops approached on the left bank of the Rednitz, very near to Bamberg. Lieut.-General Kray marched to Neukirch, and the Archduke to Heroldberg.

On the 29th, upon the approach of the advanced guard, the enemy abandoned precipitately the ftrong fort of Forcheim, fetting fire to the mill and bridges on the Wifent to cover their retreat. Their rear guard, confifting of nearly a divifion, took poft in the night with its left to the heights of Egglefheim, and its right to the Rednitz, on the road from Forcheim towards Bamberg. The army encamped between Baiersdorf and Forcheim.

Early on the morning of the 30th, Lieut.-General Kray moved forward to attack the enemy in their pofition near Egglefheim, but they abandoned it fo quickly that no ferious affair could be engaged, nor could the column, which had been fent through the mountains to turn their left, arrive in time to fall upon their retreat, fo that their lofs was not confiderable. Lieut. General Kray purfued them towards Bamberg, and the Archduke took his head quarters at HirVou. LVIII.

During the whole of the operations which I have had the honour of defcribing to your Lordship in this and my laft difpatch, his Royal Highness' great aim has been to bring General Jourdan to a decifive battle, but the bad roads and defiles the troops had to pafs between the Danube and Amberg confiderably rotarding their march, gave Jourdan time to get off; and he has fince fucceeded in avoiding a general engagement, wherein he has been greatly favoured by the nature of the country, which is extremely hilly, woody, and interested fo as to make it impracticable to employ the cavalry.

Nothwithstanding it is much to be regretted that it was not poffible to bring the enemy to a general battle, yet there are ftrong reafons to hope that those mafterly manoeuvres, by which the Archduke has forced them to so fudden a retreat, and has already driven them confiderably out of the direction which Jourdan undoubtedly must have wished to take, may ultimately have as happy an effect upon the general iffue of the campaign, as they, at all events, will be honourable to his Royal Highness.

I am not yet enabled to inform your Lordship of the number of prifoners made by the different columns: A conconfiderable number were taken on the 23d in the affair near Neumark; and in the affair of Amberg there were between nine hundred and a thousand. Of what has been taken since I shall have the honour to acquaint your Lordship in my next.

A corps under Major-General Nauendorf was detached on the 25th inft. to reinforce General Tour, who is behind the Ifer.

On the 27th Colonel Craufurd was left behind by the French, with a fafeguard, at Betzenftein, they having found it impoffible to transport him any fur ther without endangering his life; they exacted his parole not to serve against the Republic till exchanged, which will, 40

[ocr errors]

I believe, take place immediately. He has been moft feverely wounded in the head by a mufket ball; but I have the happiness to inform your Lordship, that the Archduke's own furgeon, whom his Royal Highnefs (whofe goodness on this occafion has been great indeed) was pleafed to fend to him, as well as the other furgeons who attend him, give me the greatest reafon to hope for his recovery. In cafe of my abfence from the army for a few days, Capt. Anftruther of the guards, who came lately from Berlin, will have the honour of informing your Lordfhip of every thing that happens.

ROBERT CRAUFURD.

OPERATIONS IN ITALY.

Downing Street, July 30. A difpatch, of which the following is an extract, was received by Lord Grenville, from Lieut. Col. Graham, dated Roveredo, July 4.

On the 30th ult. I had the honour of informing your Lordship, that the enemy made an unfuccessful attack on Monte Baldo on the 28th; fince that, all has remained quiet. Marshal Wurmfer arrived here this morning.

Downing-Street, Aug. 27. Difpatches of which the following are copies, have been received from Col. Graham, by the Rt Hon. Lord Grenville:

Head-quarters of Field-Marshal
Wurmfer's Army, Valeggio,
August 1.

MY LORD, I have the honour to inform your Lordships, that the fiege of Mantua is raised, the French having retreated last night with the utmoft precipitation.

I can now send only a very hafty account of the operations of the Imperial army, which have been attended with fuch fignal fuccefs.-The great exertions the enemy were making against Mantua determined his Excellency Field-Marfhal Count Wurmfer, to make difpofitions for attacking the enemy, without waiting for the arrival of further rein. forcements. Accordingly, on the 28th ult. the different corps were affembled at their refpective deftinations, the army forming four divifions, which were to advance by different paffes from the mountains of the Tyrol. The first column, on the right of the Lago de Garda, under the orders of Lieutenant General Quafdanowich, was to march on to Salo and Brefcia; the fecond, commanded

by Lieutenant General Melas, between the lake and the Adige, was to force all the enemy's ftrong pofts on Monte Baldo; the third was ordered to march, under the command of Lieutenant-Gen. Davidowich, by the great road from Alla, and, being separated only by the Adige from a part of the third divifion, was to fupport it, and join it as foon a bridge could be placed between Dolci and Rivoli; the fourth column, under the command of Lieut. Gen. Mezaros, was defigned to turn the enemy's right flank, by marching from Baffano on Legnago.

Early on the 29th the enemy was attacked on their whole line of pofts, and were every where driven in. Lieut. Gen. Quafdanowich took 1000 prisoners at Salo and marched on to Brescia. General Melas attacked the poft of Ferrara on the fummit of Monte Baldo, covered by an immenfe ravine; his troops croffed it with the greatest intrepidity, and drove the enemy from intrenchments, batteries, and redoubts: A part of his divifion attacked, with equal courage and fuccefs, the narrow pafs of Brentino, between the mountain and the Adige. The artillery of the third divifion fupported this attack from the left bank of the river; and the fame corps, which acted under the command of Lieutenant General Sepotendorff, pushed on along the right bank, and forced the important poft of Rivoli, where the enemy's batteries commanded the paffage of the river. In thefe attacks nine pieces of cannon and 1500 men were taken. The other divifions advanced with little refiftance. On the 20th the two center divifions being united, continued their march in different columns on to Caftle Nuovo, and Peschiera; at the defiles of Campora and Cavaggione the enemy were again driven, with lofs, from strong pofitions, and in the night they retreated by Pefchiera.

Major-Gen, Spiegel entered Verona, which the enemy abandoned. On the 31ft Major-General Pittoni occupied Villa Franca, and the head-quarters were fixed here without oppofition; a corps of obfervation being left near Pefehiera, under the command of Major-General Bajolitz. Thefe well-concerted and rapid movements determined Gen. Buonaparte to an immediate retreat across the Po and the Mincio. I have the honour to be, &c. THO. GRAHAM.

Head

Head-quarters, Goito, Aug. 2. MY LORD, Since I had the honour of writing to your Lordship yesterday, the Field-Marfhal has received accounts from General Canto D'Irlas, Commandant of Mantua, which ftate, that the enemy, having masked their retreat, by continuing to fire as ufual on the place during the night, he could only fend his cavalry in pursuit of them yesterday morning, and that they had already brought in about 600 prifoners, among them a great number of artillery men; that he was in poffeffion of all their mortars and cannon, amounting to about 140, with 190,000 fhells and balls, and great quantities of other ftores of all kinds. The head-quarters were removed here to-day, and the army will continue the pursuit of the enemy; but the exceffive fatigue the troops have undergone; the difficulty of fupplying them at firft where no magazines could be previously formed; and the exceffive heat of the weather, retard the progrefs of the army. No further report is yet received from Lieutenant-General Quaf danowich. I have the honour to be, &c. THO. GRAHAM. . P. S. No reports having been as yet received from the different divifions, I cannot mention the lofs of the Imperial army; but I am happy to be able to ftate, from general information, that it is inconfiderable, in comparison of what might have been expected from the difSculties that were furmounted.

Head-quarters, Guidizolo, Aug. 4. MY LORD, Field-Marshal Wurmfer, with a view of affifting the operations of Lieut. Gen. Quafdanowich, having fent Gen. Liptaye with an advanced guard, on the 2d, to Caftiglione delle Steviere, marched a body of troops early yefterday morning from Goito to support him.

whole Auftrian force engaged confifted of about 13,000 infantry and 1500 cavalry. All is quiet hitherto to-day, both armies remaining opposite to one another in the fame pofition as yesterday.

I have the honour to be, &c. THO. GRAHAM. Head-Quarters, Valeggio, Aug. 5. MY LORD, The French army having yesterday received very confiderable reinforcements from the Milanois, and a ftrong column from Bozolo and Marcaria having advanced this morning by St Martino towards Medoli, threatening the rear of the left wing of the Imperial army, which extended into the plain, the Field-Marshal ordered that its front fhould be changed, by being thrown back towards the high ground on which the right wing was pofted. During this movement the enemy attacked in great force on the high ground; and some of the battalions of the right wing having given way, fell in with those of the left wing not yet pofted. This unfortunately created confufion, and obliged the FieldMarthal to retreat to this place. Lieut. Gen. Mezaros, who was on his way from Borgo-forte to join the army, arrived to-day at Goito. There are no accounts yet of Lieut. Gen. Quafdanowich, fo that it is probable he is ftill among the mountains; and the enemy being collected in fuch force near the fouth end of the Lago de Garda, it will be very difficult for him now to form a junction that way. I have the honour to be, &c.. THO. GRAHAM.

Admiralty-Office, Aug. 23. Copy of a letter from Sir John Jervis, K. B. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's fhips and vessels in the Mediterranean, to Evan Nepean, Efq; dated on board his Majefty's fhip Victory, off Toulon, July 1. 1796.

General Liptaye had been forced to retire from Caftiglione, and was nearly SIR, The Inconftant joined this mornfurrounded on the heights between it ing from Leghorn; and I inclofe, for and Solforino. The cavalry difengaged the information of the Lords Commifhim, and the regiments forming as they fioners of the Admiralty, Capt. Freecame up, the affair became general, the mantle's report of the proceedings of Imperial troops maintaining theirground, the enemy in Tufcany, their taking pofnotwithstanding the great fuperiority of feffion of Leghorn, and the retreat of the numbers of the enemy, till night put an British factory, with most of their proend to the combat. Too much praife perty, which they owe to the unparal cannot be given to thofe regiments which, leled exertions of Capt. Freemantle, and were firft engaged, and which fuftained the officers and crew of the Inconftant; alone the attack of the three divifions of Commodore Nelfon, owing to calms and the French army, nor to the cavalry, light winds, not having reached Legwhich repeatedly repulfed the French hora Road until the enemy was in pof. cavalry, confifting of 3000 horfe. The feffion. I am, &c. J. JERVIS.

4 U 2

« ZurückWeiter »