BOOK X. will give our just cause victory, and with this an uninterrupted peace, and the return of happier CHAP. VII. time! (Signed) "FREDERICK WILLIAM."

1813.

"To my army-Often have you expressed your wishes to fight for the liberty and independence of your country. The moment for doing so is now arrived. He is no member of the nation by whom this is not felt. Youth and men voluntarily fly to arms! What in them is free-will, is to you who belong to the standing army, a call. From you, ordained to defend the native country, she is entitled to demand what is offered by others. "See! what numbers forsake every thing they hold most dear, to venture their lives with in their country's cause. You will, therefore, doubly feel your sacred duty. May all of you, on the day of battle or in time of trouble, keep in mind moderation and due discipline. Let not individual ambition, either in the highest or lowest of the army be cherished. He that feels for his country does not think of self. May the envious meet contempt, when the general welfare only is concerned.

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you

Every thing else must now give way to this. Victory proceeds from God! Shew yourselves worthy of his high protection, by obedience and fulfilling your duties. Let courage, constancy, loyalty, and good discipline, be your renown. Follow the example of your forefathers, be worthy of them, and remember your posterity!

"A sure reward will fall on him who distinguishes himself;-deep disgrace and punishment on him that forgets his duty.

"Your king will always be with you, and with him the crown-prince and the princes of his house. They will fight along with you-they and the whole nation will combat with you; and at our side a valiant people come to our assistance, and to the assistance of all Germany-a people that, by glorious deeds, has secured its independence.

"They relied on their sovereign-their leader -their cause their own strength-and God was with them: so will it be with you; for we also fight the great fight for the independence of our country!

"Confidence in God, courage, and perseverance, be our word.

(Signed) "FREDERICK WILLIAM."

The French, who for a time appeared to intend making a stand at Berlin, now finding every thing hostile to them in the Prussian territory, quitted that city in the night of March 3d, and the Russians entered it as friends on the following morning. On the 11th, General Count Wittgenstein made his public entry amidst general acclamations.

The procession began about 10 in the morning. His royal highness Prince Henry of Prussia rode by the side of his excellency the general of cavalry, Count Wittgenstein, attended by a great number of Russian and Prussian generals, a regiment of dragoons, two regiments of infantry, and several batteries of artillery, of twelve pieces each, in the whole, forty-eight pieces of artillery, with ninety-six powder-waggons, martial music playing the whole time, and the spectators waving their hats and handkerchiefs, with a continual hurrah in honor of the Emperor Alexander, which was answered by the Russians with shouts of " Long live Frederick William!" In the af ternoon Prince Henry of Prussia gave a grand dinner to Prince Wittgenstein, Prince Repuin, general and military governor of this capital, and a great number of other Russian generals and officers. His excellency afterwards went to the opera; and at night the whole city was voluntarily illuminated.

The next day his excellency Count Wittgenstein caused the following acknowledgment to be inserted in the public gazettes of this city:

"By the enthusiasm with which the inhabit ants of Berlin have received the imperial Russian troops; by the affection and high respect which they have on this occasion expressed for his majesty the emperor, my master; by the es teem and gratitude with which they have treated the troops, whom they consider as their deliverers from an insupportable yoke, I feel myself requir ed to express the warmest thankfulness, in the name of my sovereign, to the inhabitants of the capital of the Prussian monarchy for these sentiments. I shall not fail to state them to his ma jesty the emperor, and I doubt not that they will make the samé impression upon him as they have made upon myself.

"Count WITTGENSTEIN, general of cavalry."

All the Hanse Towns, all Prussia, and indeed the whole of the north of Germany, were in a state of insurrection against the French. I Hamburgh the French attempted to carry off the specie of the bank, but the populace rose and massacred most of the plunderers. The customhouses were pulled down, the police-officers beaten, and their houses pillaged. French cock ades and flags were torn down, and cries every where heard of" Down with Napoleon-Long life to the Emperor of Russia." The Austrians opposed no resistance to the Russians, but appeared, at this period, inclined to join them.

When the Russians entered Berlin a procla mation was issued by his majesty the Emperor of Russia, by which a full amnesty was assured to all the inhabitants of the late Polish, now Rus sian, provinces:

« We, Alexander the First, by the Grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia, & make known to every one,

"That whereas, in the course of the present war with the French, the main part of the inhabitants of the former Polish, but now Russian provinces and circles, have remained loyal to us ; and for such cause have an equal claim on our favor and gratitude towards them, with all our other faithful subjects; but, there are others, who have by numerous ways drawn upon them our just anger. Some of these, on the enemy's entering the borders of our empire, either through dread of force and violence, or because they expected to save their property from destruction and rapine, accepted the offices and employments forced on them by the enemy; others, whose numbers are less, but whose crimes are much greater, as having taken the part of the foreign invader, even before his irruption into their country; and taken up arms with him, against us, and preferred being his shameless abettors rather than remaining our faithful subjects-these last should feel the sword of justice: but as we have already seen the wrath of God poured out on them, which has beaten them to the earth, as. well as those who have implicitly surrendered; and as we are inclined to hear the voice of pity and compassion, which holds sway in our breast, we make known our general and free pardon, consigning every thing past to eternal silence and oblivion, and likewise forbid in future all and every denunciation; in the perfect confidence, that those who have been unfaithful to us will feel the clemency of such procedure, and return back to their habitations within the space of two months from this day. But if any of them should remain in the service of our enemy after that period, without profiting by our clemency, and continue in the commission of the same crime after this pardon, Russia will consider them as confirmed rebels, and not receive them again into her bosom; but the whole of their estates shall be confiscated. And although the prisoners of war who were taken with arms in their hands shall not be excluded from this general pardon, yet we cannot, without infringement of justice, follow the impulse of our heart, until their captivity shall be ended by the conclusion of the present war; but even these shall likewise in due time arrive at the enjoyment of the advantages granted by this our pardon, which we extend to all and every one. Therefore may every indiTherefore may every individual partake in the general joy on the breaking of the power, and total destruction of the enemy of all nations; and, with open hearts express their gratitude to the Supreme Being! We likewise hope, that this our fatherly forgiveness, to which we have been impelled solely by sentiments of clemency, will bring the misguided to due re

After the French army had evacuated Berlin, General Morand, who kept possession of Swedish Pomerania with about 2,500 men, and who, according to his first instructions, was to have maintained himself there, at all events, put himself in march to follow the grand army, whose left wing he formed, under the name of the army of Pomerania. On his march he was joined by the custom-house officers established there, and who wished to avoid any unpleasant collision with the inhabitants, who had shown them proofs, on many occasions, that they did not consider it as very high crime to maltreat, or even kill, customhouse officers: the mounted custom-house officers formed the cavalry of Morand's corps; this cavalry was about fifty men strong. The artillery, consisted of eighteen pieces.

The Russian colonel, Baron Von Tettenborn, marched with his corps in the direction of Hamburgh; his van-guard was at Lunenberg, when Morand, on the 15th of March, entered into Molln. Some parties of Cossacks that had been detached in front, and who appeared opposite Molln, caused the army of Pomerania to halt, and induced General Morand to remain there for the day, and in the night to march to Bergedorf, where he was met by the eleventh military divi sion, and the custom-house officers stationed in Hamburgh. General Morand made a feint of marching from Bergedorf to Hamburgh, but was prevented by the Danish troops; 3,000 men of whom, with a numerous artillery, were stationed on the borders to maintain their neutrality.

It now appeared to be General Morand's intention to take a position in Bergedorf and the Vierlanden, and for this purpose garrisoned Eschenburg, a place situated a German mile towards Lauenburg, with 500 men and eight pieces of artillery. From Eschenburg to Bergedorf it is one continued defile, where cavalry was totally useless, and from this defile to the Elbe is a morassy country, cut through with innumerable canals; and possibly General Morand had calculated on being able to keep this post; but the regiments of Cossacks, pushed forward by Lieutenant-colonel Beckendorff, commander of the van-guard, fell in with the enemy, when some volunteers immediately dismounted, and continuing skirmishing, kept the enemy employed till late in the night. The enemy was not sparing of his cannon-shot, and

BOOK X. answered every hurrah of the Cossacks with a fire of grape-shot. Meanwhile a detachment of CosCHAP. VII. sacks were sent by a bye-road to Bergedorf, who had driven the enemy's picquets into the town, and put every thing in alarm. After three such attacks, General Morand deemed the whole position untenable, and at break of day he marched to the custom-house store, from whence all the baggage had, in the course of the night, been sent across the Elbe. Colonel Von Tettenborn immediately caused the enemy to be pursued from Bergedorf as far as Eschenburg; at a mile's distance from the custom-house store, the enemy made a stand on a cross-dam, and placed a battery of six guns against the only dam by which he could be approached. The brave Cossacks kept up a fire of musketry, but could make no impression on the enemy, by reason of his advantageous situation. Colonel Von Tettenborn, notwithstanding the apparent disadvantage of the position, then caused a piece of artillery to be brought up. This gun, notwithstanding the very brisk fire kept up by the enemy with such a superior force of artillery, produced indeed a decisive effect on the enemy, who retreated with the utmost expedition. The Cossacks pursued him with rapidity, and did not allow him time to carry off the artillery, which was already put on board some craft. The enemy's convoy escaped in small boats, leaving six pieces of cannon behind them, which the Cossacks immediately made themselves masters of.

The day after this fortunate expedition, March 18, Colonel Von Tettenborn entered Hamburgh -the fifth good city of the great French empire; but which had ceased to be a good city, even before the entrance of the Russian troops, and was merely denominated a city, without any additional title.

Before the Russians entered Hamburgh, Count Von Wittgenstein sent the following addresses.

"To the inhabitants of the electorate of Hanover, the principality of Lauenburg, the free imperial cities of Hamburgh, Lubeck, and Bremen, and the territory of Munster.-To the inhabitants of the duchies of Westphalia and Berg, the principality of East Frieseland, the Mork, and the lordships of Lingen and Tecklenburg, &c.

"German friends! Ye know not what you were, and what you are become. Ye were Germans, but ye have been forced to become Frenchmen; or, ye were free and happy citizens, and ye now bear those chains to which the compassion of the whole world sees one of the most civilized people of Europe debased. But take courage! Strongly has the justice of God shewn itself on the banks of the Dnieper, the Dwina, and the Berezina; and heavy has the sword of his vengeance fallen on the head of your enemies, of the general enemies of liberty, of the laws of na

tions, and of the independence of your princes -the enemies of all social virtue.

"Heavily injured German friends! The hour of your redemption draws nigh; already does the van-guard of my corps, now entering your territory, bring you my salute from Berlin. Bound in the closest alliance with Prussia, England, and his other powerful allies, Alexander, the liberator, my victorious lord and emperor, sends me to you, to break your chains, to restore you to your languages, your ancient forms of government, so dear to you, and to restore you to yourselves.

Irritated and revengeful, that good fortune, which has been so much misused by your oppressor, has suddenly turned her back upon him. He has lost an army of half a million experienced warriors. He may still drive together some heaps of unhappy sacrifices to his ambition, but he will never again be able to raise a formidable army. With a powerful hand has Russia torn away the bandage from the eyes of the nations; the magic, which enchained their senses, is dissolved; they have again begun to value themselves and their own strength and even that nation itself, equally unfortunate as sensible, begins, with blushes, to feel that she, as a blind instrument of the wild and insatiable ambition of a foreigner, is carrying her own chains into countries which formerly received the arts and sciences from her. Brave men of Germany! learn to comprehend, that it is by your ownselves that ye are kept in chains-that to be free ye do not stand in need even of our assistance, but only of your own energetic will. Receive the valiant Russians as your friends-as your allies. Join yourselves to them and to the Prussians-your brethren-your relations-who come with them in the noblest and most sacred cause for which an alliance was ever formed. But ye, ye few unworthy Germans, the despicable instruments of expiring tyranny, tremble at the impending vengeance of God and man. Whilst I shall continue to treat every French warrior that falls into my hands, according to the most liberal laws of imprisonment in war; every German taken with arms in his hand against his native country shall, in the most distant provinces of Russia, bewail his ever having drawn his sword against the liberty of his fellow-citizens.

(Signed) "Count Von WITTGENSTEIN. "Head-quarters at Berlin, March 16, 1813."

the county of Stollberg, Wernigerode, the states of Hesse Cassel, of Rinteln, and Schaumburg, the territory of Katzenellenbogen, of Corvey, Gottingen and Grubenhagen, of Hohenstein and Elbingerode, the bishoprics of Osnaburg and Paderborn, of Minden, Ravensberg, and the county of Riotberg Kaunitz.

"German friends! Already have you too long obeyed a foreigner, never called to any throne, --who has no share in your interests-who has torn from you your rightful princes, that he might purchase a brainless vision for his horrid ambi tion, with the strength of your country, and the blood of your children. This insatiable ambition he fastened to the dreadful chain which he calls conscription, to draw away your sons and brothers, the hopeless flower of your country, to distant lands, where they dreadfully ended their lives in battles, in prisons, and in hospitals, venting imprecations on their cold-blooded tyrants and your weakness-lives which belonged to their native country, to their families-and which would have gladdened your days.

Your des

"Much-injured German friends! pair, the bitter tears of your mothers, wives, and brides, have become heavy in the scales of beaven. The victims of the most cruel tyranny, which have passed your impoverished habitations (now filled with misery,) and which could only raise horror and pity, have informed you of the severe vengeance which heavenly justice, whose patience was at length wearied out, has taken on the banks of the Dnieper. Receive by my advanced guards, now entering your countries, my salute, from Berlin-The hour of your deliverance has struck! "It is not the intent of the victorious emperor, my gracious lord, to conquer your country, but to gain your hearts, your thanks, and the gratitude of your succeeding generations. Bound in the closest alliance with Prussia, and his other powerful allies, Alexander, the liberator, sends me to you, to break your disgraceful fetters-to restore you your lawful princes, your native country, your language, laws, and customs-to free you from a foreign superior, who-history has yet no example of such an unnatural contempt of men-publicly and solemnly declares, that the first duty which he exacts from the regents he has given to the nations conquered by him, belongs to him; the second, to France; and only the third, to the people governed by them.'

"Brave and generous Germans! Will you suffer me alone to fulfil the honorable commission entrusted to me by my mighty emperor? Or has your slavery not yet so far debased you, but that you are still capable of feeling the emotions of revenge against your shameless oppressors, and will, in junction with me, reach the beautiful and appointed end in view?

"The magic deception is destroyed: the want

of plan-of resolution and incertitude in all BOOK X. their military movements-plainly shows you that even the spirited French nation itself is gra- CHAP. VII. dually beginning to feel the dishonorable part to which the most cruel despotism has, hitherto un1813. punished, debased her. It must clearly appear to you, that you are kept in chains by means of yourselves, and that it merely depends on the return of the feeling your own value-that it requires only your own strong will, even without our assistance, to cease being the vassals of a foreign despot.

"You, prefects, and other public officers of the state! will ye assist the virtuous efforts of your fellow-citizens in reclaiming their most sacred rights, or will ye sink yourselves to be the assistants of a now expiring tyranny? In the latter case, do not reckon on my protection against the just vengeance of the people. I, myself, will some time place you and your assistants before the tribunal of the nation you have so greatly injured.

"Given at the head-quarters at Berlin, the 16th March, 1813.

(Signed) "The Count Von Wittgenstein.”

The Russians entered Hamburgh amidst the joyful acclamations of the citizens, and the ancient government was restored.-Satisfaction smiled on every countenance. The Cossacks could not move from their posts, but every hand was ready to help them to alight, every arm to embrace them, and when their bodies could not be reached, their clothes were eagerly grasped. Mothers lifted up their children to take them by the hand, and on all sides loud vivas resounded to welcomethem.

In consequence of the treaty of alliance between Russia and Prussia, General Wittgenstein issued the following order:

"It has pleased his royal majesty the King of Prussia to join all his troops under the command of Lieutenant-general Von York to my corps.

"The command of so greatly distinguished warriors is in every respect flattering and honorable to me, and a security for the success of the good cause in which I bear my sword.

"Our nations have been friends for more than fifty years; a dark interval of a few months, brought about by imperious circumstances, has only more animated the friendly sentiments of both our great sovereigns towards each other, and drawn still closer the ties existing between their people. There is but one, one only, great interest which connects us. It is the strife of liberty, of virtue, against the enemy of the independence of all nations. What you, valiant Prussians, have done against us, through the real feeling of duty, though contrary to your better knowledge, is proved by the history of the last