904 ANNUAL 
to maintain it against the enemy, 
they sent forward a detachment to 
Lowicz, to defend the passage of 
the river Bzura. But this corps 
was attacked on the 27th of No- 
vember by the advanced guard of the 
grand duke of Berg’s division, and 
driven back with loss to Blonie. 
General Benningsen, who com- 
manded the Russian army, having in 
the mean time received more accu- 
rate information of the French force 
marching against him, determined to 
abandon Warsaw and repass the 
Vistula with his troops, and not con- 
tent with this retrogade movement, 
he continued his retreat beyond the 
Warew. The French entered War- 
saw on the 28th and 29th, and 
applied themselves immediately, with 
the greatest industry, to fortify the 
suburb of Prag on the opposite side 
of the river, and to re-establish the 
wooden bridge over the Vistula, 
which the Russians had burned in 
their retreat. ‘The same military 
precautions were taken at Thorn by 
marshal Ney, and at Zakroczym by 
marshal Augereau. At both places 
bridges were thrown over the Vis- 
tula, protected by formidable works, 
which at once facilitated the advance 
of the army, and secured, if neces- 
sary, its retreat. In addition to 
these measures Of precaution, the 
fortresses of Custrin, Stettin, Span- 
dau, Wittenberg, Erfurt, and Mag- 
deburg were placed in the best pos- 
sible state of defence, and strongly 
garrisoned, forming a chain of posts 
between the French army in Poland 
and the heart of Germany. And, 
besides compelling the confederates 
of the Rhine to furnish their full 
contingents to the army, a message 
was sent from Berlin to the French 
senate, before the departure of the 
emperor to Poland, desiring that 
- ‘. 
~ 
REGISTER, 1806. 
the conscripts of 1807, who by law 
could not be called out to serve till 
the following September, might be 
placed at his disposal on the Ist of 
January, 1807. ‘This prudence and 
caution, worthy of an experienced 
general, and most suitable to the 
circumspect and wary character of 
Bonaparte, appeared to the Russians 
the result of fear and apprehension ; 
and this conceit filled them with a 
barbarous exultation and stupid con- 
fidence in their arms. ‘hat such 
should have been the impression on 
the Russians, who know no tactics 
but marching straight forward to 
battle, and have no resource after 
battle but victory, does not in the 
least surprise us; but that the same 
opinion should ever have prevailed 
elsewhere, does indeed fill us with 
astonishment; ‘we cannot, however, 
forget, that for a short period there 
were men of understanding who 
seriously believed, that the con- 
queror of Austria and Prussia was 
afraid of the half-civilized half-dis- 
ciplined savages of the north. 
_ The Russian general Benningsen 
having formed a junction behind the 
Narew with the second division of 
the Russian army under the com- 
mand of Buxhoevden, and further , 
reinforcements having arrived with 
Kamensk oy, who had been appointed 
by the court of St. Petersburg com- 
mander in chief of the army, the 
Russians began again to advance, 
and fixing their head quarters at 
Pultusk, threatened to drive the 
French over the Vistula. But while 
they were anticipating triumphs, and 
celebrating with fireworks atSierock 
the junction of their three armies, a 
small French detachment passed in 
the night over the Narew, and be- 
fore morning had entrenched itself 
so strongly, that the Russians could 
' net 
