FRANCE. 395 



object of Russia being merely defensive, her armies were assembled 

 altogether within her own territories. The troops of France and her 

 allies were marched towards the north, from all directions. The 

 events of the first campaign, and its unfortunate result to the cause of 

 Bonaparte, have been detailed in the history of Russia. Bonaparte 

 seems to have been fearful that the news of his disasters would ex- 

 cite something serious against him in France ; at least this is the best 

 reason which can be given for his abandonment of his army, and has- 

 ty return to Paris, in which capital he arrived on the 18th of Decem- 

 ber, 1812, eleven days after he left Wilna. He immediately assem- 

 bled the senate, and in his speech, told them that he had been every 

 where victorious in Russia, and that his losses were altogether owing 

 to the severity of the climate. 



In the mean time the Russian armies continued to advance. On 

 the 18th of December, the Prussian general York, with 30,000 men, 

 deserted from the French standard. Sweden also openly avowed her 

 disposition, by issuing a manifesto against France, dated January 7th. 

 On the 27th of December the Russians entered Memel, whence they 

 immediately proceeded towards Konigsburg, where they arrived on 

 the 6th of January. Warsaw was surrendered on the 8th of Febru- 

 ary, by the Austrians, to general Miloradovitch. The Russians met 

 with little or no opposition in their march. The Austrians did not 

 seem disposed to engage them, but continued to retire towards their 

 own lines. The French army was totally destroyed ; and the Prus- 

 sians every where received them with joy. On the 4th of March, 

 they were in possession of Berlin, the capital of Prussia. Pillau and 

 Thorn had been previously captured, and on the 10th they entered 

 Hamburg. On the 17th, the king of Prussia, from Breslau, issued 

 a declaration of war against France, and immediately joined the Rus- 

 sians with all his forces. On the 17th of April, Bonaparte left Pa- 

 ris for the head-quarters of his army, having previously appointed 

 the empress, regent. His new raised conscripts, added to the troops 

 of his German allies, made his army amount to near 300,000 men. 

 On the 5th of April, the advance of the French army under Beau- 

 harnois, was met near Magdeburg by a superior Russian and Prus- 

 sian force, commanded by Wigtenstein, by whom he was defeated 

 and compelled to retreat. Bonaparte continued advancing with his 

 main army towards the Saale ; on the 30th he passed through Wei- 

 mar. The Russians and Prussians occupied a position nearly paral- 

 lel with the French ; the latter on the Saale, the former on a line 

 descending from Dessau, through Leipzic, to Altenburg. Bonaparte 

 crossed the Saale at Naumburg, and advanced with a view of forcing 

 the allied lines. This, however, was prevented by the allies, who, 

 perceiving his intention, attacked him with great impetuosity at Lut- 

 zen on the 1st of May. The action commenced at twelve at noon, 

 and continued till night. Both sides claimed the victory, and both 

 maintained their positions. They each acknowledged 10,000 killed. 

 But the Russians, although they had a decided superiority of num- 

 bers, thought it prudent, soon after the battle, to retire behind the 

 Elbe. The French advanced as the allies retreated, and on the 12th 

 Bonaparte, in company with the king of Saxony, entered Dresden. He 

 left that capital on the 1 8th, and arrived the next morning before 

 Bautzen, where the allies under Wigtenstein had determined to 

 make a stand. Having united all their forces, the French commen- 

 ce the attack at day-break on the 21st. The ground was warmly 



