ere) 
ef France, forefecing the dreadful flaugh- 
ter that muft refult trom a conteft between 
two fuch formidable armies as were then 
almoit in fight of one another, offered an 
armifiice. This was however rejected ; 
and on the 28th, fifty of the French 6oth 
regiment of dragoons were taken pri- 
foners by the Coffacks and Ruffian ca- 
walry 3; and in the courfe of the fame day 
che Emperor.of Ruffia went to Wifchau, 
and the whole Ruffian army took up its 
pofition behind that city. Bonaparte foon 
difcovered that the atfairs of the allies 
were conducted with prefumption, mcon- 
fideratene/s, and imprudence, fully be- 
Nieving before a blow was ftruck that vic- 
tory muft declare for them. Of this ill- 
judged confidence the French emperor re- 
folved to profit; he ordered his army to 
retreat in the night, as if through fear, 
though in truth it was only that he might 
fecure a better pofition three leagues in 
the rear of his prefent ground: he pre- 
tended alfo an anxious defire of fortifying 
his camp. He propofed an interview 
with the Emperor of Ruffia, who, refuling 
to accede to the propofal him/eif, fent his 
aid-de-camp, with a view no doubt of ob- 
ferving the actual ftate of the #rench 
army. This officer, completely miflead 
by the manceuvres and arts of Bonaparte, 
returned with a moft celufive account of 
the flate of things in the enemy’s camp. 
Some of the veteran Avftrian generals 
ventured to warn their malter of the folly 
of confiding in fuch a report ; their ad- 
vice was rejected. The tmportant.day 
of the 2d of December at length arrived 
which was’ to decide the fate of empires. 
At one in the morning Bonaparte got oa 
horfeback to vifit the pofts, reconncitre 
the fires of the enemy, and get an account 
of what the guards had learnt of the 
movements of the Ruffians. He heard 
that they had pafled the night in drunk- 
enne(s and noile, and that a corps of Ruf. 
fian infantry had appeared in the village 
of Sokolnitz, occupied by a regiment of 
the divifion under General Legrand, who 
iad orders to reinforce It. 
At fun rife, orders for the attack were 
given, and in an inftact every field marfhal 
joined his corps. A moment afterwards 
the cannonade began at the extremity of 
the right, which the enemy’s advaiced 
guard bad already outflanked, but the ua- 
expected meeting with Martha] Davoutt 
flopped the enemy’s thot; and the battle 
pegan. 
Marthal Soult put himfelf in motion at 
the fame moment, proceeded to the heights 
State of Public Affairs in Fanuary, 1806. 
[Feb. j 9 
of the villace of Protzen, with generals 
Vandamme and St.’ Hilaire’s divifion, and 
cut off the right of the allies, whofe 
Movements became uncertain. Surpriled 
by a flank march, whiift it was flying, be- 
lieving itfelf to be attacking, and feeing 
itfelf attacked, it confidered itfelf as half 
defeated. . 
Prince Murat was in motion with his 
cavalry.—The left wing, under the com- 
mand of General-Lannes, marched for- 
ward alfo, en efchelons, by regiments, in 
the fame manner as if they had been ex 
ercifing by divifions. A tremendous cane 
nenade took place aleng the whole line; 
two hundred pieces of cannon, and nearly 
two hundred thoufand men, made a dread. 
ful noife. It was a real giant combat. 
Not an hour had elapfed, and the cnemy’s . 
whole left was cut eff; their right had 
already reached Asifterlitz, the head quar- 
ters of the two emperors, who marched 
immediately to the Emperor of Reffia’s 
guard, to endeavour to reftore the com- 
munication of the centre with the left. 
A battalion of the ath of the line was 
charged by the Imperial Roffian yuard on 
horfeback, and routed; but the Emperor 
was at hand; he perceived thie move 
ment; ordered Marfh:l Beffieres: to 
the fuccour of bis right, with 5: 
cioles, and. the two cuards were icon en- 
paged i 
Succe/s could not be doubtful ; in a 
moment the Rufhan guard was routed ; 
colonel, artillery, itandards, every thing 
was taken. The regiment of the Grand 
Duke Co:ftantine ~2s annihilated. He 
owed his fafety only to the {wiftnefs of 
his horfe. 
From the Heights of Aufterlitz the two 
Emperors beheld the defeat of all the Ruf 
fian Guard. At the fame moment the 
centre of the army, commanded by Mar- 
fhal Bernadotte, advanced; three of his 
regiments made a very fine charge of ca- 
valry. The left, commanded by Marthal 
Lanes, made feveral.. All the charges 
were victorious. General Caifarelii’s di- 
viflon diftinguifhed itfelf, The Cuiraffier 
divifion took the enemy’s batteries. At 
one, p.m. the vittory was decided; it 
‘had not been doubtful for a moment; 
not a man of the referve was wanted, and 
had affifted no where; a cannonade was 
kept up only on the right of the French. 
The enemy's corps, which had been fur- 
rcunded ard driven from all the heights, 
were on a flat, and near a lake. The 
Emperor haftened thither with twent 
pieces of cannon, ‘Two columns of Rub 
| fans, 
£2 tG 
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