shells set fire to the town; the French troops were obliged to contend every inch of ground with the flames, the fire throwing light on the engagement the same as broad day-light. The retreat, however, was effected in good order; on both sides the loss was great, but it was not until three o’clock, on the morning of the 20th October, that the Russian eagle regained possession of Polotsk.
“As good luck would have it, Steingell slept soundly at the noise of this battle, although he might have heard even the shouts of the Russian militia[1]. He seconded the attack of Wittgenstein during that night, as little as Wittgenstein had seconded his the day before. It was not until Wittgenstein had finished on the right side, that the bridge of Polotzk was broken down, and St. Cyr, with all his force on the left bank, and then fully able to cope with Steingell, that the latter began to put himself in motion. But De Wrede, with 6000 French, surprised him in his first movement, beat him back several leagues into the woods which he had quitted, and took or killed 2000 of his men[2].”
It is but too true, that the fine Finland corps was cut up in the manner described by de Segur, and that the French troops were thus allowed to escape from nearly four times their numbers. Among the prisoners taken by De Wrede was Captain Willoughby, whose generous conduct on this occasion entitles him to as much praise as any of his former brilliant actions:– it is thus described in “Gifford’s Memoirs of Napoleon,” vol. ii, note † at p. 199 et seq.–
“Captain Willoughby displayed the greatest ability, as well as intrepidity; but became a victim to his own generosity, so far as to fall into the hands of the enemy; for having observed two Russian soldiers badly wounded, and who were attempting with bleeding and mangled limbs, to withdraw from the scene of slaughter, he instantly dismounted, and ordering his attendant cossack to do the same, he actually placed the wounded men upon the horses, and attended them upon foot, by which means he fell into the hands of a party of French hussars.
“No sooner did the Emperor Alexander hear of this circumstance than he directed a letter to be sent to Napoleon, requesting his exchange, and offering any French officer in his possession, in lieu: to which the invader answered, that no Englishman would be exchanged!”
