Herald Of The United States

Prince Ferdinand has driven Soult's lieutenants out of Bohemia; and Bonaparte has been telling lies by wholesale.

Dispatches were yesterday received at Lord Mulgrave's office from Lord Harrowby, at Berlin, and from the Court, which has removed from Vienna to Brunn. The former gives an account of the favorable reception experienced by his Lordship from the Prussian Monarch and his Ministers; and the latter contains the particulars of the signal victory obtained by the Russians over the French; a confirmation of the junction of the Russian armies, and the near approach of a third; they also give the particulars of the capture of Vienna, by the enemy, on the 13th ult.: but from the immense number of the allied forces now collected in that direction, there is every probability of the enemy being immediately forced to evacuate the Austrian capital.

Latest and Most Important.

Received at New York.—London dates to Dec. 18.—

The Battles of Wischau.

LONDON, DEC. 18.

In our paper of yesterday, we announced the arrival of dispatches from Sir Arthur Paget, the British Ambassador to the Emperor of Germany, containing accounts of a general engagement between the French and allied army; and also accounts from other quarters, relating to the same affair: in the afternoon the following official notice was circulated:-

BULLETIN.

"Government received last night accounts, dated at Olmutz, the 3d, by which it appears that a general battle took place on the 2d, between the French and Austro-Russian armies at Wischau. The centre of the latter seems to have met with great resistance, and to have been repulsed; but the left wing of the enemy were defeated, with considerable loss, by the right wing of the allies, under the command of the Princes Lichtenstein and Bagration. The Emperor Alexander commanded his troops in person, and displayed the utmost bravery.

The conflict seems to have been of the most obstinate kind, and to have been sustained by the Allies in the most exemplary manner. The loss of the French was immense. The messenger who brought this intelligence left Olmutz twenty-four hours after the battle, and relates that, at that time the losses of the enemy were reported to be much more considerable than those of the allies, who still maintained their position at Wischau."

Accounts have been this day received at the Admiralty, which left Hamburgh two days later than the messenger who arrived from Sir A. Paget. These accounts state, that several skirmishes took place between the Allied Armies and the French from the 29th of November to the 2d inst. when there came to a general action, in which the French lost 27,000 men, and all their artillery. That the French retreated—that Bonaparte was wounded—that he had proposed an armistice, which was rejected.

That the Prussians, to the amount of 140,000 men, were in motion. That the king of Prussia had himself taken the command of one army, and the Duke of Brunswick another."

The accounts that have been made public, though deficient in detail, confirm this important fact, that the allies remained masters of the field of battle. The centre of the allied army was defeated, but so was the left wing of the enemy. Even a drawn battle may, under the present circumstances of the contending armies, be considered as a victory obtained by the allies, for a few such battles would entirely ruin the French army.

The Emperor Alexander was missing for about six hours during the action, and no little apprehension was entertained for his safety. He was at length found fighting among those part of the troops which in the end were worsted by the French centre. It was with difficulty he was persuaded to retire to a quarter where he would be exposed to less personal danger.

The accounts received at the Admiralty were transmitted by Admiral Holloway, who stated that a Lieutenant of the Adamant was on shore at Cuxhaven, on Saturday last, where accounts had been received from Hamburgh, two days later than the time Mr. Kay, the messenger, passed through that city, stating, that the battle had been entirely in favour of the Allies, that Bonaparte had been severely wounded in the right arm, and it was thought would be obliged to suffer amputation. The commander of the Piercer gun-vessel, arrived from the Ems, gives an account of what he heard, similar to the above. All accounts, however, agree, that the battle was fought on both sides with the greatest obstinacy, and chiefly with the bayonet. The Russians expended little ammunition. The carnage was immense.

The number of our allies is stated at 70,000; though the accounts of the numbers, in letters from various parts of Moravia, before the battle, say there were 90,000.

The number of Bonaparte's army is stated at 80,000, and some reports say, that near 27,000 fell on each side, while others make that of the Allies only 15,000.

It is probable that this battle will soon be followed by another, and it may fairly be inferred from the French attempting nothing for two days, that they had suffered very severely, and were not in a condition to risk a fresh attack. That there would be another dreadful engagement before Bonaparte was subdued, is imminent. We may be allowed, however, to indulge the most sanguine hopes of success. The Prussians may be now expected to be soon at the field of action. When Mr. Kay passed through Berlin, news of this battle had been received there. A Council of the State had been held, and the Prussian army, 100,000 strong, had actually begun to march into Bohemia.

From all that is yet known of the battle of the 2d, it is probable that the French, as well as the Allies, will claim the victory. Indeed we think they have already done so, for to no other circumstance can we ascribe certain rejoicings which took place in Holland within these few days. A gentleman who left Campieres on Tuesday last, says, "that great rejoicings had taken place there, in consequence of a victory gained by the French, in Germany"—but although he enquired the particulars of the success, from several persons, no one could give him any account: the French commandant could not tell, at least appeared to be ignorant of the cause of the rejoicing.

Letters from France, of a late date, received last night, also state, that Bonaparte claims a decided victory in the battle of the 2d instant. His bulletin says, that the Russians were defeated with immense slaughter, and that 6,000 prisoners, and 18 pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the French. Bonaparte's retreat is represented as temporary, for the purpose of concentrating his forces, which are acknowledged in those letters to have suffered considerably: three French Generals are said to have been killed, six wounded, and three missing. The Russians are allowed to have fought with great courage and intrepidity, and the Emperor Alexander is stated to have had two horses killed under him in the action. Bonaparte is said to have been lightly wounded, to have had one horse killed under him, and two Aides de Camp killed by his side. The private letters also state, that the country people broke down all the bridges, to prevent or impede the retreat of the French, who, in return, had laid waste the country for several leagues round. A column of 26,000 Russians is stated in the same accounts to have joined the Grand Army on the 5th instant: a fact, which, in the present situation of affairs, must be deemed of considerable importance.