John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

13. I received this morning the notice for the Te Deum at the Imperial Chapel, for the victory obtained by the Russian imperial troops commanded by Count Wittgenstein, in presence of the Emperor Alexander, near the borough of Lutzen, over the French army commanded by the Emperor Napoleon— At half past twelve I went with Mr Smith to the Palace— The Te Deum began soon after— Scarcely any details of the Victory were given. We were told that the Emperor Alexander actually commanded; was on the field, and twice rallied the troops. But that he chose to have the Te Deum at the Chapel and not at the Kazan Church, and also chose to have it said that Wittgenstein commanded, from his personal modesty, and to avoid all appearance of ostentation. It was supposed the loss of men, was about equal on both sides; but fell most heavily on the Prussians, who are not even mentioned in the account read by the War Minister Gortschakoff before the Te Deum. 481Count Maistre and Baron Blome, were the only other foreign Ministers present—the Duke de Serra-Capriola, Count Lowenhielm and the Chevalier Bardaxi-Azara, being confined at home by sickness— The Ceremony was short. On coming out I asked Mr Gourieff when I could call upon him, and he appointed the day after to-morrow, at 11. in the morning.— After dinner I went with Mrs Smith and Charles to the Catherinenhoff procession of Carriages; which was very much crowded; but where there were very few handsome Equipages— It was almost ten at Night when we came home— Charles lost great part of his lesson.