The expedition passed in ten days through Halberstadt, Eisleben, Buttstadt, and Schlaitz, to Plauen, though not without encountering great danger from the enemy, who were dispersed throughout these districts, but, also, not without effecting some important results.  Intelligence and information were procured, ammunition was captured and seized, and couriers on missions of importance were taken prisoners.  The gallant troop acquired considerable renown, and harassed the enemy much, especially by cutting off his communications.  A plan was in consequence laid by the French emperor for the extirpation of the corps, that, as a deterring example, no man should be left alive.  The armistice, concluded at this moment, afforded an opportunity for putting it in practice. (The Duke of Padua, it is observable, particularly profited by this armistice; for being shut up in Leipzig by Generals Woronzow and Czernichef, with the co-operation of two battalions of the Lutzow infantry, he was only saved by this cessation of hostilities.)

Major Von Lutzow had received official information of the armistice at Plauen.  Without expecting to meet with any opposition, he chose the shortest route to rejoin the infantry of his corps, having received the most confidential assurances of safety from the enemy’s commanding officers, and proceeded along the high road, without interruption, to Kitzen, a village in the neighbourhood of Leipzig; but here he found himself surrounded and menaced by a very superior force.  Theodore Korner was despatched to demand an explanation; but, instead of replying, the commander of the enemy struck at him with his sword; and it being now twilight, a general attack was made on the three squadrons of the Lutzow cavalry before they had drawn a sabre.  Several were wounded and taken, and others dispersed in the surrounding country; but Major Von Lutzow himself was saved by the assistance of a squadron of Uhlans, who being in advance with the Cossacks, formed the van-guard, and consequently were not assailed at the same moment.  He reached, with a considerable body of his troops, the right bank of the Elbe, where the infantry of his corps, and a squadron of its cavalry, were already collected.

Korner received the first blow, which he was not prepared to parry, as he approached close to the enemy’s commanding officer to deliver his message without drawing his sabre, and was thus severely wounded in the head:  the second blow only inflicted a slight injury.  He fell back, but speedily recovered himself, and his spirited steed bore him in safety to a neighbouring wood.  He was here occupied, at the first moment, with the assistance of a comrade, in binding up his wounds, when he perceived a troop of the enemy, who were in pursuit, riding towards him.  His presence of mind did not forsake him, but turning towards the wood, he called with a loud voice, “Fourth squadron,—­Advance!”—­His stratagem succeeded—­the enemy were appalled, drew back, and thus afforded him time to conceal himself deeper in the wood.  It had now become dark, and he found a place in the thicket where he could remain undiscovered.