Background to the Patriotic War of 1812
Saltanovka-Ostrovno – Kobrin – Gorodečno – Klâsticy – Smolensk – Polotsk (1)-Valutina mountain-Borodino – Tarutino-Maloyaroslavets-Polotsk (2)-Vyazma-Chashniki – Smalany – Red – Berezina-Prosecution
Russian army Each de Tolly and Bagration fighting retreating when planning to connect in the District of Vitebsk. However, Davout cut Bagration road at Vitebsk and Bagration decided to move to Smolensk. Not knowing about this and retreating from Polotsk, Barclay de Tolly 23 July (13 Church style) reached the Vitebsk and expecting Bagration. The Vitebsk also followed Napoleon with the main forces. Barclay was a choice: either to retreat further to Smolensk, giving without fighting the Russian land or remain in place and as forces detain French promotion until suitable Bagration. Barclay had decided, without a general battle, delay time by fighting, taking advantage of the woodland and rough terrain. This decision contributed to the fragmentation of Napoleon's forces were scattered around the front hull and experienced great difficulties in supply.
1st Russian army rested in Vitebsk, 2 days before French patrols, missed kazač′imi by roadblocks, quite unexpectedly, have been found in 3 km from the city on the road — Vitebsk Beshankovichy (along the left bank of the Daugava River), while the rearguard of the army was expecting the arrival of the enemy on the other side of the Dvina River. To close the road, the Commander of the 1st army Barclay sent a 4th Peh. Corps of count Osterman's Corps-Thick with several regiments of cavalry. According to Yermolov: Nadoben General who was relieved by the forces of the enemy and they would not ustrašili. "
The bulk of the army took a defensive position in Vitebsk, the positions of the Lučesoj River, which flows into the Dvina Vitebsk. The Russian army remained in the rear of the road to Blagoevgrad and Smolensk.
[edit] the course of the battle [edit] 25 iûlâFajl: Battle of Ostrovno 1812 png map.
Map of the rearguard fighting under Vitebsk in 1812. Vanguard of count Osterman's Corps-Thick with had the 4th Infantry Corps, two gusarskih dragunskuû Regiment, brigade and horse artillery company. The battlefield say about 6 thousands of soldiers in the possession of count Osterman's Corps. According to other information, the Russian squad was 9 thousand fighters.
In the vanguard of the life guards Hussar and Nezhin Dragoon regiments came across a French Piquet, attacked and harassed in the direction of the village of Ostrovno (about 25 km west of Vitebsk), where short 8 km before Ostrovno faced major avant-garde French forces under the leadership of Murat, consisting of the 1st Hussar Division (Maj. Bruyères) and 1st kirasirskoj Division (Maj. Saint-Germain). Murat had mounted artillery but lacked infantry.
Broke off the fight, which lasted all day. The French initially successful, the 8th Hussar Regiment broke the 2 Russian Leib-Hussar Squadron and captured in the forest 6 guns of horse artillery, heading for sledding with Hussars at. To stop the French success in the battle of second Osterman introduced Hussar Regiment and troops, blocking the road built at Vitebsk. The left flank of the avant-garde in marshy forest, dig right flank be cloaked Dvina. Russian artillery prostrelivala the way, causing great losses on the enemy konnice sgrudivšejsâ along it.
Due to overcrowding and the lack of infantry Murat could not fully implement the numerical superiority, so he had to do a series of fierce frontal attack. Attacks were Cavalry on the road, where the 2 battalions of Russian infantry were built on both sides of the road in Kara, making infantry vulnerable to the actions of the French artillery. Troops strongly reflected attack, incurring significant losses. Sergey Glinka's "Notes on the 1812 year" says:
"Fiercely boomed an enemy artillery and vyryvala entire series brave the Russian regiments. It was difficult to carry our guns, charges they rasstrelâlis′ the guns have fallen. Ask Earl: "what should I do?" "Nothing, he is responsible, is stand and die!" "The battlefield recall a cruise phrase, later the symbol of the resistance of the Russian soldier, on the other. Podporučik artillery Gp Mešetič passes it [1]:
"This time is was a battalion of infantry from the bushes, a lot of enemy shells poured the cores, whole ranks severely broke from the front; When was placed under Ostermanu-Tolstoy about a loss and loss of life, he, under birch trees standing, tobacco smell, said: "Come and die". "The soldiers of count Osterman's Corps attacked the French directly through the forest, and forest same struck volley. The French could not break through the Russian infantry, commissioned konnicej attack by artillery of the French. When Mûratu came 13th Peh. Del′zona Division of the Corps de Beauharnais, he put her through the forest, bypassing the Russian left-wing. Osterman went to Vitebsk to a new position. The night brought a respite to the 4th Corps of the Russians.
26 July to replace the 4th Corps of count Osterman's Corps were sent to the 3rd Infantry Division and kirasirskaâ Division of Konovnicyna Kav. Corps Uvarova. They took position behind-ravine near the village of Kakuvâčinoj, Osterman night took up a position behind Konovnicyna as his reserve, kirasirskoj Division, has not entered into the case because of the very rough terrain.
Mûratu came to Eugene Bogarnè chassis. On the morning of 26 July, the battle on the narrow road in the forest resumed. While Murat aimed to attack the left flank of the Russians, Russians successfully attacked the left flank of the French, where the scattered battalion Croats and 84 Regiment. The French left flank fled and stood up. Murat led a Polish Ulan, while other French generals were able to stop the fleeing soldiers and return them in battle. The position of the left-wing were restored, the Russians retreated into the forest. On the right flank of the advancing French held off a strong artillery fire and gullies, stesnâvšie French cavalry. Barclay sent to reinforce rearguard Lieutenant Tuchkova 1st with the grenaderskoû Division, it has the same command. How to recognise a French officer [2]: "Many arrows [Russians] had been forced to pay for the expensive way, which we have otvoëvyvali."
The French Corps at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon Napoleon personally, taking a command. He led that around 3 o'clock the French threw Russians and their retreat nearly turned the flight because of disorder in command (in the opinion of General Yermolov).
Notes from a. p. Yermolov, Chief of staff of 1st army
Neither the courage nor the troops of General Konovnicyna fearlessness could not keep them [the French]. Inverted arrows our quickly departed in droves. General Konovnicyn, negoduâ, command of troops took General Tuchkov, didn't care about restoring order, the latter not vibrated in the importance of the circumstances and the only activity not provided. I made them a view of the need to withdraw from the confusion and draw to the device. by the evening the French approached the Vitebsk, but tired of battle stopped for respite and intelligence came to forest road to the operating room.
[edit] 27 July
Infantry Gets an attack of cavalry in battle in Vitebsk. Apparently refers to the episode on 27 July, when surrounded by a group of French shooters otbivalas′ from Russian Ulan. Figure of the 19th century After a departure regiments, Barclay took all troops on Vitebsk in a single place and destroyed a message with the right bank of the Daugava River. His intention was to give battle to the French, delay their progress and connect with the 2nd army Bagration. 1st army took up positions across the River Lučesoj, the upiraâs′ the right flank in the Dvina and closing the forest on the left flank. However, in the early morning of 27 July Each rushed into the camp from the courier Bagration informing it that the moves to Smolensk. The same prisoners informed the Russians of Napoleon, and this meant the 150th. the French against the 75th. the Russians. On the night of 26 to 27 July, the Russian army peremenila position, moving from the banks of the Lučesy the road on the Babinoviči, that is prepared to sail, although continued to create the impression of preparations for the battle.
27 July, the rear led Graf Pahlen with fresh forces: 3-4 thousand infantry, 4 thousand cavalry and 40 guns. Pahlen took up a position in 8 km from Vitebsk outside the village of Dobrejka, having in the rear of the Lučesu River. The rearguard Palena fought with 5 o'clock in the morning and up to 3 hours of the day and then retreated over Lučesu, which were shortly before the 1st army position Each. Clausewitz, personally present at Palena, attributed to sluggish French onslaught weak Russian counter Napoleon's desire to thoroughly prepare for the battle, the Emperor on the following day. According to the memoirs of count One Napoleon even ordered 11 a.m. stop attacks at Palena, in order to be able to inspect the upcoming battle, as well as tighten the stragglers.
Napoleon wrote to Mûratu: "tomorrow at 5 am Sun Austerlica!" on the eve of the French with the heights observed detailed Russian army on the banks of the Lučesy. After the change of position, according to General Yermolov, did not have the ability to see the main army, but continued to believe in the intention of the Russian claim Vitebsk.
But in 1 hour of the day on 27 July, the 1st army Each quietly moved three columns in Smolensk, about what the French have not guessed. Woodland and counter the Palena concealed the departure of the Russian army, Napoleon found only on the morning of 28 July.
[edit] after bitvyFrancuzy couldn't understand where left the Russian army. Pursue her they could not. General Belliard to Napoleon's cavalry replied simply: "6 days of March, and the Cavalry to disappear." after meeting with military commanders, Napoleon decided to stop further promotion in Russia.
After the battle the French couldn't understand where left the Russian army. Pursue her they could not. General Belliard to Napoleon's cavalry replied simply: "6 days of March, and the Cavalry to disappear." after meeting with military commanders, Napoleon decided to stop further promotion in Russia.
He returned on 28 July at the headquarters in Vitebsk, Napoleon left his Sabre on the map with the words [3]:
Here I will! Here I have to look around, give the rest of the army and to Poland. The campaign of 1812, 1813, to complete the rest of the campaign. "Russian army reunited in Smolensk on August 3, soon forced Napoleon to change plans.
In a three-day battle in Vitebsk with the Russian side was killed, Maj.-Gen. failure of Okulov, learning about 3764 [4].
French losses are usually evaluated as equal Russian (3704, of which 300 prisoners), Brigadier General Roussel was killed.
The memory of this battle, immortalized in the Obelisk at the village of Ostrovno. The inscription on it reads:
"Here, on the battlefield, under the
Ostrovno, Kukovâčino,
Dobrejkoj 13-14/25-26/
July 1812, 9 thousand
a detachment of Russian troops under the command
also the generals
Count Osterman's Corps-Tolstoy and
Konovnicyna Stoicho der
would defend against 20-thousand-
Noah Napoleon's army than to
pečili free SOE-
dinenie 1st and 2nd Russian armies
the Smolensk "
