"The Russians showed in this case unshakable courage and fearlessness." First Battle of Polotsk

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"The Russians showed in this case unshakable courage and fearlessness." First Battle of Polotsk

Persecution by the horse guards of the French horse rangers near Polotsk on August 6, 1812. F. A. Chirka


Before the battle


After the battle on the river Svolne (Defeat of Oudinot on the Svolna River) French troops retreated to Polotsk, where they were located before the start of the offensive. On August 1 (13), 1812, Count Wittgenstein, who was absent due to illness, took command of the 1st Russian Corps from Dovre. He decided to pursue the enemy. On the same day, the corps was reinforced by a 3-strong detachment of Gamen.



On August 2 (14), Russian troops launched an offensive. Two vanguards moved forward: the first - under the command of Major General Gelfreich (4 battalions of the 25th and 26th Jaeger regiments, a light company, 4 squadrons of the Grodno Hussars and three hundred Cossacks); the second - under the leadership of Colonel Vlastov (4 battalions of the 24th Jaeger Regiment and consolidated grenadiers of the 5th division, 4 squadrons of the Grodno Hussars, two hundred Cossacks with 6 guns). Gelfreich went to Volyntsy, Vlastov's detachment - to Sivoshin, and was supposed to threaten the right wing of the enemy, his communications with Polotsk. The main body of the corps, consisting of 37 battalions, 15 squadrons with 80 guns, went to Volyntsy following the vanguard of Gelfreich.

The French commander Oudinot, having received a message about the movement of the enemy, withdrew his corps to Lozovka, and Saint-Cyr ordered the Bavarians to go to Sivoshino in order to cover the road from Sebezh to Polotsk. On August 3, Gelfreich forced the enemy to retreat near the village of Smolyanov. Vlastov forced the Drissa and stopped at the Boyarshchina, close to the Wrede division, which was stationed near the village of Bely.

Wittgenstein, to cover his right flank, sent a detachment of Prince Repnin - the Consolidated Cuirassier Regiment, two battalions of the Consolidated Jaeger Regiment and 2 guns. The detachment was supposed to destroy the bridge across the Dvina. The Russians forced the enemy to retreat across the river. The cavalry crossed the river, occupied Disna, destroyed supplies weapons and bridge. Then Repnin's detachment returned to the main forces.

On the night of 3/4 (15–16) August, Oudinot's 2nd Corps retreated to Polotsk. The French, after the failure at Svolna, believed that the Russians had an advantage in strength. The 6th Corps of Saint-Cyr also received an order to go to Polotsk. The retreat mixed the French troops, they came to Polotsk in disarray, experiencing great supply problems. Thus, the Bavarian corps lost 2 thousand people during the days of retreat (deserters, stragglers and sick), reducing to 11 thousand people.

Corps Wittgenstein also went to Polotsk. Along the way, up to 1,5 thousand people were captured. The Russians had the best supply, from the rear base in Pskov, where large stocks of provisions, fodder and ammunition were concentrated. There were advanced supply bases in Sebezh and Lutsin. From there, supplies were delivered to the army, and stores were replenished from the main warehouses in Pskov and Ostrov.


Portrait of Yegor Ivanovich Vlastov (1769–1837) by George Dawe. Military gallery of the Winter Palace

Disposition of forces


On August 4 (16), 1812, Oudinot held a military council. They decided where to take the fight: on the right bank of the Western Dvina or retreat to the left bank. As a result, they accepted the compromise proposal of Saint-Cyr: to move across the river in favorable conditions if the Russians do not push; if the Russians attack, then accept the battle, since crossing the river under enemy attacks could lead to disaster. The French hoped that the Russians would not push too hard and that they would be able to force the river without problems.

However, the Russian commander, influenced by recent successes, decided to attack. Although it was known about the numerical advantage of the enemy: against 20 thousand Russians there were at least 30 thousand French and Bavarians. The advanced detachment of Gelfreich began the offensive on August 4, before the end of the council at Oudinot. The Russian battalions, after a 3-hour firefight, hit with bayonets and pushed the French back by the morning of August 5 (17) from the forest, occupied the town of Prismenitsa and opened communication with Vlastov. The French division general Verdier was wounded.

The French retreated to the city. On the left wing, on the right side of the Polota River, stood Legrand's 6th Infantry Division, reinforced by one regiment from Verdier's 8th Division and part of Corbino's light cavalry brigade from Oudinot's 2nd Corps. The remaining troops of the Oudinot corps have already crossed to the left side of the Dvina: the 8th and 9th infantry divisions of Verdier and Merle, the 3rd heavy (cuirassier) cavalry division of Dumerka, the light cavalry brigade of Castex and all the artillery, except for a few light guns left on left flank. The troops of the Saint-Cyr corps (19th and 20th divisions of Deroy and Wrede), with most of the Corbino cavalry brigade, were located on the right wing, on the left bank of the Polota. Both buildings were connected by bridges. Thus, Oudinot had about 19 thousand soldiers in position in front of the city and the forces at the beginning of the battle were approximately equal.

On the morning of August 5 (17), 1812, the Russian advanced forces left the forest for open areas. Peter Khristianovich, having information about the superiority of the enemy forces, wanted to force the French to retreat beyond the Dvina by active demonstrations. In order to disorientate the enemy, the engineers had to build crossings on the Dvina, 4 versts below the city and above - on the river. Polota.

The main forces of the corps were built between the Dvina and Polota. On the right flank of the 1st line, there were 3 jaeger regiments (23rd, 25th and 26th) and the Life Dragoon reserve squadron with 6 guns. In the center were eight battalions of the Kaluga, Sevsky, Consolidated Infantry Regiments, the Life Hussar reserve squadron with 33 guns. On the left wing there were four battalions of the Perm and Mogilev regiments with 6 guns, as well as Vlastov's avant-garde - the 24th Chasseur Regiment, two Consolidated Grenadier Battalions, four squadrons of the Grodno Hussars and the Leib-Ulan reserve squadron.

The 2nd line under the command of the commander of the 14th Infantry Division Sazonov consisted of nine battalions, almost the entire cavalry and 42 guns. Nine battalions and part of the Yamburg and Riga dragoon regiments were in reserve under the command of the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division Kakhovskiy.


Source: A. I. Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky. Description of the Patriotic War of 1812

The first day


The attack was launched by Vlastov's vanguard with the support of part of the main forces: the 2nd brigade from the 5th division of General Sibirsky (Perm and Mogilev regiments). The main blow was inflicted on the village of Spas, between the center and the right flank of the enemy. The French commander, fearing the separation of his troops from the corps of Saint-Cyr, advanced Legrand's division and transferred part of the 20th Wrede division to the right side of the Polota River. The Russian command, having discovered the movement of large enemy forces beyond the Spas, instructed the commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Major General Berg, to go to the aid of the advanced forces.

The French, believing that the Russian center was weakened, attacked here with Legrand's division. But General Gamen, who commanded parts of the 14th division in the center, repulsed the French attack. Then the second attack of the enemy was repulsed. The battalions of the 2nd line came to the rescue. Oudinot was seriously wounded in this battle and transferred command to Saint-Cyr.

The French tried several more times to overturn the Russian troops, but were repelled by Russian artillery. Of the 9 battalions of the second line, 7 entered the battle. On their right flank, the French were able to recapture the village of Spas, but their further attacks were stopped by units of Berg's division. The shooting continued until dark. On the left flank, the battle was limited to artillery fire. The Russians kept their positions. During the night the fighting stopped.

On the same day, our engineers, under the leadership of Sievers, erected a bridge on the Dvina below Polotsk. 2 battalions were stationed here. At night, sappers built another bridge, 4 versts above the city. The appearance of preparing to bypass the French army from the flanks was created.


Source: A.I. Popovyu. First battle of Polotsk (fighting on the Western Dvina in July-August 1812). M., 2010.

Second day


On the night of August 5-6 (17–18), 1812, Saint-Cyr gathered a council of war and proposed to go on the offensive with all his might. The commanders agreed, but suggested that the attack be postponed until 16 p.m., as the troops were tired and unable to fight all day. Saint-Cyr did not fall for the trick of being outflanked.

Wittgenstein, having information about the withdrawal of part of the enemy forces to the other side of the Dvina, decided to continue the battle. He believed that the enemy would soon leave the city, leaving only the rearguard there. Saint-Cyr, by the movement of his troops, was able to maintain this delusion.

The French, having carried out a strong artillery preparation, launched a strong attack in the center on the right flank. The blow was unexpected for the Russians, who were waiting for the enemy to withdraw, but they quickly recovered.

“The Russians,” Saint-Cyr noted, “showed in this matter unshakable courage and fearlessness, of which we find few examples in the troops of other peoples. Their battalions, taken by surprise, disunited one from the other, at our first attack, were not upset and continued to fight, retreating extremely slowly and defending from all sides with such courage, which, I repeat, is characteristic only of Russians. They performed miracles of courage, but could not withstand the simultaneous pressure of four divisions ... "

The battle was extremely fierce, firefight at close range turned into hand-to-hand combat. Russian reserves counterattacked and drove the enemy back. The French again went forward and pressed our troops. In the center, the French captured 7 guns, the rest of our gunners were able to save. In the center there was a threat of an enemy breakthrough. General Gamen was able to hold the front. Gradually, however, the divisions of Legrand and Verdier pushed the Russians back into the forest. On the right flank, units of Berg and Vlastov also retreated under strong pressure from the enemy.

But on the Russian right flank, General Balk discovered the movement of enemy artillery under the cover of cavalry. Our cavalry (cuirassiers, dragoons and hussars) struck. The light brigade of Kobrino was defeated, and the artillerymen were killed. Then our cavalry overturned a regiment of French cuirassiers and drove the enemy to the outskirts of Polotsk. This flashy cavalry charge stopped the advance of Merle's division and Dumerk's cuirassier division. The French were forced to hold back the troops and could not complete the success in the center. While Saint-Cyr brought order to the troops, time was lost. Parts of Berg and Gamen withdrew to Ropna, Gelfreich's detachment covered them. On August 7 (19), the French and Bavarians remained in Polotsk and could not advance.

The Russian corps lost about 5,5 thousand people in two days of battle. Among the wounded were Generals Grigory Maksimovich Berg, Kirill Fedorovich Kazachkovsky and Alexander Yuryevich Gamen. The French lost up to 6 thousand people (total losses). Marshal Oudinot, generals Deroy (who died soon after), Valentin, Raglovich and Vicenti were wounded. For successful actions, the French emperor Napoleon awarded Saint-Cyr with a marshal's baton.

The first battle for Polotsk did not have important operational and strategic consequences. Both sides fought bravely and courageously, suffered heavy losses and could not achieve a convincing victory. For the next two months, both sides in the northern direction were inactive, having no superior forces to crush the enemy's resistance.


Portrait of Alexei Yuryevich Gamen (1773-1829) by George Dow. Military gallery of the Winter Palace
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  1. +6
    18 August 2022 09: 55
    Great follow-up, thanks Alexander! What good fellows are our Russian cavalrymen of General Balk, that's what a deep massive flank strike means! Decided the fate of the battle. But our infantrymen, the grenadiers with the rangers in the center, did not let us down either, they held out to the end.

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