First Battle of Polotsk

In the First Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot near the city of Polotsk, halting Oudinot's advance toward Saint Petersburg.[5] The First Battle of Polotsk should be distinguished from the Second Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.[6]

First Battle of Polotsk
Part of the French invasion of Russia (1812)
Date17–18 August 1812
Location
Polotsk, Russian Empire
Result Russian tactical victory
Belligerents

French Empire

 Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr
Nicolas Oudinot (WIA)		 Peter Wittgenstein
Strength
18,000–44,000 men[1][2][3]
150 guns[4][1]		 17,000–20,000 men[1][2][3]
98 guns[4][1]
Casualties and losses
2,500–6,000[4][1][3]

5,500[4][1][3]

1,800–4,000 killed and wounded[4][3]
1,200–1,500 captured[4][3]
14 guns[4][3]

Events

After the battle of Klyastitsy and several minor losses, Oudinot's Corps retreated to Polotsk. In the early morning of 17 August, the 1st Infantry Corps led by Wittgenstein attacked the French positions near the village of Spas, forcing the French to retreat. Oudinot transported additional units to the sector of the attack and also counterattacked in the centre. By the night both the French and the Russians managed to keep their positions. Oudinot was wounded and had to hand over the command to Gouvion Saint-Cyr.

The next morning Gouvion Saint-Cyr undertook a major offensive. He managed to mislead Wittgenstein about the area of the offensive, regroup his troops and suddenly attack the left flank and centre of the Russian positions. In the beginning the offensive was a major success, the French troops crushed the Russians and captured seven cannons.

When defeat seemed imminent, Wittgenstein organized a cavalry counterattack. It caused a scare among the French, who ceased the offensive and retreated. Wittgenstein retreated to the Drissa. For the next two months both the French and the Russians did not attempt to upset the balance of powers. Wittgenstein managed with his much smaller force effectively halted two french corps trying to advance to Saint Petersburg, which deed later gave him russian general-in-chief post.

French-Bavarian losses numbered 6,000 killed, wounded. The Russians lost 5,500. Bavarian general officer losses were heavy. General of Infantry Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy was mortally wounded and General-Major Siebein was killed. General-Majors Vincenti and Raglovitch were both wounded. Among the French, both Oudinot and General of Brigade François Valentin were wounded. Russian Generals Berg, Hamen, and Kazatchkowski suffered wounds.[7]

19th century Russian lithograph depicting Wittgenstein's Chevalier-Guardsmen fighting the first battle of Polotsk.

See also

Citations
  1. Bodart 1908, p. 435.
  2. Nafziger 1988, p. 146.
  3. Clodfelter 2017, p. 162.
  4. Nafziger 1988, p. 157.
  5. Wittgenstein, Peter Khristianovich Napoleon.org
  6. Hugh Seton-Watson (1967). The Russian Empire, 1801-1917: 1801-1917. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-822152-5.
  7. Smith, Digby. The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill, 1998. ISBN 1-85367-276-9, 386–387

References
  • Bodart, G. (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905).CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Clodfelter, M. (2017). Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492-2015 (4th ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0786474707.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Nafziger, George (1988). Napoleon's Invasion of Russia. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-322-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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