Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

by George F Nafziger

  The Russians assumed a new position between Ropno and Presse-menitza that night. On the 22nd they resumed their withdrawal, moving on Sivochina and Tokolitchie Tchitar on the right bank of the Drissa.

  The French pursuit had been weak, not intended to punish, but merely to gather in some more fruits of the battle. The first battle of Polotsk was over. Though St. Cyr's 77 battalions, 36 squadrons, and 150 guns had defeated Wittgenstein's 45 battalions, 27 squadrons, and 98 guns, it was an inconclusive battle. The French lost about 2,000 dead and wounded, as well as about 500 prisoners. The Russians lost about 3,000, including 1,200 prisoners and 14 guns. It had been a heavy battle for the Bavarian artillery, which had fired 153 12pdr shot, 10 12pdr cannister, 1,374 6pdr shot, 132 6pdr cannister, 534 howitzer shells, and 30 howitzer cannister rounds.

  The pursuit began on the 22nd in earnest. Around 4:00 P.M., General Wrede arrived before the new Russian positions. He encountered Vlastov's detachment near Belaia. The Russian infantry fire disordered the Bavarian main attack. Only the Bavarian attack on the Russian left continued its advance.

  The Bavarian flanking maneuver advanced to the Belaia farm and threatened to turn their flank. However, Colonel Silin and two squadrons of the Grodno Hussars charged and threw them back. Colonel Roth and the 26th Jagers chased those who had succeeded in occupying the farm out of their positions as well. Vlastov pushed back the Bavarian left and center. The Bavarian right still maneuvered to turn the Russian flank. Its attack was stopped by Colonel Rudiger at the head of a squadron of the Grodno Hussars and the Platov #4 Cossacks. The failing light favored the Bavarians and allowed them to withdraw, leaving 153 prisoners and 500 dead and wounded. The Russians claim to have lost only ninety-four men.

  Having established himself, Wittgenstein began to erect field fortifications to protect his position near Sivochina, and he fortified Sebije as well. He established his magazine, artillery park, and depots in Sebije. The French under General St. Cyr did the same, beginning construction of a massive series of earthworks around Polotsk.

  Southern Operations

  South of the main army, Schwarzenberg maneuvered against the Russian 3rd Army of the West. Napoleon directed that Schwarzenberg detach a small force of 4,000 men to operate behind his force and the main army under Napoleon. Schwarzenberg was not happy about having to detach more of his cavalry in face of an enemy he knew was decidedly his superior in that arm. He had disobeyed Napoleon's earlier order to close with the main French army and moved to support Reynier after the disaster at Kobrin. However, this time he did not disobey.

  He detached Mohr's forces, which consisted of two battalions of the de Ligne Infantry Regiment, the Hesse-Homberg Hussar Regiment, a detachment of 200 horse, a company of jàgers, two companies of the Beaulieu Infantry Regiment that had been detached earlier to Kleist, and an eight-gun 3pdr battery. Mohr was to maintain contact with both Schwarzenberg and Napoleon, who was on the Dnieper at this time. In addition, he was to march on Pinsk and determine the strength of the Russian forces in Volhynie before Schwarzenberg and Reynier invaded the region.

  Tormassov maneuvered his 3rd Army of the West in the face of the Austro-Saxon forces. He detached General Knorring with the Tartar Uhlan Regiment and a force of cossacks to advance into Poland and disconcert the French rear.

  His advance did that and even more. His advance on Warsaw stirred the city into a state of panic. Efforts were made to raise a national guard and use them to engage Knorring. Eventually, General Loison, the commander of Koenigsberg, was obliged to advance to Rastenberg with a force of 10,000 infantry. Warsaw was calmed, and Knorring rejoined Tormassov.

  The advancing Austro-Saxon forces were beginning to threaten Tor-massov's magazines in Prujany, so he adjusted his maneuvers to increase the level of pressure against the Austrians in an effort to slow their advance. Schwarzenberg and Reynier were confused about the strength of Tormassov's army. They knew that he had at least three infantry divisions, two cavalry divisions and a third force of new levees. Knowing the approximate size of the Russian forces, Schwarzenberg was surprised when Reynier said that he no longer required the support of the Austrian Hilfkorps. Schwarzenberg began to draw away, but was not moving quickly. He preferred to linger until he had firm information on the Russian strength and their positions. He sent out numerous reconnaissance forces to probe ahead of his advancing columns. For the most part, the Russian forces withdrew before him, drawing back on Prujany.

  The Battle of Gorodetschna or Prujany

  General Frelich encountered a small Russian cavalry force consisting of a few squadrons of the Vladimir Dragoon Regiment, the Loubny Hussar Regiment, and some cossacks near Tychin and Gorecz. They were quickly driven back, and Frelich located a large Russian camp containing infantry, cavalry, and artillery before him. He sent four squadrons of the Kaiser Hussar Regiment between Tychin and Gorecz, a squadron of the Blankenstein Hussar Regiment towards Prodosie, and held two more squadrons in reserve near the Bluden farm. A short skirmish developed and Captain Schage of the Kaiser Hussar Regiment charged with a half-squadron, driving back 200 Russian cavalry.

  The Russians renewed their withdrawal, with the Austrians in pursuit, until they encountered a large Russian force at Seghnevitschi. This force consisted of General Tschlapitz' two light cavalry regiments, three infantry battalions, and twenty-four guns. Two miles behind him was Tormassov. Kamenski was posted nearby in the village of Janov.

  The Russians advanced their light cavalry and some infantry against Frelich's flank. Frelich sent two dispatches to Schwarzenberg that morning, and Schwarzenberg sent Siegenthal's division forward to support Frelich. Two battalions of the Catulinski Infantry Regiment were moved into Gorecz.

  At 2:00 P.M. Schwarzenberg gave the order to attack Seghnevitschi. Frelich's brigade was to attack its right with Frimont's division advancing behind him. The principal attack would be by Mayer's brigade and consist of two battalions of the Catulinski and a battalion of the Czartorski Infantry Regiments. Mayer was to move on the left, detouring the swamps, in an effort to approach the village unobserved.

  The battle was a disappointment, as the Russians withdrew after offering very little resistance. However, during their withdrawal the Austrian artillery extracted some casualties. The Austrians lost only two officers and six men dead, sixteen wounded, two prisoners, twenty horses killed, and twelve horses wounded.

  As the Austro-Saxon forces resumed their advance, Tormassov took up a position halfway between Prujany and Kobrin in an effort to stop Reynier. Schwarzenberg and Reynier were anxious to avenge Kobrin and advanced on him rapidly. There were 13,000 Saxons and 25,000 Austrians facing Tormassov's 18,000 Russians.

  Schwarzenberg directed Trautenberg to move from Oniceviczi against Prujany on the road from Malets. As he crossed the heights of Pavloviczi he heard a strong cannonade coming from the direction of Prujany. This was the Saxons moving on Vele Selo and engaging the Russians they'd encountered there. Trautenberg reacted by detaching two squadrons of the Kienmayer Hussar Regiment and two guns to establish contact with Reynier while the rest of the Austrian column hurried its advance towards the battle.

  As the Austrians crossed the last ridge separating them from Prujany, they sent the Austrian 5th Jàger Battalion into the forest along the road. They were supported by the St. George Grenz, who deployed into the forest to the left. Both swept the forest clear of Russians.

  The Kienmayer Hussar Regiment advanced in column towards Prujany and crossed the swamp to the left of the village with three squadrons to menace the flank and rear of the Russians. The rest of the regiment pushed directly into Prujany, supported by the fire of Lieutenant Schmidt's wurst battery. The Russians were forced to retire and destroyed the bridges behind them. Captain Grazer of the Austrian staff directed the rapid repair of the bridges. Once they were repaired, the pursuit resumed, until the hussars encountered formed Russian infantry.

  At 4:00 P.M. Trautenberg ordered his division to attack the defile at Kozebrod. Th
e brigade of Colonel von Suden led the attack with Pflacher's brigade in support. The rest of the division followed. Von Suden formed two small columns with his brigade. A company of the 5th Jàgers led one column formed with two companies of the St. George Grenz on the right of the road. The third division of the St. George Grenz advanced on the road with Lieutenant VenzFs 6pdr foot battery. Eight companies of the Beaulieu Infantry Regiment were positioned to act as an immediate reserve. A second reserve was formed with two battalions of the Duka Infantry Regiment. One was to the right and the other to the left of the first reserve.

  The fire began at 5:00 P.M. when the Austrian artillery began to provide covering fire for the advance of the 5th Jàger Battalion and the St. George Grenz Regiment against a hedgerow by Kozebrod. They captured two Russian guns posted by the hedgerow and drove back the Russian infantry. The terrain was difficult and made pursuit slow. The Russian artillery was able to position itself advantageously on the Horo-dezka heights, where it could shower shot upon the advancing Austrian infantry.

  Major Franquen directed three companies of the Beaulieu Infantry Regiment to counter a Russian attack on the Austrian flank. When his forces came under cannister fire, Trautenberg sent two, then three, more companies of the Beaulieu Infantry Regiment under the command of Major Troaf to support Franquen.

  As these troops were drawn from his reserve, Trautenberg sent the 1/Duka Infantry Regiment forward to take their place. Colonel Bakoney was sent with a company of his regiment to support the jàgers in their attack on the Kozebrod hedge. He then ordered forward the last three companies of 1/Duka Infantry Regiment.

  These last three companies advanced to the right side of a causeway that crossed the swamp, despite heavy cannister fire from the Russian batteries covering it. Lieutenant Pausner led his company forward. He drove the Russians out of a farm at bayonet point and seized it for himself.

  The Russians placed three guns and a battalion of infantry in the Drohovice farm in an effort to threaten the Austrian flank anew and nullify the effects of their attacks. Captain Hofmeister of the 5th Austrian Jàgers quickly led his company into the farm, supported by a platoon of the Duka Infantry Regiment, and drove the Russians out. It was only with the greatest effort that the Russians saved their guns.

  At 8:00 P.M. the Austrians forced the defile at Kozebrod and began to repair the broken bridge with their pioneers. The Russians had taken up new positions behind the stream, facing them at the fork in the road that led to Gorodetschna and Kaments.

  With the Austrian objectives achieved, the Austrian advanced posts were left to Colonel von Suden. A half-squadron of the O'Reilly Chevau-léger Regiment watched the road to Gorodetschna and Kaments, a company of the Warasdiner St. George Grenz was posted at the fork in the road, a company of jàgers was posted on the causeway by the hedge, another half-squadron of the O'Reilly Chevauléger and two companies of the Beaulieu Infantry Regiment were posted on the right of the road to Cherechev in a farm.

  In support of these forces, a battalion of the Beaulieu Infantry Regiment was posted on the right wing, two squadrons of the O'Reilly Che-vauxleger were posted in the center, two battalions of the Duka Infantry were in the rear, and on the left wing, near the causeway, were two companies of the 5th Jàger Battalion and five companies of the St. George Grenzer Regiment. The day's battle had cost the Austrians nineteen dead, ninety-nine wounded, and thirty-four missing.

  After his withdrawal, Tormassov had taken up a strong position and was awaiting his 13,000-man reserve. He was positioned such that his front and right flank were covered by a swamp that extended about three miles along the river whose waters formed it. There was a thick wood, nearly one and a half miles long, that continued to bend around to within two miles of the Kobrin road. This road was important to the Russians, as it formed their only line of retreat. However, it was dangerous to them because it passed through a bottleneck formed by the woods. The Russian position resembled a half moon and was approachable by three dry passes: the road from Kobrin to Prujany, the road from Pod-doubny which was not passable by artillery, and the road from Kobrin to Cherechev.

  Tormassov believed that the road from Kobrin to Prujany was the only likely line of assault and positioned his forces accordingly. He had positioned his forces such that his first line consisted of the Vladimir and Tambov Infantry Regiments. Behind them, forming a second line, stood the Dnieper and Kostroma Infantry Regiments. The 28th Jagers covered their wings, and the Starodoub and Taganrog Dragoon Regiments were posted on their left to observe the plain. Two twelve-gun batteries were placed to cover the river crossing and the swamp to the left.

  Realizing the strength of this position, Reynier and Schwarzenberg maneuvered to avoid what they knew could only be a bloody frontal assault. General Reynier suggested that they should maneuver to strike the Russian left flank and rear. Schwarzenberg agreed that it was the only reasonable approach to their problem and detached von Zechmeister's brigade to support the Saxon attack. Schwarzenberg later decided this wasn't enough and detached von Lilienberg's brigade as well, bringing the total to two chevauxléger and two hussar regiments sent to support the Austrians.

  The Saxons advanced, led by a battalion of the 1st Light Infantry, the Prinz Anton Infantry Regiment, two light batteries, the Saxon Polenz Chevauxléger, the Prinz Clemens Uhlans, and the Saxon Hussars. Behind them came von Zechmeister's brigade of the Hohenzollern and O'Reilly Chevauxlégers, General Le Coq's Saxon division, and Sahr's brigade. Siegenthal's Austrian division moved on the road to Poddoubny.

  The 2/2nd Saxon Light Infantry seized the crossing on the road to Te vele by a coup de main. Kamenski attacked and drove the light infantry back while he established a battery of twenty-four guns to hold the Austrians in check on the road to Poddoubny.

  Reynier personally directed the successful main attack along a dry passage. His advanced guard was primarily the Saxon light cavalry under the command of Baglez. The advanced guard passed over the marsh and stream. It entered and deployed from the woods onto the plain behind the Russian left. They were followed by the rest of the Saxons and Austrians under Reynier, who remained concealed in the forest until 11:00 A.M., when Zechmeister moved his brigade out and formed it into two lines. His move was supported by the Saxon artillery along the edge of the heights on which the forest stood. Zechmeister positioned his brigade such that there was sufficient space for the infantry to exit from the woods and safely deploy. The 2/1st Saxon Light Infantry occupied the forest along the edge of the swamp. The 1/1 st Saxon Light Infantry moved along the edge of the forest, and the Prinz Anton Regiment posted itself on the heights, to cover the passage of the rest of the infantry. A zug (platoon) of the 1st company, Saxon 1st Light Infantry, and the skirmishers of the Prinz Anton Regiment moved to the left, where they joined the 2/1st Light Infantry.

  The second Saxon Division remained in reserve in the forest while Lilienberg's brigade moved to the left of the 1st Saxon Division. The Saxons gradually spread along the ridge. Sahr's brigade, all that remained of the second division, assumed the critical position anchoring the Saxon left on the swamp where they had crossed. The Austrian general Bianchi assumed command of Lilienberg's brigade after Lilienberg was wounded and moved it to a position on Sahr's right. The center was held by Le Coq's 21st Saxon Division, and Zechmeister, who commanded Gablenz's Saxon light cavalry as well as his own brigade, held the extreme right of the Saxon army. Zechmeister was directed to move to the east and cut the single line of escape of the Russians: the road from Kobrin to Gorodetschna.

  Frimont positioned his forces across the river, facing Tormassov's position. He was in command of Trautenberg's division, Liechtenstein's brigade, two divisions of the Reisch Dragoons, two divisions of the Kienmayer Hussars, two Austrian wurst batteries, a 6pdr position battery, and a 12pdr position battery. Liechtenstein's brigade was formed in two lines. A division of the Reisch Dragoon Regiment was placed on the slope of the hill to the right of Liechtenstein. On their left were two battali
ons of the Duka Infantry Regiment and a twenty-gun battery on the heights.

  The Saxon maneuver surprised Tormassov, who had not suspected that the ground in the swamp would support such a move. His line facing the Austrians across the river consisted of the Vladimir and Tambov Infantry Regiments in the front line and the Dnieper and Kostroma Infantry Regiments in the second rank. A battalion of the 28th Jagers was posted on either flank. The Starodoub and Taganrog Dragoon Regiments were posted at right angles to the infantry with the Position Batteries #9 and #18 deployed before them.

  Tormassov saw and reacted to the Saxon move to his flank and rear. He stripped his right, leaving only the Riajsk Infantry Regiment, six guns of Position Battery #15, and the Tver Dragoon Regiment to watch the road to Gorodetschna. He positioned the Vladimir Infantry Regiment to watch the crossing at Poddoubny and moved the rest of his army to face the Saxons. Dnieper, Kostroma, and Tambov Infantry Regiments formed a line with the 28th Jagers on their left wing linking them to the Vladimir Infantry Regiment. On their right were the twenty-four 6pdr guns of Light Batteries #12 and #34. The Starodoub and Taganrog Dragoon Regiments formed behind them in echelon to the left.

  Tormassov ordered Generallieutenant Markoff's corps—Nacheburg, Koslov, and Vitebsk Infantry Regiments, 10th Jagers, four squadrons of the Tartar Uhlan Regiment, six 12pdr guns of Position Battery #15— to turn about and face the Saxons. Under heavy Saxon artillery fire, Markoff moved his forces to the ridge of hills that ran between the village of Poddoubny and the village of Zavnice so that they faced the Saxons. To his right Kamenski extended his forces—Dnieper, Kostroma, Tambov Infantry Regiments, and 22nd Jagers—to the river.