Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

by George F Nafziger

  In support of the retreating army, Pavlov had dispersed his cossacks in a chain of vedettes that stretched from Smolensk to Poretchie. They acted as the first line of defense against the advancing French. However, their job was more to warn of the French approach and to stop French scouting parties than to engage in serious battle.

  Barclay ordered Tuchkov III to lead a detachment formed with three cossack pulks, the Elisabethgrad Hussar Regiment, the 20th and 21st Jager Regiments, the Revel Infantry Regiment, and a horse battery to the vital crossroads at Loubino and, if possible, to advance along the route to Smolensk and support General Karpov, who was leading the cossacks forming the rear guard of the 2nd Army of the West. Tuchkov III departed at 8:00 P.M.

  Bagration had detached a small force under Generallieutenant Prince Gortchakov and posted it at Chein-Ostrog, four miles from Smolensk, where it remained until Barclay's forces arrived. It was with these troops that Tuchkov III established communications.

  The Russian retreat continued doggedly, and as Barclay's troops reached Gorbunovo, Ney and Nansouty's forces caught up with and engaged the head of the Russian column. The French hastened their advance and began to deploy to engage the Russians.

  The French appearance stopped Tuchkov Ill's movements to join Bagration and forced him to deploy along the main road in reaction to the French assault. The 20th Jagers were on the right of the main road and the 21st Jagers were on the left. Both occupied thickets, and between them the Russian rear guard deployed. The artillery company positioned itself on the road with the Revel Infantry Regiment, and the Elisabethgrad Hussars acted as a reserve. The three cossack regiments were detached to the left, towards the Dnieper, to watch for a French advance from that quarter.

  The 1st Cuirassier Division and the 3rd and 4th Infantry Corps had passed Loubino and were moving on Bredikhino. Tuchkov I, having succeeded in carrying out his orders and occupying the crossroads, sent the Leib Grenadier and the Count Arakcheyev Grenadier Regiments with six guns to reinforce the advanced guard of Tuchkov III.

  The 2nd Infantry Corps under Generallieutenant Baggovout was unable to follow the 3rd and 4th Infantry Corps. They were engaged by the French near Gorbunovo.

  The Battle of Loubino or Valoutina-Gora

  Barclay watched the French movement along the heights behind Gorbunovo and realized that it was important for him to hold that position if he was to pass the rest of his army to safety. He stopped the Tobolsk Infantry Regiment and four guns. He directed Wurttemberg to take and hold Gorbunovo with them. He called back the Bieloserk and Wilman-strand Infantry Regiments, as well as a squadron of the Isoum Hussar Regiment, and sent them to join Wurttemberg. Barclay then ordered Korff to hasten his march and pass part of his troops to Tschottkino, to the right, and to form a second line behind Wurttemberg's forces.

  Korff positioned himself between Tyczinina and Loubino. He placed his eight battalions on the plateau that overhung the main road. On his right he placed eight horse guns. Behind this artillery was the Leib Grenadier Regiment, as well as the Jeletz and Ekaterinburg Infantry Regiments. To their right, in a small woods, the Revel Infantry Regiment was posted and to their left were the 20th and 21st Jager Regiments. Behind the jagers was a battalion of converged grenadiers and a battalion of the Revel Infantry Regiment. The rest of the infantry was posted further to the left on the heights. The Bourtirki and Rilsk Infantry Regiment were in a village.

  Count Orlov-Denisov was on the extreme left, towards Martino. His forces consisted of the Elisabethgrad, Soum, and Mariuopol Hussar Regiments, two squadrons of the Isoum Hussar Regiment, and four horse guns. Karpov's cossacks were posted before the Russian left wing, near Goumninczino and Martino. The Russian advanced guard totaled about 5,000 men and was positioned behind the Stragan River, in support of Wurttemberg's forces.

  Wurttemberg's forces were posted as follows: a battalion of the Tobolsk Infantry Regiment, under Major Baron Wolf, occupied the wooded heights above Gorbunovo. A battalion of the Wilmanstrand Infantry Regiment was placed in the brush along the small stream that ran between Gorbunovo and the road to Moscow. This stream was dry at the time and represented only a minor obstacle to the French. Wurttemberg burned the bridge over it and placed the other battalion of the Wilmanstrand Infantry Regiment with two guns to hold what remained of the bridge.

  The advancing forces of Ney's corps stopped and placed a battery to face the two Russian pieces across the stream. Several battalions from this column, including Razout's division and the Portuguese Legion among them, moved to the left against Gorbunovo and towards the heights where Major Wolf was positioned. The Tobolsk Infantry Regiment and a battalion of the Bieloserk Infantry Regiment formed a column that attacked the French left. The French were pushed back, but returned to engage the Russians in a firefight. The battalion of Major Wolf had taken position in an old fortification on the height. It protected his troops from much of the effect of the French fire, and he held off the French attacks from noon until about 2:00 P.M.

  Ney formed his forces as follows, from left to right: Ledru's 10th Division, Marchand's 25th Division, Razout's 11th Division. Their force covered approximately a league. Razout's division concentrated its efforts on a village which covered the Russian left.

  Despite all the time that had elapsed during this initial phase of the battle, the Russian train had still not passed the crossroads. The jam was such that Wurttemberg suggested erecting a second bridge over the Stragan stream. A squadron of hussars was dismounted, at Lowen-stern's direction, and set to tearing down houses to provide materials for the pioneers, under Baron Salza, raising this new bridge. The second bridge was eventually raised and greatly alleviated the jam at the stream.

  The grind of the heavy traffic tore up the crude Russian road, making it impassable in many places. The holes were filled with corduroy and fascines to permit the artillery and other wheeled traffic to pass. The gunners and drivers, encouraged by Count Kutaisov, dragged their guns and wagons forward with superhuman effort. Not a single gun or wagon was abandoned.

  The French efforts increased, and eventually Wurttemberg was forced to order Wolf's lone battalion to withdraw. Before he could pull back, the French launched a renewed attack on Gorbunovo. They captured the two guns guarding the burnt bridge. The Bieloserk Infantry Regiment charged forward and recaptured the guns. Wolf took advantage of this distraction to move his battalion into and retake Gorbunovo. However, he was caught by the Wurttemberg chevauxlégers and sabered.

  At 3:00 P.M. a battalion of converged grenadiers from the 3rd Division was sent forward by General Tuchkov and took up position behind the Stragan.

  The rearguard was forced to recoil behind the Stragan River, but at 4:00 P.M. Barclay led forward a 12pdr battery, a battalion of Volhynie Infantry Regiment, and two hussar regiments: Elisabethgrad and Isoum. He returned the Bieloserk and Wilmanstrand Infantry Regiments to the 2nd Infantry Corps. The 3rd and 4th Infantry Corps had reached Loubino, but Baggovout and Korff were too far to the rear to intervene quickly. The Russian baggage was jamming the crossroads, making their intervention even more difficult. Barclay deployed his forces and ordered Yermo-lov to bring forward the 3rd and 4th Infantry Corps. He had a total of sixteen battalions organized behind the Stragan. The 4th Infantry Corps gradually took up position as the Jeletz, Rilsk, and Ekaterinburg Infantry Regiments fell into position. The 3rd Infantry Corps had moved out along the main road a half hour before the 4th Corps,

  After the highway crossed the Stragan, it passed across the southern end of a low, wooded plateau that extended to the north for two miles. South of the road was a dry marsh that extended to the Dnieper. On the numerous low hills that rose out of this marsh were several hamlets and copses. One of these villages which dominated the road was occupied by the Russians.

  Konovnitzin's 3rd Division and Tchoglokov's 11th Division arrived, bringing a total of seven new regiments and a horse battery with them. Tchoglokov's forces moved forward to support the hussars of Count Orlov-Deniso
v while Konovnitzin's infantry moved to the center of the field. A battalion of converged grenadiers from the 3rd Division joined the battalion of the Count Arakcheyev Grenadier Regiment, which was placed on a hill to the left, behind a woods near Boubleievo. Boubleievo was occupied by the Rilsk Infantry Regiment, and Karpov and his cossacks were now near Goumniczino and Martino.

  The left of the Russian position was covered by a swampy valley formed by the Samili stream and a large swamp to its left. This stream cut the Russian position. It was impossible for the Russians to pull behind the Samili without uncovering the road to Gorbunovo, which was on the left bank of the Samili. Besides uncovering the critical road, such a move would also expose the flanks of Baggovout and Korff. Similarly, if the heights to the left were abandoned, the French could threaten the Russian line of retreat.

  The Russians were posted across this terrain as follows: the 1st Artillery Brigade was on the heights to the north of the main road such that they swept it with their fire. To their right and rear were the Guard Grenadier Regiments, Metz and Ekaterinburg Infantry Regiments held in column. On the extreme right the Revel Infantry Regiment held the woods near Greitschichki, with a battalion of the Count Arakcheyev Grenadier Regiment in support. To the left of the road the 2nd, 20th, and 22nd Jager Regiments, under the command of Generalmajor Chakow-ski, defended a swamp. Posted behind them was a battalion of converged grenadiers from the 3rd Division and a battalion of the Count Arakcheyev Grenadier Regiment.

  Learning of a pending attack and its specific targets from two Wurttem-berg deserters, Orlov-Denisov hastily moved the 1st Cavalry Corps from Bredikhino and placed it behind the swamp. To the south of the swamp, Tuchkov established himself with the Soum, Elisabethgrad, and Mariuo-pol Hussars and two squadrons of the Isoum Hussar Regiments, a total of twenty-six squadrons, and four horse guns. These squadrons were formed in four lines at the interval of a squadron within a half musket shot of the thick bush to their front. The horse artillery was posted on a small knoll to their right. Five cossack pulks and two squadrons of the Isoum Hussar Regiment were posted on their left wing.

  Once Orlov-Denisov had these dispositions prepared, he called on Barclay to send him some more horse artillery and a brigade of infantry to cover his right.

  Around 5:00 P.M. the French III Corps arrived. Ney's first attack consisted of Ledru and Razout's divisions. The Wiirttemberg artillery engaged the Russian center. The initial French frontal attacks failed. The 3rd Division advanced on the right of the IH Corps. The 7th Légère Regiment crossed the first stream supported by two battalions of the 21st Line Regiment. It succeeded in seizing a foothold, but could not take the plateau. A little later the 12th Line Regiment joined it. The French then attempted a flanking move through the swamp to take the Russian battery there. The 20th and 21st Jager Regiments stopped them, while the converged grenadiers of the 3rd Division and the Count Arak-cheyev Grenadier Regiment counterattacked, driving the French back.

  At the same time, Ney stopped his corps behind the heights of Tebenkova. French cavalry moved across the stream in front of the Wilmanstrand Infantry Regiment and attacked the Russian skirmishers. Wiirttemberg had only a single squadron of the Isoum Hussar Regiment to counter this. The Russian hussars attacked successfully, probably because the French cavalry was disordered as a result of the thick brush in which they were operating. The French withdrew.

  General of Infantry Docturov was pleased by the hussars' and Strogo-noff's attacks. However, his pleasure was short-lived. A French battery opened fire from across the Dnieper and began to inflict casualties on his forces as heavy columns of French infantry advanced against his center. The advancing forces were General Gudin's 3rd Division, I Corps. Generals Ledru and Marchand moved their divisions in support.

  The 3rd Division advanced in columns by peloton. The 7th Légère Regiment led the column, followed by the 12th, 21st, and 127th Line Regiments. General Gudin personally led the 7th Légère Regiment across the stream and was struck by a cannon shot that broke both legs, killing him. Command passed to General Gerard. When the French saw that Gudin, a favorite, had fallen, they charged furiously and drove the Russian infantry from its positions to the south of the road. This threatened to break Barclay's thin position. He countered by sending Konovnitzin's four infantry regiments forward. He reinforced the left with the Ekaterino-slav Grenadier Regiment and sent the Pernau and Polotsk Infantry Regiments and a company of horse artillery to the right to support the cavalry on that wing. The 1st Cavalry Corps was ordered to deploy on the heights in front of Doukhovskoie, to the right of the Kexholm Infantry Regiment, all that remained of the 4th Corps reserve near Loukanovo. The Pavlov, Tauride, and St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiments were organized into the last reserve and posted near Loubino with three artillery companies.

  The attack of the French 3rd Division was paralleled with an attack by Razout's 11th Division, III Corps. He pushed back the Rilsk Infantry and began pushing the 20th and 21st Jager Regiments. This French thrust was countered and stopped by an attack by a battalion of converged grenadiers from the 3rd Division and a battalion of the Rilsk Infantry.

  In addition to Razout and Gudin's attack, the French cavalry attacked the cossacks and Soumy Hussar Regiment, driving them back. Orlov-Denisov counterattacked with the Elisabethgrad and Mariuopol Hussar Regiments, striking the French in the flank and driving them back. Yermo-lov advanced the 3rd and 4th Infantry Corps to assist Tuchkov I and the 1st Cuirassier Division while they crossed Loubino and took up new positions behind and to the left of the Kixholm Infantry Regiment.

  The French 3rd and 11th Divisions renewed their attacks, with the 10th and 25th Divisions in reserve. They attacked the Russian center, but Konovnitzin's fresh infantry, the Mourmonsk, Tchemigov, and Kor-porsk Infantry Regiments, counterattacked with bayonets and drove them back. Davout renewed the attack again, only to be repulsed with heavy casualties.

  The Russian 2nd Infantry Corps arrived at 7:00 P.M. with the rear guard of Baron Korff. The 17th Division, which was at the head of this column, moved to the right wing, and the 4th Division was placed in reserve behind it. Their rear guard was positioned near Kochaevo. This completed the flank movement of the Russian army.

  In the center and on the French left, Marshal Ney sent the Wurttemberg light brigade forward in skirmish order with two line brigades in support. The other brigades of the III Corps took the same formation, and a general assault began. Three times this formation attacked the Russians until night had long since fallen.

  On the main route General Gerard reinforced his line with three battalions of the 21st and 127th Line Regiments and resumed the attack, but night also forced him to stop his attacks.

  At about 9:00 P.M. night fell and the French 3rd Division crossed the ravine once again to attack the Russian right wing. It was thrown back by Tuchkov III, commanding the Ekaterinoslav Grenadier Regiment. Tuchkov was wounded and taken prisoner.

  Further to the right, Junot's Westphalian corps had been resolutely advancing through the day. From Stubna the high road turned left and ascended some heights to avoid the swamps and tributaries of the Dnieper. There was a shorter side road that ran straight across these obstacles and rejoined the main road behind the plateau of Valoutina. While Ney was pursuing the Russians down the main road, Junot crossed the Dnieper at Prudichevo and took this side road. An aggressive attack on Junot's part would have assured a decisive victory for Ney, as the Russians were heavily engaged to their front by Ney. Junot's attack would have struck their rear, and they would have been lost. As they rushed to escape the pincer movement they would have had to pass through several narrow defiles, and the resulting confusion would have resulted in their complete destruction.

  Murat, judging Junot had had sufficient time to arrive in his assigned position, grew concerned when he did not hear Junot's attack. On seeing the firmness of the Russians before him, Murat realized that Junot had not attacked. He plunged into the woods at the head of a small escort until he arrived a
t Junot's headquarters. Murat's wrath descended upon the hapless Junot, who only whined that he had no orders to attack, that his Westphalian cavalry was shy, its efforts feigned, and that it could not be brought to charge the Russians.

  Murat finally bullied Junot into acting and sent two light infantry battalions, the Guard Chevauxléger Regiment, both hussar regiments, the Guard Grenadier Battalion, the Jàger-Karabinier Battalion, and the Guard Jàger Battalion forward. This attack was supported by the fire of two batteries. This force moved out of the woods on the east of Bableveja. The voltigeur companies of the 1st and 2nd Jàger Battalions were detached and formed a skirmish line behind which the remainder of the Westphalians advanced. They advanced against a birch woods that was filled with Russian skirmishers. Behind this copse stood the main Russian army on an open plain.

  While the voltigeurs engaged the Russian skirmishers, they were struck in the flank by a column of cossacks, the Elisabethgrad Hussar Regiment, and two squadrons of the Isoum Hussar Regiment moving up from the Russian left wing. The voltigeurs of the 2nd Jàger Battalion fell back to the right and escaped the attack, but those of the 1st Jàger Battalion were not so lucky. Captain Bucher formed his company into square and engaged the Russians with peloton fire. The cossacks engaged this tiny band and tried to crush it.

  Hammerstein, the commander of the Westphalian cavalry, formed his cavalry into echelons and struck the superior force of Russian cavalry. His attack was not very successful. The Guard Chevauxléger Regiment lost one dead and seven wounded officers, thirty-six dead and ninety-three wounded men, and five prisoners.