Chapter VI the Strategic Stalemate from End of August to Mid-October 1812

Chapter VI The Strategic Stalemate from End of August to mid-October 1812

“The Daily Life”

ollowing wounds received on For his part, Wittgenstein was August 17th, Oudinot was also forced to inaction because of the Fevacuated to Vilna and it was weakness of its Corps. It can be Gouvion St. Cyr who took command estimated that the Russian general the next day and won the battle. For had under his command, on the his victory on the 18th, he was evening of August 18, barely 12,000 appointed Marshal of the Empire by infantrymen, 2,200 horsemen and decree of August 27th, 1812. General 1,400 artillerymen. Because of the Maison, will be appointed general de weakness of his battalions, he will division on August 21st and will take have to reorganize them. For example, the head of the 8th infantry division. on August 25th, the six depot After the relatively shallow battalions of Grenadiers were merged attempt to pursue the Russians and into three battalions (Leib and the fighting of August 23rd, where the Arakseiev together, St Petersburg and Bavarian general Siebein was mortally Tauride, Pavlov and Ekaterinoslav). wounded, St. Cyr will remain quite The forces of Wittgenstein will inactive, concentrating his two corps increase quite regularly until the of army on Polotsk and its vicinity. His beginning of October: thanks to the forces declining steadily, he will return of the wounded, first; the strengthen (but with delay) his arrival of men from the depot of the positions by building some redoubts, regiments belonging to the 1st Corps, trying to form a sort of entrenched afterwards; and also because of the camp in front of the walls of Polotsk. arrival of some new units. On August It is true that the will of the Emperor 24th, two infantry depot battalions of has been executed: Wittgenstein has the guard (about 1,000 men) will been repulsed from the Dwina and he arrive at Siwochina; On the 26th, is unable to threaten the left flank or Rodianov’s Cossacks (a little less than the rear of the Grande Armée en route 400 cavalrymen) came to reinforce to Moscow. At least, for the moment… Wittgenstein. In early October, before the arrival of the great reinforcements promised by Kutusov on September © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

19th, Wittgenstein could already count The most affected men of this on about 22,000 men, 6,000 more dramatic situation will be the than the evening of August 18. What Bavarians. Indeed, according to the will be nearly the same numbers of St future general Marbot, during this Cyr at the same time. period of waiting and inaction, the The main Russian forces will French, the Swiss, the Croats, the stay in Siwochina. But Wittgenstein Portuguese will work tirelessly to will send cavalry everywhere to improve their conditions: they made oppose the French patrols and their quarters more salubrious, spent outposts (three squadrons of light treasure of ingenuity to provide cavalry at Velyj, for example; the supplies The Bavarians, demoralized, converged cuirassiers at Gramoscha, will make no serious effort to upgrade etc.). And his efforts will succeed their situation. It must be said that admirably in preventing the French they were already in a state of from obtaining good supplies. In exhaustion before the first battle of addition, the insecurity caused by Polotsk. And the deaths of generals these cavalry pickets will play an Deroy on August 23rd, and Siebein the important role in the morale of the next day, will not help to improve the Franco-Bavarians. morale of the Bavarian soldiers Thus, while the Russians will have no problem of supply, the Excerpt from a letter from Lorencez th scarcity of resources and the disease to Oudinot, September 5 : “Marshal St. Cyr often repeats to me were the common lot of the Gouvion that he hopes given back to you shortly, St Cyr forces and will induce a your II Corps. For him, we will have to find constant diminution of the Franco- a new, because his VI Corps is shortly, fully Bavarian forces. If St Cyr could still in the Dwina. It’s not an image; they have count on 32,000 men at the end of so much died, that they don’t bother August, there were only a little less burying them; they bowled them in the than 28,000 in mid-September. For river and the river rejected them on the banks; there is about 2,000 from here to the example, the Swiss were 2,825 levels of Ghamzeleva. Nothing is more combat-capable on September 15, deplorable than this, and what is not less while another 1,200 are in hospitals sad is that it is not permissible to warn M. and ambulances. de Wrede of the disorder of his hospitals, Then, before the second battle without rearing up.” of Polotsk, in mid-October, the On September 27th, in a letter to combat-capable forces of St Cyr fell to Oudinot, convalescing at Wilna, 22,000 men (about 2,000 of whom are General Maison wrote: “The Bavarians reinforcements). are no longer of this world.” Despite It can be seen that, on average, this, it seems that discipline was good more than 2,000 soldiers were lost per enough, because there was only one week (nearly 300 per day), between case of desertion noted in September the end of August and mid-October. among the Bavarians. But perhaps it

© 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series was because Bavarians had no force to Maison settled east of Polotsk, in desert and no expectation of success different villages or small castles quite of this act! It was not the case of other far from Polotsk (Sirotino, Ravno for units present: at the end of example). The advantage of these September, some 80 soldiers waited cantonments was that this area had for judgment for desertion, almost not undergone the passage of exclusively from the 128th (Hanseatic) numerous troops, unlike the north line and the Portuguese regiments. and north-west areas of Polotsk. The units of the 9th division Merle received Excerpt from a letter from a Swiss also several separated cantonments: rd soldier of the 3 Swiss infantry the 4th Swiss regiment was for instance st regiment, dated August 31 , 1812 assigned to guard the city of Polotsk, “Our Swiss regiments are reduced while the 1st and 2nd Swiss regiments to very little without having been often in action. The strongest would have had their quarters near Ghamzelovo difficulty in presenting 600 men under (practically in contact with the arms; Ours is the weakest. If our Colonel Russians); the 3rd Swiss was in saw his regiment in this way, it would Sosnitza. probably cause him much trouble. To tell The left bank of the Dwina from the truth, our regiments are not in very Polotsk and along the Ouzacz (or good odor near the generals. Most of our Uzacz) was granted to the VI Corps. soldiers cruised, and, eternal robbers, got caught by the Cossacks, while, on an The Bavarians also had to provide other hand, most of them desert for the garrisons to hold a line of posts along enemy or for other units; In general, it is the Dwina, which required about 1,500 with sorrow that I must say that our Swiss men. regiments do not do honor ...” The cavalry had to send its men in an area from the Obol river in the Gouvion St. Cyr attests that he south, to the Polota stream in the had taken measures to allow the troops north. to live correctly in the field. From According to Gouvion St Cyr, August 23rd, the cantonments were the resources able to be requisitioned organized by divisions around the city. in the various cantonments would

allow regular subsistence to the The II Corps was granted the troops: meat, flour, fodder. right bank of the Dwina to make its Unfortunately, the state of exhaustion requisitions. The 6th division Legrand was such that it was too late for many had to settle along the Polota as far as units, especially the Bavarians, to take Jourevitchi, situating at about 10 miles advantage of these provisions. in the north-east of Polotsk. Probably In addition, this distribution of the for fear of incessant enemy incursions supply zones between the different (he would be close to the Russian troops did not always go well. In cantonments), general Legrand particular, the cavalry quickly finding refused to settle there and returned no more food in the area reserved for closer to Polotsk. The 8th division it, spread further north and east and in © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series areas normally assigned to the cattle, still in burning one of the infantry of the 8th division. villages of this barony, have destroyed Thus in a letter of September precious resources in grains and oats 27th addressed to Lorencez, chief of which were also destined for my staff of the II Corps, general Maison division. This is not the first time I complained of the exactions of the have to complain about their French cuirassiers: : “I have the honor neighborhood. General Doumerc had to address you here, my dear General, made me hope for the restitution of a letter from my commissary of wars; the grains taken to Laroche, by you will see by its contents that the violating my storing, but I never heard cuirassiers, not satisfied with having of them again. I beg you to take orders taken out all that I had gathered with from the Marshal to inform General much trouble at Ravno, brandy and Doumerc that he had to respect the resources of others, and thus not to Letter from Gouvion-Saint-Cyr to abuse force to remove them.” the Duke of Bassano, October 3rd: And here is the letter of the “The rains having severely Commissary of War Coffin, dated on damaged the roads and swelled the Dwina, 25th of September: “The barony of the Cossacks can no longer pass this river Ravno has suffered singularly since it almost everywhere, as they did when the was occupied by the 3rd Division of the waters were extremely low. [...] I shall be cuirassiers; 19 oxen and cows and obliged to make the rest of the VI Corps, nearly 500 liters of brandy that were which is reduced to almost nothing, to pass on the left bank of the river. I have already about to be shipped to you, were taken twice changed their positions at their by this troop. This significant damage request, and, notwithstanding that General for your division is little compared to Wrède has chosen with me the best places the loss of an entire village, where we in the vicinity to settle, it is now found that have stored 3,000 scheffels (the legal it is impossible to stay longer, because of measure of Mecklenburg-Schwérin for the humidity ... I do not see any great grain, equivalent to about 40 liters) of inconvenience in granting them a couple of bad villages that they ask for and they see rye and 1,000 scheffels of oats: it was from their settlers, and where they will find burnt because some cuirassiers, to shelter a little better than their barracks. procure a few pounds of honey, set fire Diseases continue to take away lots of to hives of bees. Despite all this them, but the general commanding officer disaster, Ravno still presents some at Gloubokoe warned me that a party took resources which I propose not to let advantage of the circumstances to appear sicker than they were, and sprang to the escape; I have already occupied myself rear, probably hoping to be able to return with make return possible for the to Bavaria. I have written to the governor peasants whom the ill-treatment of of Vilna, to beg him to make them a new the cavalry had caused to escape; I medical visit, and to arrest those who have given orders for the resumption pretend to be ill, and, under no pretext, to of the manufacture of brandy; the allow them to be evacuated beyond the docility with which they have been Niemen.” received, makes me believe that there © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series is the good intention and the happen because Wittgenstein resources of carrying them out.” remained in his locations. A little later, another plan was Testimony of Gouvion St Cyr also envisaged on the French side: it “Only the Generals sent the came from Napoleon himself. On detachments to the search for commodities, th and had them cooked and distributed. The September 18 , a letter from Berthier result of this new mode was an economy of to St Cyr ordered him to gather with men who remained in the army; Moreover, the X Corps Macdonald to attack the service being in the hands of the most Wittgenstein. interested, zeal was put into it: in a few Gouvion St. Cyr adhered to this days the furnaces were established, the imperial wish and proposed to mills repaired; we were in a position to Marshal Macdonald that each of them make regular distributions to the camps, and it was possible to carry on with success should provide 12,000 men for this the complete cessation of the marauding. plan. Gouvion St. Cyr was even ready This was accomplished by joining the use to pass under Macdonald’s orders, to of the most rigorous coercive means. From give him his troops or to command the there, the distributions were made as whole force, at his pleasure. regularly as might be desired, and the Macdonald replied that he could give divisions drew from the areas which had only a maximum of 5,000 men for the been assigned to them, meat, flour, and fodder in sufficient quantities for their realization of this project. Gouvion St. wants. Unfortunately, the troops were Cyr then answered to Berthier that, in already reduced to such a state of this condition, he was unable to exhaustion that no means of preservation accomplish the movement forward could save them. In this unfortunate against Wittgenstein. campaign, we acquired the experience that Seeing on the contrary the of all the troops which Napoleon has increasing boldness of the Russians, conducted in Russia, the French soldiers are the ones who resist the greatest fatigue the marshal decided to fortify his and privation.” position at Polotsk. He was going to build various redoubts and small At the beginning of September, intrenchments around Polotsk, thanks while the Grande Armée approached to the engineering General Dode de la from Moscow, Gouvion St. Cyr thought Brunerie. In fact, in a period of two for a moment that Wittgenstein could months, it would have been possible to undertake a withdrawal movement realize true fortifications, but the towards this city and the main Russian decision came too late, and despite the forces. The newly promoted marshal good work of General Dode de la will envisage to follow the Russian Brunerie, it was a little late to really general with the II Corps; The VI fortify Polotsk. An example: a brick would had remained in Polotsk, shooting platform, known as “les incapable of making any movement Tuileries” (noted in the plan 12 because of the state of exhaustion of “briqueterie”) was built in two days, the Bavarians. This project did not but the bricks were not even joined together! © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

Skirmishes’ period

Between end of August and mid- enemy by surprise in his march October, French and Russians will be towards Drissa; and if the marching engaged mainly in skirmishes. battalion succeeded in rallying Regularly, the French will spread in Polotsk after a few days, the marching the surrounding countryside in search squadron was annihilated. On of food, which will become more and September 5th, Rodianov was back in more rare because already his quarters. The march battalion left requisitioned by the Russians, or by the men belonging to the II Corps on themselves. Then the French having Polotsk, while the other soldiers to move further and further from their continued towards Moscow. cantonments, the Russians will take advantage of taht to set up ambushes. Report of General Wittgenstein to This type of fight will greatly favor the the Tsar, August 29th, 1812 Russians, who were at home, helped “I find myself on August 16th by peasants. Among these skirmishes, (August 29th), with the troops under my three deserve special attention, as command in front of the village of they were the only major clashes Sivoschnia (Siwochina), and my vanguard between August 23rd and October 15th is at Bieloe. The enemies have left us in this theater of operation. sufficiently quiet until now; Their outposts are in front of mine; Their army entrenches st themselves in front of Polotsk, and daily On September 1 , a Russian sends parties of from 60 to 80 men to scout expedition was organized on Drissa to and plunder, and almost always fall into attack the enemy detachment that the our hands with their officers.” governor of Vilna had sent there. The Report of General Wittgenstein to French force had the mission of the Tsar, September 4th, 1812 completing the destruction of the “Since my report of the 16th August Russian entrenched camp and (August 29th) nothing happened, the consisted of a small marching enemy is still in his camp entrenched battalion, accompanied by a march before Polotsk. He suffers a great lack of subsistence, and many of his men perishes. squadron of the 7th chasseurs à cheval. Deserters escape by fifty every day.” Rodianov, who had just arrived on Report of General Wittgenstein to th August 26 , was put at the head of the the Tsar, September 14th, 1812 Russian detachment: his Cossacks “Everything is in good order in the were reinforced by two depot Corps entrusted to my orders; I always squadrons of the Guard (dragoons and occupy the same settlers with the troops, hussars) and a squadron of Riga and the enemy makes no movement; he dragoons (about 700 men in all). On undertakes nothing, suffers much from scarcity, and has many sick people; September 3rd, Rodianov’s forces Deserters and foragers who have been swam across the Dwina and captured kidnapped are brought to me daily.” 53 prisoners when he reached the © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

The second notable clash will the region of Zammitcha and Sasno, take place in the region of Kozianoui with some scouts on Sitna. Doumerc on the Obol. Since September 7th, the was in Piroutina with a regiment of Russian General Staff had been cuirassiers, another regiment was at warned of enemy incursions far Ravno and the last at Sosnitza. enough east of its bases, on Gorodok On September 20th, Rodianov, and Krasnopole. Two squadrons of who had left Krasnopole to go to Riga dragoons were sent to Kozianoui with his 500 to 600 men, Krasnopole and a squadron of repulsed a detachment of the 23rd and Ingermannland’s dragoons in 24th chasseurs à cheval (Castex Gorodok but found no enemy soldiers. brigade). Arrived at his objective, he In fact, the French cavalry, whose saw the weakness of the French cantonments were along the Obol, detachments that protected the stores had led incursions into these villages that the French had collected at more distant, to find other sources of Kozianoui. subsistence. On the night of the 20th, Colonel Ten days later, on September Lebrun, aware of the skirmish 17th, a new Russian force had to go to between the brigade Castex and the Krasnopole: this time it was Rodianov enemy cavalry the day before, ordered with his regiment, accompanied by his men to ride. He placed his two three squadrons of dragoons (one squadrons on both side of the Obol at from Riga, one from Iamburg Kozianoui, linked together only by the regiments and the third was probably existing bridge in the village. Thirty the depot squadron of the guard). His infantrymen were assigned to guard order was therefore to go to the castle of Kozianoui. Krasnopole, to drive out any enemy Staff officer without combat presence, then to go to Kozianoui, to experience, the Colonel Lebrun left his attack a depot of food stored there by two squadrons all night in the saddle the French. and, when the Russian cavalry Indeed, on the French side, on attacked, the French horsemen and September 12th, order had been given horses having neither eaten nor slept, to the 3rd chevau-légers lanciers to go could not resist against the Russians. to Kozianoui, make there some It was at dawn that Rodianov provisions. This regiment had to take attacked: he sent a detachment on opportunity for knowing more about each of the three roads of Polotsk, the enemy forces located in this area. Vitebsk and Gorodok, to cut off all 50 infantrymen from the division retreat to the French. It was two Maison were attached to the 300 squadrons of dragoons who charged cavalry of the 3rd chevau-légers, the second squadron of Lebrun, which commanded by Colonel Lebrun, the was completely knocked over. The son of the former Third Consul. Russians seized the Kozianoui bridge, The Castex and Corbineau thus separating the two French brigades were at that time confined in squadrons. The first squadron could © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series not help the second and could only commander of this force (while flee to Ravno, joined a little later by remaining at the head of his brigade of the rest of the other squadron. More cuirassiers). This small corps was serious, the subsistences stored at formed by the 3rd chevau-légers, a Kozianoui by the French were battalion of the 3rd Swiss regiment destroyed by the Russians. present at Sosnitsa, and by 400 According to the march diary of infantrymen of the 8th division, the 1st Russian Corps, 133 French were present until there at Sirotino, and made prisoners, including one colonel placed under the command of Captain (it was not Colonel Lebrun). This diary Rouch, an aide de camp of general admitted 19 killed and 25 wounded in Maison. This force, of a little less than the Russian ranks. Doumerc, 1,000 men, had to remain connected commanding the area where this with brigade Corbineau settled at skirmish took place, sent 600 Sasno. cavalrymen to Sosnitsa as soon as he learned the clash. But the Russians Finally, the third significant raid had already disappeared. At the same undertaken by the Russians began on time, order was given to the 8th September 29th. It was led by 200 chevau-légers lanciers, stationed in cavalrymen from the Grodno hussars Sasno, to carry on a scouting action on and a hundred Cossacks, who had Kholomienovo, to be better informed. their settlements in Sebej. This Doumerc finally gave orders to the 3rd incursion took place after the chevau-légers, who had settled in construction of defensive works had Ravno after his disappointment, to just been finished in Sebej. To increase take a position in Kozianoui. the feeling of insecurity in the ennemy, the Russian made this At the end of September, in the skirmish action on the other wing of face of evidence that the Russian St Cyr’s forces, between Polotsk and forces were growing in this area, it was Disna. The cavalrymen swam across decided on the French side, to the Dwina and attacked enemy supply organize a small observation corps stores on the left bank of the Dwina. which had to keep the environs of They had time to destroy or seize Kozianoui, where provisions could three depots before returning safely to always be found. It was General Sebej on October 5th. Berkheim who was appointed

Evolution at the beginning of October

On October 7th, the first column, on the right, reached Sebej. It consisted of the Voronej infantry regiment, two Polish Uhlan squadrons, and six opolochenia cohorts of St. Petersburg: 5,322 men in all (3,775 of whom were men of the militia). The second column, on the left, passed through Veliki-Louki and came to Nevel. The Mittau dragoons, the depot battalion of the Polotsk infantry regiment, the 1st Marine regiment, two light batteries (#45 and #55) and nine opolochenia cohorts of St. Petersburg composed it: a total of

Comte Faddei von Steinheil 9,025 men including 6,581 militia. The (1762-1831) opolochenia of Novgorod, which was (G. Dawe, Military Gallery of the Winter Palace) part of this column, will arrive later He was born in 1762 in Hapsal, in Estonia. because it was not yet organized on His family on the paternal side, is from the Ruhr. that time. He was a lieutenant in the Russian Imperial Army in 1782 and participated in the Finnish War in In the instructions given by 1788. In 1791-92 he worked on the construction of Kutuzov and received by Wittgenstein fortifications in the province of Old Finland. Then on September 19th, 28,000 men were he serves in the military mapping service. He promised for the 1st Russian Corps. He became Major-General in 1798. In 1806-1807 he will really receive about 15,000. In served as Quartermaster general of the Russian troops in Prussia and Poland. He distinguished these instructions, Wittgenstein had himself at the battle of Eylau. He became to take the town of Polotsk. The plan Lieutenant-General in 1807 and commanded proposed by Kutuzov was as follows: Russian troops in the Aland Islands in the Baltic while fixing the enemy by a frontal during the Finnish War of 1809. In 1810, he attack on Polotsk (an attack which became governor-general of Finland, succeeding Barclay-de-Tolly. He remained in this post until was to be only a diversion), 1824. He succeeded in being accepted by the Wittgenstein had to cross the Dwina Finnish population and was made a count in 1812. on the east of Polotsk and seize the For the campaign of 1812, he took city by forcing the enemy to retreat to command of the Corps of Finland and the southwest. In doing so, St Cyr disembarked in Riga the 26 of September. First, he would be separated from the Grand will help Essen at Riga, then Wittgenstein in Polotsk; and he will participate in the pursuit of Armée of Napoleon. Napoleon. In 1813, he was made governor general Meanwhile, Essen, the governor of Karelia and Livonia (capital: Riga) but then of Riga, after having been reinforced returned to his position as governor general of by the Russian Corps of Finland under Finland which he left in 1824. He remained in the command of Steinheil, had to Finland and died in Helsinki in 1831. repel the X Corps Macdonald. © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

Instruction of Kutuzov given to the 1st Russian Corps, on September 15th, 1812

“You will receive enclosed, the orders I have given to Generals Tchitchagof, Tormasoff, and Steingel how they must act for the purposes of the general invasion of the Russian troops in Lithuania. The operations of the 1st Corps must conform to them; These instructions will at the same time serve as a rule for your behaviour, and then, I also find necessary to prescribe you the execution of the following: 1. To reinforce the corps which you command with so much glory, will arrive at Sebej for the 25th of September (7th of October) 11,000 men from the militia of St. Petersburg. 2. In the time span of 20-24 of September (2 to 6 of October), 9,000 troops of old troops, both infantry and cavalry and artillery, coming from St. Petersburg, will gather in Veliki, both with 9,000 men of militia from Novogorod. I put all these forces at your disposal. 3. You will prepare in advance that these troops will not be short of ammunition or food; for that, you will use the store carried from Pskow to Veliki Louki, at the time when the army intended to stop in the vicinity of Vitebsk. 4. All the detachments which you have at different places, and which will no longer be necessary for the offensive operations of Count Steingel, will be gathered for the 25th of September (7th of October). You will adjust the movement so that the Corps of Veliki Louki follows the road from Nevel to Polotsk and that the militias from Petersburg arrive from Sebej to the place where your Corps is. After the junction with this Corps, you will take under your immediate command the 5th division, the best of your reserve battalions, a large part of your cavalry, and as much artillery as necessary; and you will march in person with these forces, because of the importance of their offensive, to gather with the Corps of Veliki Louki on the road to Polotsk. The place of this junction is given to your choice. The right Corps will remain under your command, and you will put Prince Jachwill in command of it. 5. The Corps of Veliki Louki, which being reinforced by the elite troops that came with you, providing a total of about 35,000 men, will pass on the left bank of the Dwina for the 1st (13th) of October. In this way, you will seize not only Polotsk, where the frontal attack would have succeeded only with great loss on our side, but you will also cut the Corps of Oudinot entirely from the French Grande Armée. Prince Jachwill will advance at the same time on Polotsk by the right bank of the Dwina. You can make the crossing of this river between the mouth of the Obolia and Polostk, trying to make believe to the enemy that you want to take the city by an attack on the right bank. The course of the Obolia on the right bank of the Dwina and that of the Oula on the left bank will cover your crossing against the obstacles you may fear from Vitebsk and the French Grande Armée. 6. After having seized Polotsk from behind, and having attracted to you the Corps of Prince Jachwill, you will continue with all your combined forces and as vigorously as possible, to pursue the troops of Oudinot, who, being cut off from the French Grande Armée, will be rejected on the Corps of Count Steingel, who must have at this time, succeeded against the Corps of Macdonald, between Vidzoui and Swentzianoui. General Steingel will continue the p ursuit of Oudinot from Swentzianoui and drive him beyond the Vilia and even the Niemen. He will then seize Vilna, keep watch on the Niemen against the Prussians; He will serve at the same time as a reserve for the united Corps in the area of Minsk near the Berezina. 7. Having repulsed Oudinot in this way, and covering your march by the actions of General Steingel, you will quickly turn to Dockchitsouï, where you may be arrived for the 20th of October. From there, you will open communications on Minsk, give your hand to General Tchitchagof on Berezino, and you will become master of Lepel and of the course of the Oula from its mouth to the Berezina. 8. It will be necessary to fortify as much as possible all the pass of the Oula, because it will be impossible to foresee on which side the enemy's Grande Armée will retreat after passing the Dnieper. You will stand in natural connections with the other armies; You will be able, after having taken accurate information about the condition of the enemy at Vitebsk, to complete an expedition against that city, in order to remove all fulcrum to the French army during its retreat. You will await in this position the events that will take place at the Grande Armée and will receive in due course, the instructions according to what will happen. 9. The execution of instructions to the other detached Generals who had to contribute to the execution of our plan of campaign, is present in the introduction.

Then, part of his forces had to 12th, he was at about 6 miles from march against Gouvion St Cyr, and, Dünabourg. joined at Wittgenstein, will destroy the forces of the new Marshal of Letter from Gouvion St. Cyr to the Empire. After these actions, the Duke of Bassano, October 3, 1812: Russian plan foresaw that the “There is nothing new in the district gathered forces under Wittgenstein of my command; The enemy continues to harass our flanks with its Cossacks, but it should move towards Vilna or remains always very concentrated on the Berezina and join Chichagov there. Drissa near Sakolitschi, where Count Excellent plan, but which prove Wittgenstein's headquarters are located. impossible to achieve in its entirety. [...] I will make occupy Disna and keep the ford which is in its counterpart by 600 With the reinforcement of infantrymen, a little cavalry and two pieces of cannon; It is the Bavarians who 15,000 men, Wittgenstein was will provide this post and a few small certainly far from the promised locations to observe the Dwina, from 28,000, especially as a significant part Disna to Polotsk.” consisted of militia, full of enthusiasm for the most part, but without On the French-Bavarian side, experience of war, and poorly despite St Cyr’s efforts to organize the equipped. However, the balance of supply as effectively as possible, it power was now in favor of the Russian. seems that, at the beginning of Indeed, at the beginning of October, there was no forage in the October, Gouvion St Cyr could still cantonment areas reserved for the count on approximately 22,000 men. cavalry. The new marshal then At that time, reinforcements included, decided to repatriate all the horses, Wittgenstein has about 38,000 men from cavalry and artillery, to Polostk, under his command. He is therefore and, from here, to pass them on the ready to perform Kutuzov’s orders. In south bank of the Dwina, where he addition, he did not know yet that the hoped that the forage would be more Steinheil Corps, with 10,000 abundant. experienced soldiers, will join him If the II Corps was still able to sooner than expected. fight, and the determination of the On October 8th, Wittgenstein soldiers will be brilliantly verified on received a letter from Kutuzov urging October 19th and 20th, the VI Corps him to execute the plan envisaged could not even provide the equivalent three weeks earlier. It was on this of a small division in order of battle. October 8th that Wittgenstein learned That was why they were confined to that Steinheil, with the Finnish Corps, the custody of various posts: 500 to had left Riga for Polotsk to reach the 600 men under Colonel de la Mothe town in mid-October. Steinheil had had been sent to Struwnia to keep this left Riga on October 6th. In the night bridgehead (it was the rest of the 1st, of the 9th to the 10th, he settled at about 4th and 10th Bavarian regiments); 300 12 miles from Kreutzburg. On October men (rest of the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series regiments) and four batteries Macdonald did not think himself (Hofstetten, Wagner, Rois and authorized to perform the maneuvers Weishaupt), under the command of and movements necessary for this general Vincenti, held two redoubts in action, without the express order of front of Polotsk, on the right bank of Napoleon. According to the Comte de the Polota (two batteries in each); the Segur, Macdonald was already detachment of Colonel Ströhl (5th and suspicious about loyalty of Yorck at 11th regiments and 5th light battalion, that moment. He will also refuse to with two guns) totaling about 500 to send reinforcements to St. Cyr, 600 men, was at Disna, with also an despite his request. He probably could element of light cavalry; finally, the not, but his inaction will be still rest of the Bavarian artillery was surprising. stationed on the left bank of the St Cyr could also have hoped for Dwina, not far from Polotsk. the reinforcement of Marshal Victor's IX corps, which had been in Smolensk For the reinforcements, it seems since September 27th (about 250 km that on September 25th, Polotsk saw from Polotsk). But at the beginning of the arrival of a reinforcement of 338 October, Napoleon ordered Victor to Bavarians. They had started their long send his Corps halfway between way from Bavaria with more than 600 Vitebsk and Smolensk, in order to be men ... On October 6th, a march able to provide a reserve and a battalion of a little more than 400 men consequent force on the rear of the arrived and reinforced the units of the Grande Armée. II Corps. Finally, on October 12th, a On October 10th, this Corps reinforcement of 1,000 to 1,200 Swiss numbered about 25,000 men, after the also arrived at the gates of Polotsk. addition of two Saxon infantry regiments which had just arrived at Gouvion St Cyr, learning that Smolensk. Steinheil had started to march against Napoleon left to Victor the him and that Wittgenstein had liberty to operate towards Vilna or received substantial reinforcements, Minsk, if either of these towns was turned to Macdonald and wrote him threatened, but not beyond these an urgent letter asking him to engage cities. Because of these orders, his in combat against Steinheil, who Corps will be of no utility for Gouvion would pass not far from his forces. But St Cyr, to keep Polotsk.

Annex: Military operations on Riga

Let’s look quickly at the military In Riga, the situation has not operations that took place around changed since the start of the Riga, because they had an influence on campaign. The port city located at the the operations on Polotsk in October. Dwina estuary, about 250 miles from © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

Polotsk, was since the beginning of In order to comply with the hostilities, the objective of Marshal Czar’s orders, Essen resumed the Macdonald. He commanded the X offensive with part of his forces (about Corps, with two divisions, composed 16,000 men). A series of new clashes of Prussians, Poles, Bavarians, and took place then, between Russians Westphalians. On the Russian side, it and Prussians, almost every time to was General Essen who was given the the advantage of the Prussians. And task of holding Riga, with the help of on October 1st, Essen and Steinheil the English Navy. His forces were preferred to return in Riga. These essentially composed by the 22nd clashes, which lasted four to five days, infantry division Lewis (or Löwis). cost to the Russians 1,500 killed and Macdonald’s two divisions had wounded as well as 2,500 prisoners. two distinct objectives: for the The Prussians deplored 900 killed and Prussians of Yorck, it was to take Riga, wounded, and 350 prisoners. and if necessary to organize a siege to Macdonald decided to take do so; for the 7th division Grandjean, advantage of these Prussian victories the mission was to occupy various to try a new assault on Riga. For this strategic points along the Dwina, as reason, he called back to him him the Jakobstadt and Dünabourg for division Grandjean, hitherto confined example. Between mid-July and the along the Dwina and mainly at end of August, several clashes took Dünaburg. Grandjean left only a mere place on the front of Riga, without real garrison in this town. winner, except that Essen had to The Russians knowing that they return under the protection of the were safe behind the ramparts of Riga, ramparts. A siege began then. it was decided that Steinheil would On September 26th, the garrison join Wittgenstein with about 10,000 of Riga saw the arrival of the greater men. This movement seemed, for the part of the Finnish Corps under the two Russian generals, better command of general Steinheil. This correspond to the Czar's orders. Finnish Corps consisted of three Steinheil therefore left Riga on infantry divisions, the 6th, the 21st and October 6th and, on 15th, he made the 25th, with a cavalry brigade, the connection with the Bedriagua 27th. Free from looking afetr the detachment (four squadrons of border with hussars) at Pridouisk, which belonged Bernadotte's Sweden, Steinheil to Wittgenstein’s forces. arrived with the 6th, the 21st infantry divisions and the 27th cavalry brigade.

The Russian after the arrival of the reinforcements

In order to comply with the Wittgenstein searched for possible instructions of September 19th, points of passage on the Dwina, to © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series threaten the forces of Gouvion St Cyr he had to cover the march of on the south bank. Beguiczev on his left flank. Two places were determined for This general Beguiczev, at the the crossing, one on each side of head of the depot battalion of Polotsk Polotsk. Without pontoon unit, the regiment, the light battery #35 and passage of the river will prove five opolochenia cohorts of St. complicated. The Russian general Petersburg (a total of 5,500 men and 12 assembled the equipment for the guns), left Nevel to join Krasnopole. construction of a bridge and sent it He arrived there on October 11th and with his engineers near the town of joined the detachment of general Disna, under the protection of a Diebitsch, that Wittgenstein had sent detachment commanding by Major from Siwochino to await Diebitsch Bellingshausen (1st and 2nd converged and serve as his vanguard. Diebitsch's infantry regiments Infantrymen & half forces included the converged horse battery #23: 1,868 men and 6 grenadiers battalions of the 5th and 14th guns). A second crossing point was divisions, the converged jägers, four planned, the most important for the squadrons from Riga, Iamburg and achievement of the Czar’s plan, Ingermannland dragoons regiments, a upstream of Polotsk, at Gourianoui: by hundred cossacks, half of the light this point, Wittgenstein hoped to cut battery #45 and 8 guns from the horse the line of communication of the II battery #23: total 2,800 men including Corps with the Grand Armée. 600 cavalrymen and 14 guns. However, the rains had inflated the As we have seen, Colonel river and the crossing will be revealed Bedriagua was sent to Pridouisk with impossible at this place. his regiment of converged hussars to make contact with Steinheil and serve From Nevel, reached on him as a vanguard. October 10th, general Beguiczev, It was also on October 10th that commanding the left reinforcing the column of reinforcements of the column, was ordered to send a right, which had joined Wittgenstein detachment to Gorodok and then to at Sebej, reached Siwochina. The six Kosianoui, under the command of cohorts of opolochenia that composed general Alexseiev (1st Marine it, were dispersed in the regiments of regiment, a cohort of opolochenia musketeers of the 14th division and from St. Petersburg, the Mittau regiments of jägers of the 5th. On the dragoon regiment as well as half of the tactical point, it was decided that light battery #45: 3,320 men and 6 these militians would remain in guns). From there, this detachment second line behind the two had to go to Gorianoui, where the experienced battalions of each Obol flows in the Dwina, to find a regiment. Their part was to charge the suitable ford. Alexseiev then had to enemy in column attack, after defend this ford, and at the same time, adequate preparation by the fire of the two regular battalions. © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

On October 14th, Diebitsch advanced to Lipova while Beguiczev remained in Krasnopole.

On October 15th, Wittgenstein reorganized all his avalaible forcesin three columns (not including the Alexseiev, Bellingshausen and Bedriagua detachments): all in all, 26,000 infantrymen, 3,300 cavalrymen and 144 guns served by 2,200 artillerymen (annex 7). Each column had to march against Polotsk by a different road.

The left column, under the command of Beguiczev, had 9,100 Comte Hans von Diebitsch men (a vanguard of 2,800 men under (1785 - 1831) Diebitsch & a main force of 6,300 men (G. Dawe, Military Gallery of the Winter Palace) under Beguiczev himself). This He was of German origin, born in the column took the road from Nevel to Lower Silesia. After studying at the Cadet th School in Berlin, he followed his father to the Polotsk. On October 16 , Beguiczev Russian service in 1801. He himself served in was at Dretoun and Diebitsch at the Russian Imperial Army as an ensign in the Miczoulitchi. Semenovski Guard Regiment and fought at The central column was under Austerlitz, where he is wounded; Then he was the orders of Wittgenstein himself at Eylau and Friedland the following year. He and consisted of 11,300 men: a main is promoted to captain after Friedland. In 1812, he served as the Chief- force under Berg (4,500 men), a Quartermaster of the 1st corps of Wittgenstein. vanguard under Balk (3,200 men) and He fought valiantly during the second Battle of a reserve under Kakhoffski (3,600 Polotsk and was promoted Major-General. men). Settled near Siwochina, this Assigned then against the Prussian contingent column moved towards Jourevitchi. of Yorck, he took an active part in the On October 16th, Balk was at Jartzi, Tauroggen convention. He served during the Wittgenstein and the reserve, at campaign of 1813 with General Yorck, will fight at Lutzen, then at Dresden and Leipzig. Arteikovczi. He was then promoted to Lieutenant-General. These two columns were He also participated in the campaign of France ordered to meet at Jourevichi and in 1814. formed the main corps under the He served very brilliantly in the Russo- command of Wittgenstein. Turkish war of 1828-29 which earned him the rank of Feldmaréchal. In November 1830, he The third column, that on the commanded the army which was intented to suppress the uprising in Poland but died of right, was under the command of cholera in 1831. Prince Jachwill. It had to advance by © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

function was to distract a part of the French forces, and to prevent them from turning against Wittgenstein. The main Corps of Jachwill’s column was under the command of Sazonov (7,300 men), while Vlastov commaneds the vanguard (4,000 men). On October 16th, Sazonov was in Siwochina and Vlastov in Bieloe.

That same day, the 16th of October, Steinheil, who made his junction with Bedriaga the day before, crossed the Dwina at Drouia and advanced towards Milacheva.

Also on the same day, general Alexseiev met a French detachment at Kozianoui. According to the Russians, the enemy was strong of 2,000 infantrymen and 1,500 cavalrymen. In reality, there were about 1,100 men all in all: about 800 infantrymen (a battalion of the 3rd Swiss regiment, a detachment of 200 men from the 123rd ‘Dutch’ line regiment, and some infantrymen of the 8th division Maison); the 3rd Chevau-légers regiment with about 150 to 200 men and 100 men of the 4th Cuirassiers. As we have seen, it was Berckheim who commanded this force, but on October 15th, general Maison were present for an inspection. The reason of this inspection was, that, two days before, the French post of Sirotino was scattered by a strong scouting force from Alexseiev, coming from Kozianoui. Alexseiev (with 3,300 men) Map 10: Positions of the forceseasily onrepulsed October the 16 Frenchth (with 1,100 men), who retreated to Ravno. They the road from Sebej to Polotsk. His were then reinforced by the entire 4th © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

Cuirassiers (less than 200 men in on the Obol, the enemy removes a addition). This did not prevent them country from which we draw all our from continuing to withdraw and they resources, especially for fodder; If he arrived on the evening of the 16th, in keeps it on, we are compelled to make Borovoe, always pursued by Alexseiev. cross the Dwina to all our cavalry and But the strong performance of the throw it on our wings”. In the same Swiss infantrymen enabled the whole letter, it was noted that on October force to retreat without being 17th, a force of 1,800 Bavarians was sent battered. The Russians abandoned the to Sosnitsa by Gouvion St. Cyr. pursuit at noon. However, according to a source (general Bezegher, Always on October 17th, the archives of the city hall of Lille), the Russians continued to advance Swiss battalion could not join Polotsk towards Polotsk. At Jourevichi, at for the fighting of October 18th noon, the vanguard of Balk contacted because it was forced to pass on the a French force which the Russian left bank of the Dwina because of the general estimated to be about 4,000 Russian cavalry. men. According to the French sources, As Lorencez notes in a letter to there was here one battalion of the Oudinot on October 17th, “by settling 26th light infantry regiment and the cavalry Brigade Castex, all in all 1,000 Letter from Lorencez to Oudinot, men. This little force resisted against October 17, 1812 the 3,200 men of Balk until Diebitsch “The Bavarians who appeared to be arrived. The French then retreated 4,500, who eat 9,000 rations a day, will not across the Polota, but in the hurry, put 3,000 men in line; More than this, this they failed to burn the bridge. The two debris no longer wants to bite; They are converged Russian vanguards (Balk satisfied of having figured fairly in an and Diebitsch) pursued them for action, chiefs and soldiers are working about 3 miles. together for their disorganization to have a pretext for doing nothing. The same On the afternoon of that day, reproach may be made against our the main Russian force was at regiments of light cavalry; All this aspires Jourevichi. Wittgenstein installed his only after resting, and the greatest staff there and reorganized again his opponents at the beginning of the forces: In particular, seven cohorts of campaign are most eager to have rest. Our opolochenia were absorbed by the infantry has recovered but we still lack four musketeers’ regiments of the 5th officers. We have only two Generals de Brigade available in the French divisions, division and by the three converged Moreau and Grundler. The 2nd division has depot battalions of grenadiers. gained much in the hands of Maison; But it has two very bad unitss: The 11th light The first intention of regiment is even worse than the 124th line. Wittgenstein was apparently to make rd The 3 Swiss regiment acts very well a demonstration against the French yesterday.” right wing between the Dwina and the Polota, while he would direct his main © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series attack on the left wing by forcing the Memoir of a surgeon-major - the Valaisan Polota line, practically on the same battalion in Russia in 1812 (4th battalion of location as during the battle of August the 11th French Light infantry regiment) 17th and 18th. Let us not forget that the “On October 16th, the regiment received about 300 recruits most from the Roman States. It attack on Polotsk by the north bank was M. R., the father of my first wife who should be, in the Russian plan, only a commanded them and brought them to Polotsk. diversion by fixing the enemy, while On the evening of the 17th, the cannon was heard other troops would pass the Dwina at the outposts, and the Russians seized a few east of the city and force then St Cyr positions. There was no doubt of an affair for the to abandon Polotsk and to retire to the following day. Our army was too weak to fight with advantage against the Corps of south-west, where he would meet Wittgenstein, who had since received Steinheil, with Wittgenstein on his considerable reinforcements! Marshal St. Cyr rear. therefore did not think of opposing an obstinate resistance, but only to evacuate Polotsk The mission of Steinheil, was honorably and in good order. Yet, no one knew then to advance on this left bank to the intentions of the general-in-chief; The fire of Moscow was unknown, so everyone expected to surprise the French when they were fight the next day. On the morning of the 18th, the forced to leave Polotsk under the troops were called to battle. At the moment of the pressure of Wittgenstein’s troops. gun was fired from the side of the Russians, I On the 17th, Steinheil attacked heard M. Dufour, a cadet of Monthey, say to his the position of Disna held by the battalion commander: “My commander, I must win the cross of honor today”. He was killed a Bavarians of Ströhl (about 600 men) few hours after, rushing at the head of his who could retreat to Bononia. During company to drive out the Russians from a this movement, the Bavarians resisted redoubt they had captured. M. Bertrand, another to Steinheil all the night without Valaisan officer, also died in encouraging his running away, despite their numerical men. Very few of the young recruits who arrived the day before escaped death; These good men, to inferiority. But when they reached take revenge for the jokes which the other th Bononia on October 18 , they had lost soldiers addressed to them when the action was 40 officers and 336 soldiers. It seems to begin, ran to the front of the danger with that Steinheil pursued them weakly, sublime intrepidity. I set up my ambulance on the only a few miles far from Disna. road to the nearest suburb. The retreat which the strength of the Russian army and the weakness of our army seemed to make unavoidable, would th Always on the 17 of October, in doubtless take place on this point. We evacuated face of what appeared to be a general our position in the evening, after setting fire to offensive of the Russians on Polotsk, our camp, and we retired with great order behind the various Franco-Bavarian posts, the Dwina. The Swiss brigade, which was entrusted to protect the movement, performed like that of Disna, retreated in fairly the mission admirably. It was not until ten o'clock good order to Polotsk. Only forces in in the evening, after having disputed with the Struwnia remained in place. Doumerc enemy and the flames a part of the city, that the received the order to assemble all his brigade passed in turn and the last on the bridge, cuirassier division at Piroutina, and to which was immediately burnt.” join general Maison, who had to go had to go on the left bank of the there too. From Pitoutina, Doumerc Dwina by crossing the bridge held by © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series the Bavarians at Struwnia. Only two 1.100 Swiss from the regiments’ depots squadrons of the 14th cuirassiers had to arrived at Polotsk on October 12th remain on the right bank and escort (they were 1.500 at the beginning of the artillery of Doumerc on Polotsk. their march); 300 men in Doumerc had orders to disperse his reinforcement for the Valaisan regiments along the road from Polotsk battalion of the 11th light infantry, to Ula: the 3rd chevau-léger at Bortnik, mainly from the Roman states the 4th cuirassiers at Krasno, the 7th at (according to a surgeon-major of this Roukchienitza and the other two regiment). Perhaps other regiments or squadrons of the 14th at Tourovka. battalions received other such Maison had to accompany the artillery reinforcements. If so, then we can of Doumerc to Polotsk. underestimate the strength of the divisions Legrand and Maison. Regarding the number of troops under the command of St. Cyr’s, there must have been in mid-October 22,000 men, as we have seen. But all these men will not participate in the second battle of Polotsk on the right bank of the Dwina. In addition, this figure of 22,000 men is only a hypothesis, arguably founded but impossible to confirm. Indeed, Marshal Gouvion St Cyr wrote in his memoirs (Volume III) that he had, on October 15th, “15,572 men in the II Corps and 1,823 in the VI, who actually gave for the fight 13,000 bayonets and Général de brigade Guillaume Viviès, 2,500 sabers ". In an appendix of these baron de La Prade (1763-1813) memoirs, we see that there were all in (from private collection in Moscow) (in forum from all 2,607 men in the VI Corps, the website les amis du patrimoine napoléonien) including 784 artillerymen. So, the figures for 1,823 correspond to the In any case, Annex 7 gives the estimate Bavarian infantry only. Fabry gives the we made of the number of Franco- same figures for the infantry of the VI Bavarians and Russians on October Corps. 16th. For the II Corps, it seems, however, that in his memoirs, St Cyr For the brigade generals of the II minimizes the number of men. Corps present in June 1812, it was the Indeed, some reinforcements, not hecatomb! Lorencez wrote that in the added by St Cyr in his count, had French divisions (6th and 8th), there arrived a few days before the battle are only two brigade generals (according to H. de Schaller): 1.000 to available in October: Moreau and © 1995 – 2018 The Napoleon Series

Grundler. Grundler was aide chief of staff of Oudinot then of Gouvion St Cyr and was appointed general de brigade on September 10th. General Albert, already ill in August, was still ill in October; Maison commanded the 8th division; Pamplona was governor of Polotsk; Viviès commanded troops at Globukoje; Pouget, wounded twice in August, on the 11th and 18th, had been sent to Vilna, and afterwards became governor of Vitebsk at the end of August or the beginning of September; Valentin, badly wounded in August, returned to France on September 11th; Coutard was stationed in Widzoui, apparently since August 1st.

Map 11: General Map of the Surroundings of Polotsk

Placed on the Napoleon Series: March 2018