The Campaign of 1812 in Russia

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1812 IN RUSSIA by CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ Translated from the German and published (anonymously) by Francis Egerton, through John Murray Publishers, London, in 1843. From Carl von Clausewitz, Hinterlassene Werke des Generals Carl von Clausewitziiber Krieg und Kriegfiihrung, 10 vols., Berlin, 1832-37, Vol. 7: "Der Feldzug von 1812 in Russland"; "Der Feldzug von 1813 his zum Waffenstillstand"; "Der Feldzug von 1814 in Frankreich," Berlin, 1835. Egerton's translation has been reprinted frequently,e.g., reprinted, Stackpole Books, ISBN 1853671142; reprinted, Hattiesburg, Miss.: Academic International, 1970; reprinted, with an introduction by George Nafziger, London: Greenhill, 1992; reprinted with a Foreword by Gerard Chaliand,1997, ISBN 0962871583; reprinted, with an introduction by Sir Michael Howard, New York: Da Capo Press, 1995. This PDF was created using the copy in the National Defense University Library, which was donated by the family of Hoffman Nickerson (1888-1965), an early American Clausewitzian. Errata identified by the publisher (on pp.40, 115) have been corrected. This translation is the only full translation of Clausewitz's study of the Russian campaign, in which Clausewitz participated as a Russian staff officer because his native Prussia was occupied by the French. It is quite old and not particularly good. Readers seeking a better grasp of Clausewitz's thinking should consult the modern and more scholarly-but only partial-translation in Carl von Clausewitz, Historical and Political Writings, eds.jtrans. Peter Paret and Daniel Moran (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992). This edition contains a letter written by the Duke of Wellington to the translator in 1842 concerning Clausewitz 's campaign study. NOTE ON THE TRANSLATOR: Francis Egerton (1800-1857), was born Lord Francis Leveson-Gower (his name until 1833) and became the 1st Earl of Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley in 1846. [Picture from Wikipedia.] Egerton's interest in Clausewitz was motivated by his friendship with the first Duke of Wellington. Wellington's circle became very interested in Clausewitz's work, particularly his study of the campaign of 1815. That story, including a modern translation of Clausewitz's Der Feldzug von 1815 and Wellington's famous memorandum in response to it (Wellington's only formal essay concerning the campaign), along with much of the relevant correspondence among Wellington's circle, is told in Carl vonC laysewitz and Arthur Wellesley.1st Duke of Wellington, On Waterloo: Clausewitz. Wellington. and the Campaign of1815,ed./trans. Christopher Bassford. Daniel Moran. and GregoryW . Pedlow (Clausewitz.com via CreateSpace.com. 2010). Egerton's discussions with Wellington concerning Clausewitz's Der Feldzug von 1812 in Russ/and are recounted in Personal Reminiscences of the Duke ofWellington by Francis, the First Earl ofEIIesmere, edited by his daughter Alice, Countess of Strafford (London: John Murray, 1904). LINK: Map of the Operations of the Campaign of 1812 in Russia to Illustrate the Work of General Carl von Clausewitz. Clausewitz.com THE CAMPAIGN OF 1812 RUSSIA. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF GENERAL CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ. W:ETH A MAP. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. MDCCCX.Llll. ,, ��.. J- ·. / TillS VOLUME IS DEDICATED TO G-ENERAL SIR ROBERT WILSON, WHO, DURING THE CAMPAIGN OF 18]2 IN RUSSIA, AS WELL AS ON FORMER AND SUBSEQUENT OCCASIONS, BY DIS PRESENCE AND CONDUCT AT THE BEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ALLIES OF DIS COUNTRr, CONTRIDUTED TO SUPPORT, lJ'il THE ESTIMATION 01' CONTINENTAL SOVEREIGNS AND NATIONS, THE HIGH CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH ARMY. LoxnoN: Printed by A. SP<rrrtswOOnl':, New-Street-Square. A 2 TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. THE work here translated forms a portion only of the seventh volume of a posthumous series of military treatises, which have been edited by a sister of their deceased Author, and which, as she informs their readers, were not revised or prepared by him for the press. As the Author, though his long and active services raised him to posts of trust in the service of his country, never attained a situ ation of independent and conspicuous command in war, a slight sketch of his biography may be neces sary to enable English readers to form some esti mate of his qualifications for military criticism. Carl von Clausewitz was born in 1780, in the Prus sian village of Burg. He entered the military service of his country at the early age of twelve, and assisted at the campaigns of 1793 and 1794. He seems thenceforward to have applied himself to the scientific branches of his profession. In 1801 he entered the military school of Berlin, then con ducted by that eminent soldier Scharnhorst, by A 3 vi TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. Vll whom he was soon distinguished and patronised. first to a general's command on the Rhine, and next He assisted at the disastrous campaign of 1806, in to the direction of the military school of Berlin. which he was wounded and taken prisoner. On This sketch may serve to show that the circum his return from France he was placed on the staff stances of his career, and his opportunities for ob of his patron Scharnhorst, and employed in the servation and study, were such as to entitle, prima secret preparations for the renovation of the military facie, his professional works to a consideration resources of Prussia, to which that officer assiduously which is, we believe, in his own country a high devoted himself. He was also selected as military one. instructor to the Crown Prince, now the reigning The Russian campaign, the greatest transaction sovereign. He relates in the present work the of civilised warfare on record, has found several course he pursued on the occasion of the rupture historians of merit among the eye-witnesses of its between France and Russia, from which it will occurrences. Of their works, such as are written appear that he made the famous campaign which in the French language, and, with the exception he describes in the Russian service, and in various perhaps of the Russian Buturlin, by officers in the capacities. After its conclusion he remained in the service of Buonaparte, are best known to English service of Russia, but attached to Blucher's corps, readers. As a foreigner in Russia, General Clau till the period of the armistice which interrupted sewitz was at least free from the national partialities the campaign of 1813. He was afterwards trans which to s01ri.e extent may have influenced the pen ferred, as chief of the staff, to the corps of General either of a French or Russian author. As an actor, 'Vallmoden, who commanded a Russo-German he enjoyed every facility for information, except division of the army of the North under Bernadotte. the important one, indeed, of a knowledge of the His name is mentioned with distinction on several Russian language. We learn from the preface of occasions, and particularly in the affair of Goehrde. his sister, the Editress, that no false delicacy on her In 1815 he re-entered the service of his country, and part has induced her to suppress certain remarks made the campaign of the Netherlands as quarter on individuals, which he would perhaps have been master-general to the corps of General Thielman. reluctant to see published in his lifetime, and At the peace he was appointed by his sovereign, which, being preserved unaltered, make him, to a A 4 ---------------��·-· ------------------ ------------- viii TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. IX certain extent, the Clarendon of the crisis he de In this transaction he became an useful and scribes. With reference to these various circum trusted agent to General Diebitsch, himself a Prus stances, we have thought that this translated sample sian ; and many of the details which he is thus of the works of an Author much respected on the enabled to give of the conduct and bearing of the Continent might prove acceptable both to military Monk of Prussia are, we apprehend, new to the · and other readers. world. The situation of York, as described by the We must, however, declare in limine, that the Author, though without any attempt to quit his style of the Author is dry, and his treatment of his usual dry and matter-of-fact style, is essentially subject professional. Those who seek for those dramatic, and the allusion of the Author to the adornments of language, to which that subject so Wallenstein of Schiller's tragedy is just and appro strongly invites an eyewitness of horrors which no priate. We know of no situation in history which language can fully describe, much less exaggerate, renders it more difficult for the reader of after will do better to turn to the pages of Segur, La times to pass a verdict clear and satisfactory to Baume, and others. The second division of the himself on the principal actor. The prejudices and work is out of its place, and unconnected with the partialities of the time, national and political, might other two, being a mere detail of dates, movements, easily have hurried men to a decision, and made of and numbers, affording to a professional reader York a traitor or an hero; but when these have means of easy and we presume accurate reference, passed away the question becomes nicer. Our own but destitute of the interest which, in the case of opinion is, that the action cannot be fully justified, the other two, attaches to the Author's personal and yet we give that opinion somewhat in the spirit narrative. Of this, perhaps the most interesting of the Irish counsel, who, while dilating; as his brief portion is that which concerns the famous York required, on the enormity committed by a party to convention. In the former part of the campaign, a duel, was suddenly asked by the judge how he while the Author was serving with the main army, would have himself acted towards his client under his ignorance of the Russian language made him the circumstances, and replied, " By the living little more than an intelligent spectator, embar G-d, my Lord, I would have dilacerated him upon rassed rather than assisted by nominal functions.

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