First Battle of Polotsk

Mir - Mogilev - Ostrowno - Kljastizy - Smolensk - Polotsk (1) - Walutino - Borodino - Tschirikowo - Tarutino - Maloyaroslavets - Polotsk (2) - Tschaschniki - Wjasma - Smoljany - Krasnoje - Borisov - Berezina - Gdansk - Kalisch

The First Battle of Polotsk was held on 17 and August 18, 1812 between the troops of the Russian Empire under the command of General Wittgenstein on the one hand and troops of the French Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria under the command of Charles Nicolas Oudinot other hand, in Polotsk ( Lage55.48333333333328.8Koordinaten: 55 ° 29 '0 "N, 28 ° 48' 0" E ) instead. For Wittgenstein, it was the advance of the French in Saint Petersburg. unstoppable. This first battle of Polotsk must be distinguished from the second battle of Polotsk, which took place almost at the same place two months later.

After the battle of Kljastizy and several smaller skirmishes lost the corps of Oudinot moved back to Polotsk. In the early morning of August 17, the Russian I Corps reached under Wittgenstein to the French positions near the village of Spas and forced the French to retreat. Oudinot ordered then reinforcements in the affected portion and was able to beat back the attack. At nightfall, both sides were trying to keep their positions. Oudinot was wounded and was forced to relinquish the command of Laurent de Gouvion Saint- Cyr.

The next morning, Saint- Cyr made ​​a general attack. He had managed to deceive Wittgenstein about the real position of the attack, and he suddenly attacked the left flank of the Russians. At the beginning of the attack was successful, the French drove the Russians before him, and captured seven cannons. When defeat seemed inevitable, succeeded Wittgenstein perform with his cavalry counter-attack. The French were then forced to break off their attack and retreat again. Wittgenstein, in turn, drew back to the river Drissa. For the next two months, neither side made ​​a serious attempt to disrupt the balance of forces.

Losses

The Franco- Bavarian losses were about 6,000 men in killed, wounded and missing, including the fallen Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy, infantry general and Justus Siebein, Major-General and the wounded Major General Vincenti and Brigadier General Raglovitch.

The Russians had 5,500 men in losses, including the wounded generals Mountain, Hamen and Kasatschkowski.

First French Empire Peter Wittgenstein Battle of Saltanovka Battle of Klyastitsy Battle of Smolensk (1812) Battle of Tarutino Battle of Vyazma Battle of Krasnoi Battle of Berezina General of the Infantry Clemens von Raglovich Digby Smith
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