Battle of Vitebsk (1812)
Emperor Napoleon I launched a part of his forces in an enveloping action towards Vitebsk during mid-July 1812. He sought to force the Russian army to commit its bulk to a major battle. The goal was to defeat them quickly and avoid a protracted campaign. Marshal Joachim Murat and General Etienne de Nansouty led French troops against Russian General Alexander Ivanovich Ostermann-Tolstoy at Ostrovno on the 25th of July. The Russians registered high casualties but retreated in good order. They delayed the enemy long enough to concentrate significant forces around Vitebsk. Napoleon expected to find a massed enemy ready to fight, unaware that Barclay de Tolly planned to withdraw.
General Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly commanded the Russian First Army with deep reservations about fighting. Weeks of retreating without a fight had caused morale among the rank and file to decline sharply. Discontent grew at the Russian Imperial Court in Saint-Petersburg. Courtesans failed to understand why the commander abandoned vast territories to the enemy. Barclay faced serious pressure to make a stand despite knowing victory chances were weak. His motivation resulted from political demands and a desire to improve army spirits. He decided to fight at Vitebsk where he had concentrated a large part of his forces. Napoleon held superior numbers and exploited weaknesses in Barclay's battlefield position.
Following the engagement at Ostrovno, Ostermann-Tolstoy's IV Corps retreated towards Kakuviachino. There they were relieved by the 3rd Infantry Division under General Pyotr Konovnitsyn. Konovnitsyn took up rearguard responsibilities and proved extremely adept at leading such actions. He managed to block all enemy attempts to advance for an entire day on the 26th of July. The French could not make contact with the bulk of Russian forces that day. This delay allowed the main army to mass safely at Vitebsk. Nightfall brought alarming news when Prince Aleksandr Meshikov arrived at Barclay's headquarters. He reported the defeat of Bagration's Second Army three days earlier at Saltanovka.
Prince Aleksandr Meshikov delivered news that Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout had defeated Bagration's Second Army. This victory meant the Second Army would not be able to link up with Barclay's First Army. A danger emerged that Napoleon might drive a wedge between the two armies. Such separation could allow the Emperor to reach the strategic city of Smolensk before them. The Russians needed to abandon plans to give battle urgently. They had to break contact with the pursuing enemy and move southeast. Despite these considerations, Barclay still wanted to fight the next day. Advisers dissuaded him late on the 26th of July. That night he issued orders for retreat despite the proximity of Napoleon's force.
At daybreak on the 27th of July Napoleon set his troops in motion thrilled to face a massed enemy. He was unaware the bulk of Russian forces were already making arrangements for immediate retreat. Only a rearguard under General Peter Graf von der Pahlen remained to delay action. The battlefield at Vitebsk was a vast flat plain separated by the river Dvina. Napoleon commanded only two infantry divisions from Eugène's Army of Italy. Elements of Nansouty's Ist Cavalry Corps were nearby but insufficient for pitched battle. General Jean-Baptiste Broussier moved forward first but faced surprise attacks from Russian cavalry. Pahlen launched Life Guard Cossacks followed by bulk cavalry against Broussier's men. These actions lasted several hours while French artillery fired deadly salvos without breaking through.
The battle of Vitebsk resulted in disputed casualty figures among historians. Riehn estimates 400 killed, 900 wounded and 70 captured for the French. Bodart estimates 3,400 killed and wounded plus 300 captured instead. Colonel Liédot died in action as commander of the army's military engineer corps general staff. Russian losses amounted to some 3,000 men killed and wounded. Their main strategic goal to fight a delaying action was achieved successfully. Barclay received high praise for this action from an otherwise reserved command style. French historians often view it as a missed opportunity for Napoleon. He failed to press Pahlen hard enough to render retreat difficult. The Emperor stopped his attack early unwilling to risk high losses against vastly outnumbered forces.
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Common questions
Who commanded the Russian First Army during the Battle of Vitebsk in 1812?
General Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly commanded the Russian First Army. He held deep reservations about fighting but decided to engage at Vitebsk due to political pressure from the Imperial Court.
When did the French forces attack the Russian rearguard at Vitebsk on July 27th 1812?
Napoleon set his troops in motion at daybreak on the 27th of July 1812. The engagement lasted several hours while French artillery fired deadly salvos without breaking through the Russian lines.
Where was the battlefield located relative to the river Dvina during the Battle of Vitebsk?
The battlefield at Vitebsk was a vast flat plain separated by the river Dvina. General Peter Graf von der Pahlen led the rearguard that remained to delay action on this terrain.
Why did Napoleon fail to destroy the Russian army at Vitebsk on the 27th of July 1812?
Napoleon stopped his attack early because he was unwilling to risk high losses against vastly outnumbered forces. He failed to press General Peter Graf von der Pahlen hard enough to render the retreat difficult for the Russians.
How many casualties did the French suffer according to Riehn estimates for the Battle of Vitebsk?
Riehn estimates 400 killed, 900 wounded and 70 captured for the French side. Colonel Liédot died in action as commander of the army's military engineer corps general staff during the fighting.