Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

by George F Nafziger

  It was Compans' 5th Division that finally put an end to the battle. He marched his division towards the city. When Miloradovitch's forces came too close, he turned suddenly and, like an annoyed lion on a pack of jackals that ventured too close, gave them something to consider. He then returned to his retreat, marching off the field of battle without further molestation.

  A combination of night, the river, the town, and Marshal Ney's rear guard separated the Russians from the retreating French. When the danger ceased, the French settled down for the night and began reorganizing. Four thousand were either dead or missing, and many others were separated from their units. The French had once again shown their military prowess, but there were great gaps in their ranks. Each regiment scarcely had the strength of a battalion, and battalions were the strength of a peloton. Soldiers were no longer in their accustomed positions with their comrades and officers.

  A sad reorganization took place in the light of the burning city of Viazma. The night was continually disturbed by the noise of Ney's rearguard artillery. Every time the artillery fire broke out anew, the weary French seized their arms, fearing they were under attack again.

  The Retreat Resumes

  The next day winter arrived, and snow began to fall. The temperature fell, turning the roads into sheets of ice. The snow prevented the horses from grazing, and the icy roads prevented the starving beasts from maintaining their footing. Because the horses were in such poor condition, the French found themselves forced to begin abandoning more and more of their artillery, equipment, and baggage. Morale fell further, and discipline began to erode seriously.

  The retreat continued, and losses grew more rapidly than ever. There were nearly 30,000 stragglers following the column, and very little mounted cavalry remained. The few wagons and carts that still remained with the army were filled with the wounded. However, discipline had fallen so badly that when one of the wounded would fall from the cart in which he had been riding, no one would stop to pick him up. The shortage of food was so acute that if a horse slipped on the ice he would be butchered by hungry soldiers before he could rise to his feet.

  The army was quickly falling into a state of survival of the fittest and every man for himself. The organized, disciplined units began to shrink as the weaker fell away and forgot that their organization was their best chance for survival.

  On 6 November Napoleon received more dispatches from Paris and learned of the abortive coup attempted by General Malet. Malet had attempted to seize power on 22 October and reestablish a republican government. He had asserted that Napoleon had perished in Russia and induced several colonels of the Paris garrison to bring out their men. With their assistance he attempted to seize control, but his bluff was called, and he was shot. Though it was obviously the work of a madman, no one had rallied to the king of Rome. Some of the officials had actually carried out Malet's orders. Napoleon began to wonder how strong his support in Paris actually was. His strength was weakening, and he knew it.

  The retreat continued, and once in Dorogobuzh, Napoleon ordered Eugene to take the side road through Dukhovschina. The Italians were continually surrounded by swarms of cossacks, who picked off stragglers and harassed the column's flanks. As the Italians advanced, the Russians sent a force ahead of them to occupy Dukhovschina. When the IV Corps reached the Vop River they found it only lightly frozen, not enough to bear the weight of a crossing army. The Italian Guards waded across the river, breaking the ice with their chests. The rest of the army followed, but many wagons and guns became stuck in the mud of the river bottom and had to be abandoned.

  The IV Corps bivouacked about three miles from the Vop until the morning of the 10th. Their line of march was littered with abandoned caissons, guns, elegant coaches, and booty taken from Moscow. It took little effort on Eugene's part to get his corps moving, as the riverbank was swarming with cossacks who plied their bloody trade with a passion on every straggler they caught.

  The Italians bivouacked in the fields. They had little cavalry and artillery remaining with them. Only fourteen guns remained with the 14th Division. The advance was led by the Italian Royal Guard and the entire force continued its march on Dokhovschina. As they approached the village, several cossack regiments sortied from the village and maneuvered across the plain in an effort to surround the Italians. The Italian Guard formed itself into square, while those Italian dragoons and Bavarian chevauxlégers that were still mounted advanced by squadrons to drive the cossacks away. The road was cleared, and the IV Corps resumed its advance, with the lead elements supported by the 13th Division.

  Dokhovschina had not been on the initial line of advance of the French army as it penetrated into Russia in July and August. As a result, it was well supplied and the buildings were intact. It proved a welcome windfall to the starving and cold troops. Eugene was so pleased with his situation that he detached an aide-de-camp with the 15th Division to move on Smolensk and inform Napoleon of his intention to rest his forces in Dokhovschina on 11 November. On 12 November the IV Corps resumed its march, and, as it departed, Dokhovschina was burned.

  Upon arriving at the heights above Smolensk, Eugene placed himself at the head of the Italian Guard. The cold was so intense that thirty-two grenadiers froze to death in formation. General Broussier was forced by the Russians to evacuate his forces from an entrenched village but was able to break through their lines and joined Eugene.

  Eugene wished to move the remains of his baggage into Smolensk and ordered the second brigade of the 14th Division to dislodge a Russian battery that was sweeping a bridge with its fire. General Heyligers moved forward with two guns and about fifty infantry. He assumed a position on the heights that turned the Russian battery's position and forced them to withdraw. The IV Corps renewed its advance and entered Smolensk.

  Napoleon and his guard arrived in Smolensk on 9 November. Here he learned of the capture of a brigade under d'Hillers and of Wittgenstein's capture of Vitebsk on 7 November. Napoleon had sent Count Baraguay d'Hillers along the road to Elnya to stop the advance of the Russian forces under Count Orloff. The French had advanced with fresh troops organized into “bataillons de marche.” They took positions around the villages of Yazvino, Liakhovo, and Dolghmoste. D'Hillers had entrenched his troops in position, hoping to hold off 5,000 Russian cavalry and 3,000 infantry, but his first brigade was forced to capitulate. He found himself about three miles to the rear, and, fearing the rest would be enveloped, he withdrew the remains of his forces to Smolensk. He was convinced that his small force could not stop such a superior Russian force.

  Napoleon reorganized his remaining cavalry under Latour-Maubourg and gave specific instructions for the distribution of rations to his army. However, these instructions were not carried out. The masses of stragglers were refused food, being told that it would only be issued to organized formations after the presentation of proper requisitions. The crowds were so enraged that they broke into the magazines, looting and wasting much of the material so carefully stored there. Despite the looting and waste, Napoleon was still able to replace all the ammunition expended by his army to date and to add five new, fully equipped batteries to his army.

  Of the 100,000 men leaving Moscow, only about 41,500 remained at their colors. The Guard alone accounted for 14,000 of these and a further 5,000 dismounted cavalry still retained their discipline. Eugene's IV Corps had 5,000 effectives and Davout's I Corps had 10,000. The V and VIII Corps (Poles and Westphalians) were merged and totaled only about 1,500. Ney's once-powerful III Corps had about 3,000. As a result, Napoleon had great hopes for the relatively fresh troops of II and IX Corps.

  Napoleon left Smolensk in the company of his Guard. He was followed by Davout on the 16th and Ney on the 17th. On the morning of the 14th, when the Guard departed, its march was firm. The gloom and silence of the column was interrupted only by the squeak of the multitude of wheels in the column. On the first day the column advanced only fifteen miles, but the Guard artillery required twenty-two hours t
o cover that distance.

  The following units in the column arrived in Korythinia with Junot's Westphalian corps, totaling 900, in the lead. Only fifteen miles separated Korythinia from Krasnoe and the road was flanked by the Dnieper River. A second road ran parallel to the main road, running from Elnya to Ktadnor. Kutusov used that road to move his 90,000 men. He quickly outstripped the French and sent forward several columns to intercept the French.

  The Battle of Krasnoe

  The forces of Ostermann arrived at Korythinia at the same time as the French vanguard entered the village. A second column, under Milora-dovitch, with 20,000 men had taken positions nine miles in advance of the French. They posted themselves to intercept the French near Nerlino and Mikoulina, behind a ravine skirting the main road. Here they lay in ambush awaiting the French advance.

  The third Russian column reached Krasnoe, taking it by surprise, but Sebastiani, the local commander, drove them out. The fourth Russian column moved between Krasnoe and Liady, farther down the road, and captured the many stragglers they found there.

  The French passed the night in Korythinia and the next morning moved down the road again. They were led by a horde of stragglers,all eager to reach Krasnoe. As they came within five miles of the city, they were suddenly confronted by a row of cossacks positioned on the heights to the left of the road. The cossacks were quickly driven off by a volley, and the march began anew.

  A Russian battery began to fire on the advancing column, and thirty Russian squadrons advanced to threaten the Westphalians. The stunned Westphalians froze, making no effort to deploy. An unknown officer called out to them and assumed command. The soldiers ignored normal military convention. They began responding to the orders of this strange general. It was, in fact, General Exelmans of the Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde. He moved forward, and the Russians were content to remain in their position and shell his new command.

  Exelmans was supported by the Vistula Legion under General Clapa-rede and the Guard who followed him. The force crossed the bridge and advanced into Krasnoe. As the Old Guard passed across the gorge under the Russian artillery fire, it formed its ranks tightly about Napoleon, and its band struck up the popular military march, “Where can we be happier than in the bosom of our family.” Napoleon ordered them to stop, insisting that they play, “Let us watch over the Empire.”

  The Russian fire was becoming troublesome, and Napoleon ordered it silenced. The gorge was becoming congested. The Guard artillery was dragged by hand up to a plateau that overlooked the road. General Devaux's Young Guard Artillery had not lost a gun since they departed Moscow, due to the foresight of Colonel Villeneuve. Villeneuve had ordered every wagon and cart loaded with plenty of oats. As a result, his horses were still fit and able to draw their guns and equipment.

  After two more hours the French advanced guard, commanded by General Sebastiani, entered Krasnoe. His Guard grenadiers drove out Ozhrovski's cavalry, part of the Russian third column.

  While Napoleon's forces cleared the gorge, Eugene struggled in Smolensk to gather up and reorganize his corps. It had joined in the pillage and looting of the Smolensk magazines. He had great difficulty pulling them away from their plunder and only succeeded in rallying 8,000 men by 15 December. The next morning he departed, abandoning those who would not follow.

  The advanced guard, 1,500 men of the 14th Division, were approached by a Russian officer under a flag of truce. He approached Eugene, stating that Eugene's tiny band was surrounded by 20,000 Russians under the command of General Miloradovitch. He went on and stated that Napoleon and his forces had been captured and that Eugene had no choice but to surrender.

  Before Eugene could respond, General Guy on moved forward and shouted in a loud voice, “Return immediately to whence you came and tell him who sent you that if he has 20,000 we have 40,000!” Shortly after the emissary withdrew, the hills to the left began to belch smoke and flames as the Russian batteries located there opened fire. Eugene's tiny formation organized itself quickly and advanced, bayonets bristling.

  Eugene ordered the two guns remaining to him to open fire, and he brought the 13th Division forward. General Ornano led them forward, and as he did, a near miss knocked him from his horse. He was thought to be dead, but he was only stunned and arose quickly. Colonel Delfanti was sent forward with a battalion to rally the units shaken by Ornano 's fall. He was also struck down and had to be carried from the field. As he was carried off, he was wounded by a second cannonball that also carried away the head of General Villeblanche.

  Delfanti's 200 men moved to support a square formed by the 35th Line Regiment under General Heyligers. However, deprived of their commander, they were poorly placed. The Russian cavalry quickly struck them, massacring them and seizing the guns which had been abandoned due to a lack of ammunition. The 35th Line Regiment was disorganized by the attack as well, and General Heyligers was taken prisoner.

  The Russian artillery inflicted heavy casualties on the Italians, but they continued to advance. Eugene had just finished a reorganization of the 14th Division when the Russians moved to envelop it. Eugene ordered the remainder of his corps to profit by this. They filed along the right, behind the Italian Guard. As they made their escape in the dark, they advanced as silently as possible, hoping to escape detection. Suddenly a challenge in Russian broke the silence, and everyone froze. The Polish Colonel Kliski quickly ran over to the sentinel and rebuked him in his own language, saying, “Be silent fellow! Don't you see that we belong to the corps of Ouvarov, and that we are going on a secret expedition!” The simple Russian soldier, outwitted by his own language, held his tongue. This ruse allowed all but the 15th Division under General Triarie, which was acting as the rear guard, to escape. Triarie was to effect his escape later.

  That same night the Russian campfires burned to the south and southwest of the Lossmina River, but Kutusov did not attack the French in Krasnoe. The prestige of Napoleon and his Guard were still sufficient to prevent an attack, even though Kutusov had 90,000 men to Napoleon's 50,000.

  At 9:00 P.M. Napoleon ordered Roguet to take the 2nd Guard Division and attack Ozhrovski's camp. This camp was two miles from Krasnoe and stretched for a distance of five miles. Roguet formed his four battalions of fusiliers into three columns and moved them on Buyanovo on the right, Maleievo in the center, and Chirkova on the left. They advanced in complete silence, their watches synchronized for a simultaneous attack. Roguet led the middle column personally.

  At midnight, in a cold that was so intense that the Russians were comatose around their fires, the Fusilier Chasseurs and Fusilier Grenadiers fell on them with bayonets. The Russians were driven into the darkness in great disorder after taking heavy casualties. The French lost about 300 men in this attack, but the Russian losses were far greater.

  This attack caused Kutusov to become more cautious in his maneuvers, and he halted his enveloping maneuver. He ordered Tormassov's corps to cut across the road between Krasnoe and Liady. He ordered a halt to operations for the evening, but the cossacks continued to loot the wagons stuck in the mire of the Lossmina that the French had abandoned earlier in the day.

  Napoleon was faced with a decision. He could either continue his advance or remain in Krasnoe until Eugene, Davout, and Ney arrived. He decided to remain. General Durosnel was sent back towards Smolensk with a battalion of the Chasseurs à Pied de la Garde under General Boyere, two squadrons of the 1st Chevauléger-lanciers de la Garde, and two guns under Chlapowski to open the road for Eugene.

  Durosnel moved forward along the left of the road to Katova, chasing the cossacks before him. He was quickly confronted by some regular Russian cavalry on his right. Durosnel ignored them, sending a few Polish lancers forward to inform Eugene of his advance. As he closed the Russian line, he directed the fire of his guns on it, but was promptly charged by the Russian cavalry supported by their own horse artillery. His men advanced steadily in square, firing at their antagonists. However, the Russians received a steady stream of
reinforcements, and Durosnel was forced to retreat. This retreat was made in good order, but Napoleon, worried for his “children,” had seconded this with an order carried by Latour-Maubourg to return.

  Though Durosnel's effort was not an obvious success, it did draw enough of the Russians away from Eugene's front to permit Eugene to be able to close with Napoleon. Napoleon was doubly pleased: he had saved both his chasseurs and Eugene.

  The Russian 6th Infantry Corps moved past Sorokino under the cover of their advanced guard and formed a line of battalion columns facing the main road. The 5th and 8th Infantry Corps did the same, forming a second and third line. Three regiments of the 1st Cuirassier Division deployed to the left of this infantry, and the entire force was directed to move behind the French advanced guard and maneuver on the French rear.

  Prince Galitzin, with the 3rd Infantry Corps and the 2nd Cuirassier Division, was ordered to Ouvarova to attack the French frontally. He joined Miloradovitch, who commanded the 2nd and 7th Infantry Corps and 1st and 2nd Cavalry Corps, near Larionovo, in an effort to cut Davout off from Napoleon. If Davout succeeded in escaping them, Miloradovitch was to turn and pursue his rear guard, supporting Galitzin's attack. In addition, the detachment of Count Ojarovski was to operate to the left of the main column.

  On 17 December Napoleon surveyed his situation. He had the columns of Miloradovitch, Strogonoff, and Galitzin on his right with 80,000 men and 100 guns, as well as a swarm of cossacks. They were moving on Liady and Orsha. It became obvious that if their maneuver succeeded, Napoleon would be cut off from Poana and separated from Ney and Davout.