First Battle of Polotsk

In the First Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot near the city of Polotsk, halting Oudinot's advance toward Saint Petersburg.^[5] The First Battle of Polotsk should be distinguished from the Second Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.^[6]

First Battle of Polotsk
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Belarusian Polatsak (Połacak)
Date 17–18 August 1812 Location Polotsk, Russian Empire 55°29′N 28°48′E Result Inconclusive[1]
Belligerents
French Empire Kingdom of Bavaria	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr Nicolas Oudinot (WIA)	Peter Wittgenstein
Strength
18,000–44,000 men[1][2][3] 150 guns[4][1]	17,000–20,000 men[1][2][3] 98 guns[4][1]
Casualties and losses
2,500–6,000[4][1][3]	1,800–5,500 killed and wounded[1][4][3] 1,200–1,500 captured[4][3] 14 guns[4][3]

French invasion of Russia

330km
205miles

Polotsk

15

Pultusk

14

Gorodeczno

13

Drohiczyn

12

Tauroggen

11

Riga

10

Tilsit

9

Warsaw

8

Berezina

7

Maloyaro-
slavets

6

Moscow

5

Borodino

4

Smolensk

3

Vitebsk

2

Vilna

1

Kowno

   

  current battle

  Prussian corps

  Napoleon

  Austrian corps

19th century Russian lithograph depicting Wittgenstein's Chevalier-Guardsmen fighting the first battle of Polotsk.

Prelude

After the battle of Klyastitsy and several minor losses, Oudinot's Corps retreated to Polotsk.^[7]

Battle

In the early morning of 17 August, the 1st Infantry Corps led by Wittgenstein attacked the French positions near the village of Spas, forcing the French to retreat. Oudinot transported additional units to the sector of the attack and also counterattacked in the centre. By the night both the French and the Russians managed to keep their positions. Oudinot was wounded and had to hand over the command to Gouvion Saint-Cyr.^[7]

The next morning Gouvion Saint-Cyr undertook a major offensive. He managed to mislead Wittgenstein about the area of the offensive, regroup his troops and suddenly attack the left flank and centre of the Russian positions. In the beginning the offensive was a major success, the French troops crushed the Russians and captured seven cannon.^[7]

When defeat seemed imminent, Wittgenstein organized a cavalry counterattack. It caused a scare among the French, who ceased the offensive and retreated. Wittgenstein retreated to the Drissa. Wittgenstein managed with his much smaller force to effectively halt the two French corps advancing on Saint Petersburg. This success later won him the post of Russian general-in-chief.^[7]

Casualties

French-Bavarian losses numbered 6,000 killed, wounded. The Russians lost 5,500. Bavarian general officer losses were heavy. General of Infantry Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy was mortally wounded and General-Major Siebein was killed. General-Majors Vincenti and Raglovitch were both wounded. Among the French, both Oudinot and General of Brigade François Valentin were wounded. Russian Generals Berg, Hamen, and Kazatchkowski suffered wounds.^[8][7]

Aftermath

For the next two months both the French and the Russians did not attempt to upset the balance of powers.^[8][7]

See also

• List of battles of the French invasion of Russia