Napoleon’s Eagles:
Russia 1812

Battle of Ostronovo

by Kevin Birkett, FINS, Eire

25th and 26th July 1812

At 6 a.m. on the 25th July, while advancing along the tree lined road which ran between Biechenkowski and Ostronovo, General Piré, commanding the lead cavalry brigade of the Grande Armée, spied a company of Russian horse artillery on a small hill overlooking the road.

Driving off its escort, three Russian cavalry regiments, Piré fell on the hapless battery, sabred the gunners and took all eight guns. Mounting the disputed hill, accompanied by Murat who had witnessed the closing stages of the clash, Piré was rewarded with the sight that the Grande Armée had long sought. There before him in order of battle stood the 12,000 men and 48 guns that constituted Ostermann-Tolstoi’s Fourth Corps. The Grande Armée had caught the rear guard of Barclay’s First Army of the West.

Piré’s brigade was the vanguard of a vast French host that had been attempting to outflank and envelope Barclay’s army. Much of that host was still far to the rear however nearer to hand was the remainder of Bruyère’s light cavalry division, an infantry regiment of Delzons’ division of the IV Corps, St. Germaine’s cuirassiers, which together with Bruyère’s division constituted Nansouty’s I Cavalry Corps, and finally the remainder of Eugène’s IV Corps.

In all Murat would eventually have some 22,000 men and 36 guns with which to brush aside the Russians. However for the moment only the cavalry was present and it was with this that he received the first attack.

Positioning the cuirassiers on his left towards the Dvina, Delzons’ regiment in the center supported by part of Bruyère’s division and the remainder of that division on the right, Murat sent word to Eugène to hasten the arrival of Delzons’ division. However it was the Russians who struck first, sending a dragoon regiment against the Poles positioned on Murat’s right. Roused by the sight of their ancient enemies the Poles counter-charged driving the Russians from the field. Next Ostermann-Tolstoi sent three battalions against the 8th Light Infantry positioned in the centre, however this attack too was beaten off by a timely cavalry charge.

Tiring of frontal assaults Ostermann-Tolstoi next attempted to surprise Murat by advancing several battalions through the woods that encompassed the French flanks. Emerging from the woods these battalions met the same fate as their countrymen. Charged by the French and Polish lancers they were broken and driven back into the woods. These combats had occupied several hours allowing time for the remainder of Delzons’ division to arrive on the field.

Realising the futility of any further resistance Ostermann-Tolstoi fell back the three miles to Ostronovo. In all the Russians had lost some 1,200 men dead or wounded together with 700 men and 8 guns captured, while the French had suffered just 400 casualties. However the Russians had achieved their objective of delaying the French advance.

Overnight the Russians retired to a strong position some six miles east of Ostronovo where Pahlen’s Third Cavalry Corps and Konovnitzin’s division of the Third Corps, bringing their strength up to 22,000 men and 84 guns, joined them. Following up the French passed through the town in the morning and proceeded along the main road towards Vitebsk.

Advancing along the birch lined road cut by numerous ravines the French were flanked on their right by wooded hills while to their left could be seen the Dvina as it meandered across the Russian countryside. It was behind one of these ravines that at 8 a.m. they again made contact with Ostermann-Tolstoi’s troops.

Lacking infantry Murat was forced to limit himself to threatening the Russian flank by mounting cavalry demonstrations across the Dvina while he awaited the arrival of Delzons’ division. Arriving before the ravine shortly thereafter, Delzons immediately deployed his troops sending brigades to the left and the right while retaining another in reserve. The right brigade soon met with difficulties and was unable to penetrate into the heavily wooded hills under the fire of the well-placed Russian infantrymen. Meanwhile though General Huard’s left brigade succeeded in crossing the ravine and mounting the plateau on the far side.

Seizing the opportunity the troops of the centre, the 8th light, the artillery and light cavalry, also crossed the ravine and mounted the by now deserted plateau.

Soon the troops of the left were forging ahead, exposing their right flank to the enemy. Profiting by this circumstance the Russian reserves furiously counter-attacked driving the French left to the brink of the ravine and threatening the artillery in the centre. Fortunately Murat reacted with his usual coolness in a crisis.

Personally leading the Polish lancers he overthrew the first battalion and put the remainder of the Russian reserve to flight. Meantime a detachment of 8th light secured the artillery and the 106th, up until then held in reserve, advanced to support the left. With the crisis past and the centre and left secured Murat and Eugène turned their attention to the opposite flank.

There General Roussel’s brigade was having the greatest difficulty overcoming the twin obstacles of the woods and the heights under heavy fire from Konovnitzin’s infantry. Placing himself at the head of the brigade Junot, Eugène’s chief of staff, led the French forwards and, overthrowing all before them, they at last penetrated into the forest.

Meantime a French light cavalry brigade, together with infantry support, outflanked the Russian left and it too secured a foothold in the forest. With his position turned Ostermann-Tolstoi was left with no choice but to retire taking advantage of the deep ravines and impenetrable thickets of the area to slow down his tormenters’ pursuit.

This second clash cost the French a further 1,200 casualties including Roussel who was struck down by a Russian dragoon. Ostermann-Tolstoi meantime, who had lost another 2,000 men, had succeeded in gaining Barclay another twenty-four hours in which to conduct his retreat unmolested.

Napoleon's Eagles (Part 1) Invasion of Russia 1812

Napoleon's Eagles (Part 2) Invasion of Russia 1812 by Kevin Birkett

Napoleon's Eagles (Part 3) Invasion of Russia 1812

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