Napoleon’s Eagles (Part 4)
Russia 1812

Northern Pincer and 2nd Polotsk

by Kevin Birkett, FINS, Eire

The Northern Pincer

16th October to 23rd November 1812

Since the repulse of the Russians at Pol-otsk in mid-August the two protagonists had remained largely quiescent, the French in Pol-otsk and the Russians around Sivochina. Apart from numerous skirmishes between cavalry patrols in the no-mans land that separated the two armies there had been little military activ-ity. Despite this much had changed in the relative positions of the opposing forces.

In Polotsk St. Cyr’s forces had melted away until by mid-October the II and VI Corps numbered only 22,000 men under arms. Realising that he had very little chance of receiving reinforcements St. Cyr had set up an immense entrenched camp around the city and there awaited further developments.

Wittgenstein’s position on the other hand had greatly improved. While in Sivochina he had received news of the Tsar’s meeting with Bernadotte at Åbo and of his subsequent decision to attack Napoleon’s lines of communications using the First Corps and Tshitsagov’s army.

He also received news that he was to be reinforced by Steinheil’s Army of Finland which, when added to the reinforcements that had arrived in his own camp in late summer, would bring the forces available to implement the Tsar’s plan to 45,000. By mid-October, having assisted Essen in an offensive around Riga to draw Macdonald’s forces back to the Lower Dvina and then having ascended the river, Steinheil was in position; Wittgenstein’s offensive could begin.

The first Russian scouts appeared before Polotsk on the 17th October and over the subsequent forty-eight hours the remainder of Wittgenstein’s First Corps arrived, mounting a series of determined, but ultimately fruitless, assaults on the French entrenchments. French jubilation at this success however was short-lived.

On the 19th St. Cyr received word that Steinheil, having crossed the Dvina at Drissa, was advancing on his rear. Realising his peril St. Cyr dispatched Wrede with the VI Corps to deal with this new threat. Wrede succeeded brilliantly, surprising Steinheil and driving back the Russians in disorder. This success though could only be temporary; Polotsk would have to be abandoned. That night the French were able to withdraw from the city, burning the bridges behind them.

On the morning of the 20th the II and VI Corps went their separate ways. Wrede, given command of his countrymen in the VI Corps and Corbineau’s light cavalry brigade, was ordered, having first completed his pursuit of Steinheil, to retire on Gloubokoie.

Meantime St.Cyr retired to the south towards Lepel and Tshashniki on the river Oula in the hope of receiving assistance from Victor’s IX Corps. Victor, who had spent much of the campaign thus far in Smolensk acting as a general reserve, had long hesitated between countering the thrust of Tshitsagov and assisting the forces engaged on the Dvina.

The events in Polotsk had at last decided him; he would march north. Unfortunately such was the distance to be covered it was not until the 31st October that he and his advance guard joined the II Corps on the Oula where he assumed command from the wounded St.. Cyr.

The union of the two corps came not a moment too soon. Having repaired the burnt bridges on the morning of the 31st Wittgenstein attacked the French at Tshashniki before their concentration was completed driving them towards Senno. This success opened the way to Borisov and his rendezvous with Tshitsagov however, inexplicably, Wittgenstein, apart from sending troops to retake Vitebsk – a task accomplished on the 7th November, remained motionless on the Oula.

On the 4th November Oudinot rejoined the II Corps unfortunately however this only added to French problems. Unwilling to recognise Oudinot’s seniority Victor departed with the IX Corps to Kokhanov leaving the commander of the II Corps, having marched his men for several days round various parts of the province, to establish himself at Tschereia. Drawing near to the scene of these manoeuvrings, he had entered Smolensk on the 9th, Napoleon decided that Wittgenstein would have to be pushed back if he were to reach Borisov in safety. Accordingly orders were issued and on the 13th Victor moved back towards Tshashniki.

On the 14th Victor’s advance guard ran into Wittgenstein’s at Smoliantsy and the following day the IX and First Corps squared up to each other in earnest. In the event though the expected battle failed to materialise as, both sides having contented themselves with a long-range artillery duel, news arrived of the true condition of the Grande Armée. With the news came fresh orders from Napoleon. The IX Corps was ordered to retire slowly ahead of the Russians and, joining the main Orsha/Borisov road at Bobr, form the rear guard of the army, a feat it accomplished on the 22nd November.

Oudinot too received instructions to retire slowly on Borisov however this all changed on the 17th when Tshitsagov took Minsk. Quick to realise the importance of this development Napoleon, on hearing the news, ordered Oudinot to march promptly on Borisov. Receiving his new instructions on the 20th Oudinot dispatched a messenger to the garrison of Borisov.

The message was simple hold the vital bridge at all costs; the II Corps will arrive in two days. Unfortunately he was too late; the II Corps met Dombrowski’s defeated Poles on the road, the town, bridge, and the fort that dominates it were in the hands of the Russians.

Fortunately, carried away by his success, Tshitsagov had advanced beyond the town and into the plain beyond. On the 23rd, his cavalry to the fore, Oudinot met the Russian advance guard, under the command of the émigré General Lambert, some nine miles from the town. Without hesitation the French cavalry charged, Doumerc’s Cuirassiers easily putting the Russian cavalry to flight.

Taking up the pursuit Castex’s Chasseurs drove all before them but so hindered were they by baggage abandoned on the road that they were unable to reach the bridge before the fleeing Russians. With the river not sufficiently frozen to allow passage and with his supporting infantry nine miles to the rear, Castex had no recourse other than to order his troopers to assault the bridge.

Dismounting three-quarters of his troopers, Castex led them on to the bridge where despite the best efforts of the Russian artillery they made some progress. However armed only with carbines the Chasseurs were no match for the musket and bayonet armed Russian Grenadiers who, charging on to the bridge, drove them from it. Withdrawing from the bridge the Russians set light to the structure. The Grande Armée was trapped.

2nd Battle of Polotsk

18th and 19th October 1812

Galloping between two redoubts Chef d’escadron Curely led his squadron of the 20eme Chasseurs à Chevel towards their quarry.

Brushing aside his quarry’s escort Curely put the point of his sword to his quarry’s throat. ‘Yield’ he demanded. With a reluctant shrug General der Kavallerie Ludwig Adolf Peter Wittgenstein, Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg gave himself up to his captors.

Wittgenstein had arrived at Polotsk the previous evening, 16th October, in compliance with the Tsar’s instructions to resume the offensive. Since his previous attempt to take the city Wittgenstein’s position had greatly improved.

Throughout the summer reinforcements had flooded into his camp until by mid-October he had some 33,000 men under his direct command. In addition to this he was also given command of Steinheil’s 12,000 strong Army of Finland. It was Steinheil’s arrival in the region that finally signalled the start of the offensive.

While Wittgenstein’s strength had greatly improved so too had the defences around Polotsk. St. Cyr had spent the summer constructing a series of redoubts around the city. In addition several bridges were added to those already uniting the two banks of the Dvina.

To defend these works St. Cyr had some 22,000 men. To the left of the Polota, where this stream and a number of well-armed redoubts protected the city, he placed the Swiss and Croats of Merle’s division together with a small number of Bavarians.

To the right of the Polota, in the quarter where an attack was most likely to be successful, he placed the divisions of Legrand and Maison, formerly Verdier’s. On the left bank of the Dvina he placed all but five squadrons of cavalry together with the bulk of Wrede’s Bavarians and all the sick and the non-combatants.

The fighting began on the 18th.

The initial assault was on the open right of the French line with the intention of drawing reinforcements over to that quarter. Pushed home with great vigour General Diebitsch’s attacks were beaten off by Maison and Legrand with the aid of flanking fire from a Bavarian battery on the left bank of the river. This was a double blow for the Russians for not only had they been repulsed but they had failed to lure Merle’s division from the left.

While these events were taking place on the right of the French line on the left the main Russian attack under Prince Jachwill was developing. It was at this point, in the vicinity of the Spass Convent, that Wittgenstein was taken. Imprudently advancing ahead of his corps Wittgenstein’s escort were surprised and the general taken.

The success though was short-lived. Recovering, the escort counter-attacked. Rather than flee with or slay their captive the troopers of the 20eme Chasseurs à Chevel stood their ground. In the ensuing melee Curely was knocked to the ground allowing Wittgenstein to make his escape.

A golden opportunity to cripple the Russian offensive had slipped through St. Cyr’s fingers. Jachwill meanwhile had emerged from the woods and was assaulting the redoubts under Merle’s command. Also pushed home with great vigour Jachwill’s attacks too were driven off. The results could have been far worse for the Russians had not the Swiss sallied forth from their positions thereby blocking the fire from St. Cyr’s carefully placed batteries. At this point night intervened putting an end to the fighting.

Overnight, faulty French reconnaissance reported that the Russians had as yet not breached the line of the Dvina. However dawn found Wittgenstein’s forces under arms but not advancing. Suspecting a trap St. Cyr again sent out his cavalry. This time the French discovered Steinheil’s army marching up the left bank of the Dvina to seal the French in the city.

St. Cyr reacted quickly, dispatching Gen-eral Wrede with a mixed force to counter this threat. Wrede, surprising Steinheil, drove the Russians back in disorder.

St. Cyr’s position was now critical. On the right bank the French were pressed back by an army twice their strength towards a town built entirely of wood and a sizeable river, with no means of retreat except the bridges, which were threatened by Steinheil’s troops on the left bank. Many generals urged St. Cyr to retire immediately however the marshal stood his ground convinced that the first sign of retreat would bring the whole of Wittgenstein’s corps onto his back. He would wait until nightfall.

First to retire from the city were the batteries and cavalry squadrons followed by the infantry. All was going well until Legrand’s troops, unwilling to allow the Russians the use of their huts, set fire to them. In a moment the other divisions followed suit causing a vast conflagration.

Alerted, the Russians opened up with all their guns and mortars setting fire to the city itself. Before long Russian columns were charging into this inferno seeking to disrupt the retreat but failing as Maison’s division disputed every foot of ground. Losses were considerable but eventually the French were able to complete their withdrawal. St. Cyr had escaped Wittgenstein’s trap. Safely beyond the reach of the First Corps St. Cyr turned his attention to Steinheil. Advancing swiftly the Bavarians finally put Steinheil to flight.

These three days and one night had cost the Russians some 10,000 killed or wounded, while French losses were around half that number. Perhaps though the greatest casualty on the French side was St. Cyr, wounded once again.

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

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