The Opening Gambit

Although the Russians had no intention of departing, Ney and Oudinot interpreted their pinning order to mean that their best course would be to attack the superior Russians at first light. They saw their task as distracting Barclay until about 1 p.m., when they anticipated the Emperor would arrive and turn the tide of battle. However, they were unsure of their ability to hold out until then if they passively stood on the defensive and allowed their enemies to seize the initiative. Thus it was that at 6 a.m. "the braves of the 10th Division under Ledru stepped off the line to begin a general engagement with unseen Russian formations near Liozno." (Memoirs of Marshal Ney). They marched for one-and-a-half miles, with their right secured by Lake Buyevskoye, before they located Baggavout's II Corps. Bringing forward their artillery, the French commenced firing and the battle was on. After an hour's bombardment, Ledru, supported by the 11th Division under Razout, moved to the assault just South of Dubroyka.

In the instant they moved forward, Razout was killed by a stray cannonball and still more Russian guns caused Ledru's attack to falter. With Razout's death, his division fell into confusion and Ney had to assume command to prevent a panic. Even so, the 11th Division were unable to advance, while the 10th Division continued on alone. Coincidentally, the Russians had chosen this moment to launch their attacks, but the French advance caught them off-guard.

For a brief while Ledru found himself pushing back the Russians, but this success was short-lived. Counterattacking, the lead formations of Baggavout's II Corps flung Ney's divisions back and forced them to retire precipitately, leaving large numbers of casualties behind. Despite individual heroics, there was no denying that by 8.30 a.m. Ney had been badly damaged. The 10th and 11th retired behind their original start point, to take post with the 25th Division (severely weakened in earlier actions) defending Shakhi. By 10 a.m. Ney was desperately preparing his defense to try and offer some resistance in the event of a Russian pursuit. It was only mid-morning, and III Corps was in serious trouble

Oudinot's attacks East of Punische were met with equal ferocity. South of Punische, Legrand's 6th Division was selected for the assault, while Maison's 8th Division and the corps artillery stood North of the town providing support. Merle's 9th Division was in reserve behind Legrand and Montbrun's cavalry were two miles further back at Una. Legrand was ordered to assault the Russian division facing him (Konovinitzin's 3rd Division, of Tutchkow's III Corps) following a preliminary bombardment, but his available artillery was outmatched by 36 Russian guns and he got the worst of the exchange. Worse still, Maison was unable to give fire support because he quickly became engaged with a 60 gun Russian grand battery- Legrand would have to fend for himself. Though they had barely begun, by 8 a.m. the French attacks were already stalling. Oudinot was having doubts about the wisdom of his battle plan: "At this point, I regretted the folly of my orders but I knew it was too late to stop Legrand's assault." (Memoirs of Marshal Oudinot)

Battery Danger

Seeing the danger from the grand battery, Oudinot rode to Maison's side to converse. At that moment, a Russian shell exploded killing Maison outright and throwing the Marshal from his horse. Oudinot staggered to his feet, miraculously unhurt-- the first of many such adventures he would survive this day. He took control of the leaderless division and brought it safely out of action, away from the devastating Russian bombardment, to a prepared position a mile back. However, the troops were badly shaken and it took some time to re-establish an adequate command structure. Even so, they had been lucky. "Had the Russians assaulted us at that most critical point we would have been swept from the field. I fear the entire division would have panicked and routed in the face of the enemy". (Memoirs of Marshal Oudinot) But the assault did not come and the moment passed.

By 10 a.m., Oudinot learned that Legrand had suffered a similar discomfiture to Ledru and had been thrown back to his original position with heavy losses. The 26th Legere, who held the right of Legrand's position against an entire Russian division (Olsufieff's 17th Division, of Baggavout's II Corps) when Ney's flight exposed their flank, were singled out by Oudinot as having "saved the reputation of the army", but overall things were still going badly. Nansouty had arrived on Oudinot's open left flank (despite Napoleon's distant order to form up on Ney's right!), but it was guns, not horses, the French needed. A Russian counterattack was considered imminent, and Oudinot could see the battery that had so devastated Maison's division preparing to advance. Both Ney and Oudinot had failed to make headway in their assaults, had suffered heavily for their efforts, and were about to receive the Russian riposte. They still needed to hold out for at least three more hours before succor could be expected. Would they make it?

The Battle of Liozno: Background
The Battle of Liozno: Initial Dispositions
The Battle of Liozno: Opening Gambit
The Battle of Liozno: Meanwhile, to the South...
The Battle of Liozno: The Crisis of the Day
The Battle of Liozno: Decision Time
The Battle of Liozno: Order of Battle

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