Battle of Kaidanowo
Battle of Kaidanowo | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the French invasion of Russia | |||||||
Napoleon's retreat by Vasily Vereshchagin | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russian Empire |
French Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Charles de Lambert | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
3,800[1]-4,000[2] | 1,300[1]-2,000[2] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
unknown | 1,000[1]-2,000[2] |
The Battle of Kaidanowo was fought on Sunday, 15 November 1812, near the village of Kaidanava, part of the Russian Empire at the time.[3] A Lithuanian,[4] Württembergian, and French force under General of 1,300-2,000 was defeated by seasoned Russian forces led by General Charles de Lambert of about 3,800-4,000.[3][2][1]
Background[]
On one side was General Kossecki's division, which was mauled two days ago at Nowo Schwerschen, which was reinforced after the battle with Württembergian infantry and French cavalry units.[3] On the other side was cavalry from the Army of the Danube.[3]
Order of Battle[]
According to Pugačiauskas, the regiments under Kossecki were:[5]
- incompletely formed (1,500)
- (940)
- Kossakowski's Chasseurs à pied Regiment (two battalions, total 634)
Battle[]
Lambert mounted a pursuit, catching them at Kaidanowo, where he destroyed most of the detachment.
The Russian cavalry charge proved devastating, as the unseasoned did not withstand it and retreated.[4] The regiment's commander, Stanisław Czapski, tried to halt the retreat and even shot insubordinate soldiers, but his actions were unable to rectify the situation.[4] All three Lithuanian regiments suffered losses.[5]
Kossecki and about 100 of his cavalry escaped back to Minsk.[6]
Aftermath[]
Of the 22nd Lithuanian Infantry Regiment, a mere 30 officers and 53 soldiers remained.[4] Stanisław Czapski was awarded the Legion of Honour by Napoleon due to his effort in this battle.[7]
The survived this battle, which was its first, relatively unscathed, as it managed to evade Russian capture and retreated towards Berezina.[8]
Bronikowski and about 1,000 men evacuated Minsk and, including about 500 men of the 7th Württembergian Infantry Regiment, marched to Barysaw. A number of civilians of the administration together with many soldiers escaped to Vilnius, where they caused a panic because the inhabitants thought that the Russians were following them.[6]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d clash-of-steel 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bodart 1908, p. 443.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Smith 2004, p. 147.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Pugačiauskas 2019, p. 33.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Pugačiauskas 2007, p. 108.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Riehn 1990, pp. 367–368.
- ^ Pugačiauskas 2019, p. 37.
- ^ Pugačiauskas 2019, p. 16.
Sources[]
- Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905) (in German). Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- clash-of-steel (2021). "Battle Name : Kaidanowo". Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- Pugačiauskas, Virgilijus (2007). "LIETUVOS NUOSTOLIAI 1812 M. KARE". Karo Archyvas (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. 22. ISSN 1392-6489.
- Pugačiauskas, Virgilijus (2019). XIX A. LIETUVOS KARINIŲ DALINIŲ ISTORIJA (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. ISBN 978-609-8074-97-0.
- Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- Smith, Digby (2004). Napoleon against Russia: a concise history of 1812. Great Britain: Pen and Sword Military. ISBN 9781783409587.
- Conflicts in 1812
- Battles of the Napoleonic Wars
- Battles involving Russia
- Battles involving France
- 19th century in the Russian Empire
- 1812 in the Russian Empire
- November 1812 events
- Battles of the French invasion of Russia