Battle of Liaskowa

Battle of Liaskowa
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Cossacks were an irregular Russian cavalry best suited for the attack of the enemy’s supply lines without joining a regular battle.
Date 9 November 1812 Location Liaskowa, Lyakhovo, 40 km southeast of Smolensk, Russia 54°33′58″N 32°36′11″E / 54.56611°N 32.60306°E / 54.56611; 32.60306Coordinates: 54°33′58″N 32°36′11″E / 54.56611°N 32.60306°E / 54.56611; 32.60306 Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Orlow-Denisov	Pierre Augereau
Strength
3,500[1]	2,000[1]
Casualties and losses
700-800[1]	1,500[1]
Location within Smolensk Oblast Battle of Liaskowa (European Russia) Battle of Liaskowa (Europe) Show map of Smolensk OblastShow map of European RussiaShow map of EuropeShow all

The Battle of Liaskowa took place 9 November 1812 near the village of Liaskowa, where 3,500 Cossacks under Vasily Orlov-Denisov defeated 2,000 soldiers of the Grande Armée under Augereau.^[1]

Background[]

Mikhail Kutuzov in his Attrition warfare against Napoleon had increased the guerrilla warfare of the Cossacks and the people's war of the peasants thereby slowly weakening the French army.^[2] During the retreat of the Grande Armée from Moscow to Poland Kutuzov with his main army avoided following Napoleon directly. Kutuzov escorted the Grande Armée on parallel roads in unspoilt regions of the south.^[3]

Battle[]

3,500 Cossacks under Vasily Orlov-Denisov defeated 2,000 soldiers of the Grande Armée under Augereau.^[1]

Aftermath[]

The Grande Armée had its next major fight in the Battle of Krasnoi.

References[]

Literature[]

• Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 10 April 2021.
• Davidov, Denis (1999). In the Service of the Tsar Against Napoleon, 1806–1814. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-373-0.
• Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. Retrieved 10 April 2021.