Battle of Borisov

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Battle of Borisov
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Crossing the Berezina River, by Peter von Hess.jpg
Kalmyks and Bashkirs attacking French troops at the Berezina
Date21 November 1812
Location 54°13′40″N28°30′17″E / 54.22778°N 28.50472°E / 54.22778; 28.50472
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Flag of the Duchy of Warsaw.svg Duchy of Warsaw
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg French Empire
Flag of Russia.svg Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Duchy of Warsaw.svg Jan Dombrowsky Flag of Russia.svg Charles de Lambert  (WIA)
Strength
3,000 [1] 3,500 [1]
Casualties and losses
Entire Army [1] 2,000 [1]
Battle of Borisov
Invisible Square.svg
Invisible Square.svg
Mapscaleline.svg
500km
300miles
Borisov
Invisible Square.svg
Pultusk
15
Gorodeczno
14
Invisible Square.svg
Drohiczyn
13
Tauroggen
12
Invisible Square.svg
Riga
11
Invisible Square.svg
Tilsit
10
Warsaw
9
Berezina
8
Invisible Square.svg
Maloyaro-
slavets
7
Invisible Square.svg
Moscow
6
Invisible Square.svg
Borodino
5
Invisible Square.svg
Smolensk
4
Invisible Square.svg
Vitebsk
3
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Vilna
2
  current battle
  Prussian corps
  Napoleon
  Austrian corps

The Battle of Borisov took place on 21 November 1812, between parts of the French army and parts of the Russian armies. The Russian army under Charles de Lambert defeated the French troops under Dombrowsky. [1]

Contents

Background

The French had suffered a defeat just two weeks earlier during the Battle of Krasnoi. Napoleon's army amounted to no more than 20,000 combatants. However, the union with Victor, Oudinot and Dombrowsky brought the numerical strength of the Grande Armée back up to some 49,000 French combatants as well as about 40,000 stragglers. [2] But Minsk had been occupied by Chichagov on 16 November 1812 who reached the Berezina with about 31,500 combatants. [3]

Battle

On the 21 November, the Russians under Lambert occupied Borisov in the morning before Oudinot could come up as the sentries had been ambushed. Dombrowski had about 2,000 men left. The Russian casualties were about 2,000. [3] Lambert was seriously wounded in the leg.

Aftermath

The Russians destroyed the bridge at Borisov on 22 November. [3] The Battle of Loschniza is Oudinot 's reaction.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bodart 1908, p. 444.
  2. Chandler 1966, p. 841.
  3. 1 2 3 Riehn 1990, pp. 375–377.

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References