Battle of Borisov

Battle of Borisov
Part of the French invasion of Russia

Kalmyks and Bashkirs attacking French troops at the Berezina
Date21 November 1812
Location54°13′40″N 28°30′17″E / 54.22778°N 28.50472°E / 54.22778; 28.50472
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Duchy of Warsaw
French Empire
Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Jan Dombrowsky Charles de Lambert (WIA)
Strength
3,000[1] 3,500[1]
Casualties and losses
3,000[1] 2,000[1]
330km
205miles
Borisov
15
Pultusk
14
Gorodeczno
13
Drohiczyn
12
Tauroggen
11
Riga
10
Tilsit
9
Warsaw
8
Berezina
7
Maloyaro-
slavets
6
Moscow
5
Borodino
4
Smolensk
3
Vitebsk
2
Vilna
1
Kowno
  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]

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. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 444.
  2. ^ Chandler 1966, p. 841.
  3. ^ a b c Riehn 1990, pp. 375–377.

References

  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  • Chandler, David (1966). The Campaigns of Napoleon. Weidenfeld and Nicolson. ISBN 9780025236608. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  • Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780070527317. Retrieved 10 April 2021.