Battle of Swolna

Battle of Swolna
Part of the French invasion of Russia

Near Beshenkovichi, on the banks of the Western Dvina, Belarus. July 29, 1812. 1830s
Date11 August 1812
Location55°43′0″N 28°2′0″E / 55.71667°N 28.03333°E / 55.71667; 28.03333
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Russian Empire French Empire
Commanders and leaders
General d'Auvray Nicolas Oudinot
Strength
9,000[1] 10,000[1]
Casualties and losses
700–800[1][2] 1,500[1][2]
330km
205miles
Swolna
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 Swolna took place 11 August 1812 near the village of Swolna where Oudinot ran at the river Svolna into the Russians.[1][2]

Prelude

Napoleon had sent a Bavarian Corps to reinforce the troops of Oudinot. Although they were hit hard by dysentery Oudinot started a new offensive.[3] Russian troops moved towards the village of Kokhanovichi, since d'Auvray decided that the lateral advance guard of the French was heading there, and his main forces were heading towards the city of Sebezh. In fact, the French are into this for a while they was moving towards Osveya, across from the Russian 1st Separate Infantry Corps. On August 10, Oudinot’s troops advanced to the Svolnyapekh River, the forward detachments occupied the village of Kokhanovichi, the Swolna manor and the village of Ostry Konets (several kilometers upstream the Swolna River), where there were bridges across the Swolna River.[4]

Battle

Neither side was able to enforce the crossing of the Svolna.[2]

Aftermath

Oudinot retreated behind the Drissa.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 434.
  2. ^ a b c d e Riehn 1990, p. 277.
  3. ^ Riehn 1990, p. 276.
  4. ^ Отечественная война 1812 года: Энциклопедия (Patriotic War of 1812: an Encyclopedia) (in Russian). Moscow: РОССПЭН. 2004, p. 644

References

  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  • Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780070527317. Retrieved 7 April 2021.