Battle of Klyastitsy

The battles of Klyastitsy is a relatively minor engagement which took place of the July 30th to the 1812 close to the village of Klyastitsy on the road of Polatsk to Sebezh (Bielorussia). In this battle the Russian army ordered by Pierre Wittgenstein to defend Saint-Petersbourg, demolishes the French Army of the marshal Oudinot

Context

The July 28th twelve French squadrons of cavalry are attacked by surprised by eight squadrons of hussards and Cosaques of the Russian general Jakob Petrovich Kulnev. In spite of their numerical superiority, the French squadrons lose the skirmish and beat a retreat.

At this time, in its advance on Saint-Petersbourg, Oudinot occupies the village of Klyastitsy. It lays out 28 000 men to be opposed to the 17 000 what counts the Russians. In spite of that, Wittgenstein decides to fight.

The Battle

The battle begins the July 30th at 2 p.m. Russian avant-garde carried out by Kulnev (4 000 men) faces the French avant-garde close to the village of Yakubov. Kulnev managed to encircle the French but those keep the control of the village. The next day, after several attacks and counter-attacks, the pressure of the Russians forces Oudinot to make retirement on Klyastitsy. In order to continue their advance the Russian troops must cross the Nishcha river. Oudinot order to set fire to the single bridge. While the Russian cavalry patauge in Nishcha, the 2nd battalion of the regiment of pomegranates of Pavlovsk precipitates on the bridge in flames.

After having crossed the river Drissa it, Kulnev continues the French with several regiments of cavalry and a battalion of infantry. Its units fall into an ambush and suffer from severe losses under fire from French artillery. Kulnev itself is wounded, a ball of gun carried the two legs to him, it succumbs the very same day.

Finally Oudinot makes retirement until Polatsk and the French offensive on Saint-Petersbourg fails.

Wittgenstein receives the Ordre of Saint-George to the second degree. It is reported that Alexandre Ier of Russia calls it from now on: “the saver Saint-Petersbourg”. The Krylov captain, of which the unit was the first to cross the river on the bridge in flames, receives the order of Saint-George to the fourth degree.

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