Second battle of Polotsk

At the time of the second battle of Polotsk which took place of the 18 to the October 20th 1812, the Russians ordered by the general Pierre Wittgenstein attacked and demolishes the Free-Bavarian army of Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr military school.

Context

In its advance on Moscow, Napoleon leaves a quota of French and Bavarian troops with Polotsk to preserve its northern side against Wittgenstein. Located at 320 kilometers in the west of the Polish border, and at 240 kilometers of Smolensk, the free-Bavarian army occupies a strategic position, whose command is entrusted to Laurent de Gouvion-Saint-Cyr.

Napoleon hopes to prevent Wittgenstein from walking to the south to encircle the Large army, cutting it of his communications and his supply while it would attack large Russian army close to Moscow.

The French position of Polotsk is also important because it protects Vitebsk, one of three centers that Napoleon established in the Western part of the Russian empire (current Bielorussia), in order to ensure the provisioning of food and fuel the Large army, if the countryside would be prolonged too a long time in winter.

A First battle of Polotsk, had taken place in August, consistent in a surrounding of the army of Wittgenstein. If the French victory had been not very convincing, it had at least made it possible to the French to block the Russians, and to thus achieve the objective which was to hold the “line of Dwina” . For this reason, this small victory could thus be regarded as a true success by Napoleon.

Mid-October, however, the strategic balance of the forces with Polotsk clearly rocked. The forces of Wittgenstein were massively reinforced and are now numerically higher than the French forces. The Russian general lays out at this time, of 31 000 regular soldiers and of 9 000 militiamans with Polotsk even, for which it is advisable to add a second force of 9 000 soldiers ordered by the Steingal general, operating with the back and the city. That is to say on the whole, close to 50 000 men. Against them, Gouvion Saint-Cyr military school does not have that 23 at most with 27 000 men.

The battle

The October 18th, Wittgenstein launches the offensive against the “line of Dwina”

The first day of the combat, the Russians launch seven consecutive frontal attacks against the French positions, while Steingal starts to advance on the back of the French. The combat with Polotsk is terrible and bloody. The French lose close to 8 000 men, against 8 000 with 12 000 for the Russians. At the end of the day, each of the seven attacks was pushed back.

Saint-Cyr military school clamp victory, but the business is not finished. Projecting to start again an attack once the arrived forces of Steingal, Wittgenstein maintains an artillery bombardment intensive. Most of the city is devoured by the flames.

The October 19th, Steingal advances with less than 6 kilometers of Polotsk. Saint-Cyr military school realizes that he is threatened of surrounding. Knowing the insupportable position, the French start to evacuate the city during the night. A wild combat of door with door engages when the Russians launch the final attack.

Having decided to make retirement towards the south, Saint-Cyr military school order with the Bavarian quota to push back Steingal. The Bavarian load takes place early the next day, if impressive that Steingal moves back under heavy losses. The French are saved surrounding, but the position of Polotsk is lost.

Consequences

The shortly after this success, the Russians take Polotsk thus putting a brake application at the operations of Napoleon in Bielorussia. The victory of Wittgenstein is a stage towards the Bataille of Bérézina in November, where three Russian armies coming from various directions, convergent on the Large army.

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