| First Battle of Polotsk | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theFrench invasion of Russia | |||||||
 Jean-Charles Langlois. Battle of Polotsk on August 18, 1812 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire Kingdom of Bavaria |  Russian Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Laurent de Gouvion Saint-CyrNicolas Oudinot (WIA) | Peter Wittgenstein | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 18,000–19,000 men involved[1][2][3][4] 150 guns[5][1] 44,000 men total available[6] | 17,000–22,000 men[1][6][3] 98 guns[5][1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,500–6,000[5][1][3] | 1,800–5,500 killed and wounded[1][5][3] 1,200–1,500 captured[5][3] 14 guns[5][3] | ||||||
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In theFirst Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812,Russian troops under the command ofPeter Wittgenstein foughtFrench andBavarian troops led byNicolas Oudinot near the city ofPolotsk, halting Oudinot's advance towardSaint Petersburg once more as at theBattle of Klyastitsy. It was a strategic Russian success, but tactically the battle ended in a draw.[7][4] The First Battle of Polotsk should be distinguished from theSecond Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.[8]
After thebattle of Klyastitsy and several minor losses, Oudinot's Corps retreated toPolotsk.[4]
In the early morning of 17 August, the 1stInfantry Corps led by Wittgenstein attacked the French positions near the village of Spas, forcing the French to retreat. Oudinot transported additional units to the sector of the attack and also counterattacked in the centre. By the night both the French and the Russians managed to keep their positions. Oudinot was wounded and had to hand over the command toGouvion Saint-Cyr.[4]
The next morning Gouvion Saint-Cyr undertook a major offensive. He managed to mislead Wittgenstein about the area of the offensive, regroup his troops and suddenly attack the left flank and centre of the Russian positions. In the beginning the offensive was a major success, the French troops crushed the Russians and captured seven cannon.[4]
When defeat seemed imminent, Wittgenstein organized a cavalry counterattack. It caused a scare among the French, who ceased the offensive and retreated. Wittgenstein retreated to theDrissa. Wittgenstein managed with his much smaller force to effectively halt the two French corps advancing on Saint Petersburg. This success later won him the post of Russian general-in-chief.[4]
French-Bavarian losses numbered 6,000 killed, wounded. The Russians lost 5,500. Bavariangeneral officer losses were heavy. General of InfantryBernhard Erasmus von Deroy was mortally wounded and General-Major Siebein was killed. General-Majors Vincenti andRaglovitch were both wounded. Among the French, both Oudinot and General of Brigade François Valentin were wounded. Russian Generals Berg, Hamen, and Kazatchkowski suffered wounds.[9][4]
Gaston Bodart does not give victory to either side;[1]George Nafziger claims that Saint-Cyr "defeated Wittgenstein's numerically inferior force, but it was an inconclusive battle;"[5]Dominic Lieven describes it as if it were astrategic victory for the Russians;[10]Hugh Seton-Watson notes that both sides declared victory;[11] Micheal Clodfelter defines it as a victory for the French.[3] For the next two months both the French and the Russians did not attempt to upset the balance of powers.[9][4]
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Media related toBattle of Polack (1812, August) at Wikimedia Commons| Preceded by Battle of Smolensk (1812) | Napoleonic Wars First Battle of Polotsk | Succeeded by Battle of Valutino |