Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

200 years + 1 day ago La Grande Armee, France, Europe and the whole world passed through a watershed. It's name is Maloyaroslavets.

Before October 24th, 1812 for almost 20 years it was Napoleon who possessed initiative. It was he who dictated the rules of the game. The rules that made a mere survival of opposing army a very difficult problem.

At Maloyaroslavets it all changed. From now on it was Napoleon and his army who become a prey. A very much coveted and an extremely dangerous prey. Like a wild beast it was chased into it's lair, captured there and placed into a misery of menagery at Elbe and then St. Helena. There were many brilliant strokes and bright victories, but never was He able to overcome the fact demonstrated at Maloyaroslavets - the strategic initiative he possessed no more.

It's often said that Maloyaroslavets was a tactical French victory while a severe strategic defeat. This sounds extremely strange. Being unable to proceed towards Kalouga Napoleon took country roads to come to the main highway towards Smolensk. On this several day long journey La Grande Armee lost more guns, wagoons and horses it has ever lost before. This hastily conducted retreat with hundreds of guns left behind was a beginning of the end. This retreat was a direct consequence of the battle at Maloyaroslavets. This humiliation may not be separated from the battle.

One must have in mind that General Frost has nothing to do with this outcome. 200 years ago, just like today, it was a normall autumn, just like anywhere in Europe. During the day the temperature is several degrees above zero, while during the night it almost never gets below the freezing point. Puddles are almost never covered with ice so early in the year. In 1805,1806 and 1813 in exactly the same weather Napoleon could fight extremely effectively. in 1807 and 1809 during the spring campaigns with very similar weather he was also deadly. But not in October 1812. To repeat Denis Davydoff's arguements, it was the Russian army who made him retreat like that. The weather conditions played only a secondary role.

The road from Maly to St. Helena was not straight and easy. And actually there was a road that led in another direction. It was going through a tiny town of Medyn. V corps advance guard under Lefebvre-Desnouettes was to open this sideway road that would allow to move from Borovsk to Smolensk. Exactly 200 years ago in his traditional fashion the commander of Chasseurs a Cheval de la Garde Imperiale conducted a blunder. It was this news that made Napoleon choose the route he chose.

Do remember, he who comes into Russia with a sword, from a sword will die. URA!

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And now the slides (c)

Battle of Maloyaroslavets
http://www.museum.ru/museum/1812/Painti ... /pic29.jpg
One more
http://www.varvar.ru/arhiv/gallery/batt ... nov16.html

General Delzons in the battle of Maloyaroslavets
http://www.varvar.ru/arhiv/gallery/batt ... nov15.html

Napoleon's convoy repelling cossacks at Gorodnya
http://www.varvar.ru/arhiv/gallery/batt ... anov6.html

All these were by A.Averianov.

V. Vereschagin. "In Gorodnya - to break through or to retreat"
http://www.museum.ru/museum/1812/Library/ver/ver16.jpg

P. Hess. The battle of Maloyaroslavets
http://www.museum.ru/museum/1812/Painti ... ess08s.jpg

And here, UNDER INTERNET EXPLORER ONLY, you can even enjoy an electronic version of diorama for the battle of Maloyaroslavets by E. Deshalt
http://www.museum.ru/museum/1812/Painti ... index.html

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Well, nearly forgot one more by Averianov.

Medyn. The capture of GdB Tyszkiewicz
http://www.varvar.ru/arhiv/gallery/batt ... nov25.html

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Towarzyszu Kosyanenko, chwała bohaterom!

Glory to the Heroes!

Both sides!

General Tyszkiewicz was captured, right.

There were pluses and minuses in the battle.

Polish 15 Infantry Regiment of the Duchy of Warsaw, who fought at Medina ... attacked in tight columns the Cossacks! Do not fight in the squares! The commander of the regiment, Colonel Rybiński believed unworthy quadrangle fight with the enemy! Disparagement of honor!

Each side has its own diaries of the time!

Można podyskutować przy stole, przy wódce o Nich, o bitwie, o racji, a na razie wypijmy za Ich pamięć!

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Général de Brigade Cezary Pluskwa,
17ème Régiment de Dragons,
1ère Brigade,
4ème Division de Dragons,
3ème Corps d'Armée,
La Grande Armée.

Anton I agree this battle was absolutely the key point at which the tide turned. All of the reasons were already in place but it was the decision to proceed back via the area heavily foraged and consumed path by which he entered mother Russia combined with the Russian armies harrying pursuit ended the great empire of histories greatest soldier.

As you say many fine victories followed but the geostrategic situation was changed forever resulting in ever increasing gambles with ever increasing losses.
I have to say I had not narrowed it down to this battle before - but if we choose one this or Borodino would be it.

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Gentlemen,

Karl Fedorovich Baghowut

In the Tarutino battle, on October, 6 Baghowut commanded the infantry column consisted of two corps. In the very beginning of the battle he personally was at the head of Russian infantry in attack and was killed by one one first shots of a French artillery battery.

According to Polish data, the diaries were Polish gunners of 16 Infantry Division of the Duchy of Warsaw (mentioned 15 Infantry Regiment belonged to it)

Honor his memory!

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Général de Brigade Cezary Pluskwa,
17ème Régiment de Dragons,
1ère Brigade,
4ème Division de Dragons,
3ème Corps d'Armée,
La Grande Armée.

Very cool Anton!

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Generalfeldmarschall Scott Kronprinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Preußen
Kommandeur des Königlich-Preußischen Armee-Korps
Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Allied Coalition
Allied Coalition Webmaster & Club Website Support