First Battle of Polotsk

In the First Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot near the city of Polotsk, halting Oudinot's advance toward Saint Petersburg once more as at the Battle 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 the Second Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.^[8]

After the battle of Klyastitsy and several minor losses, Oudinot's Corps retreated to Polotsk.^[4]

In the early morning of 17 August, the 1st Infantry 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 to Gouvion 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 the Drissa. 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. Bavarian general officer losses were heavy. General of Infantry Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy was mortally wounded and General-Major Siebein was killed. General-Majors Vincenti and Raglovitch 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 a strategic 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]}

• List of battles of the French invasion of Russia

• Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905) . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
• Clodfelter, Micheal (2008). Warfare and armed conflicts : a statistical encyclopedia of casualty and other figures, 1494-2007. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9780786433193 . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
• Nafziger, George (1988). Napoleon's Invasion of Russia. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-322-7.
• napoleon.org (2021). "Wittgenstein, Peter Khristianovich" . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
• Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780070527317 . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
• Seton-Watson, Hugh (1967). The Russian empire, 1801-1917 . Retrieved 8 April 2021.
• Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
• Lieven, Dominic (2009). Russia against Napoleon. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-194744-0.

• Second Battle of Polotsk

• Media related to Battle of Polack (1812, August) at Wikimedia Commons

• Battles of the French invasion of Russia
• Battles inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe
• Battles involving France
• Battles involving the Russian Empire
• Conflicts in 1812
• August 1812
• 1812 in the Russian Empire
• 1812 in Belarus
• Polotsk
• Military history of Belarus

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