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Battle of Loschniza

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Battle of Loschniza
Part of the French invasion of Russia

Crossing of the Berezina by Felician Myrbach
Date23 November 1812
Location
Loschniza, Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire
54°13′40″N 28°30′17″E / 54.22778°N 28.50472°E / 54.22778; 28.50472
Result French victory
Belligerents
First French Empire French Empire Russian Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Nicolas Oudinot Russian Empire Pavel Chichagov
Strength
3,600[1] 2,800[1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown[1] 2,000[1]
French invasion of Russia
Map
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500km
300miles
Loschniza
Pultusk
15
Gorodeczno
14
Battle of Gorodechno 12 August 1812: Schwarzenberg's Austrians
Drohiczyn
13
Tauroggen
12
Tauroggen 30 December 1812: Ludwig Yorck's Prussians signed the Convention of Tauroggen
Riga
11
Siege of Riga 24 July – 18 December 1812: Macdonald's Prussians
Tilsit
10
Warsaw
9
Berezina
8
Battle of Berezina 26–29 November 1812: Napoleon, Chichagov, Wittgenstein, Kutuzov only pursuit
Maloyaro-
slavets
7
Battle of Maloyaroslavets 24 October 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon
Moscow
6
Moscow 14 September to 19 October 1812: Napoleon
Borodino
5
Battle of Borodino 7 September 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon October 1812: Napoleon's Retreat
Smolensk
4
Battle of Smolensk 16 August 1812: Napoleon November 1812: : Napoleon's retreat
Vitebsk
3
Battle of Vitebsk 26 July 1812: Napoleon
Vilna
2
Kowno
1
  current battle
  Prussian corps
  Napoleon
  Austrian corps

The Battle of Loschniza took place on 23 November 1812, between parts of the French army and parts of the Russian armies. The French army under Nicolas Oudinot defeated the Russian troops under Pavel Chichagov.[1]

Background

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The French had suffered a defeat just one week earlier during the Battle of Krasnoi. Napoleon's army amounted to no more than 20,000 combatants. However, the union with Victor, Oudinot and Dombrowski at the Bobr brought the numerical strength of the Grande Armée back up to some 49,000 French combatants as well as about 40,000 stragglers.[2] But Minsk had been occupied by Chichagov on 16 November 1812 who reached the Berezina with about 31,500 combatants.[3]

On the 21 November, the Russians under Lambert had occupied Borisov in the morning before Oudinot could come up as the sentries had been ambushed. Dombrowski had about 2,000 men left. The Russians casualties were about 2000, including Lambert, mortally wounded. On the 22 November Oudinot got to Loshnitsa, where Corbineau's brigade united with him.[3] But the Russians had destroyed the bridge at Borisov on the same day and held occupied the far bank.[3]

Battle

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On 23 November, Chichagov took the majority of his army across the Beresina at Borisov and his advance guard reached Losnitza. The advance guard attacked Oudinot without waiting to be reinforced and was thrashed. Oudinot marched to Borisov and ejected the Russians.

Aftermath

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The damage of the Borisov bridge increased the danger for the remains of the Grande Armée that was surrounded by three Russian armies and was no longer strong enough for a breakthrough. A quick construction of a new bridge had to be done and Oudinot had forded the Beresina at Studienka on 22 November, see Battle of Berezina.[3]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 445.
  2. ^ Chandler 1966, p. 841.
  3. ^ a b c d Riehn 1990, pp. 375–377.

References

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  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  • Chandler, David (1966). The Campaigns of Napoleon. Weidenfeld and Nicolson. ISBN 9780025236608. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  • Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780070527317. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
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