October 19, 1812 Napoleon's army left Moscow, beginning a retreat for New Kaluga road. Napoleon intended to break through to the southern, rich food of Russia, because he could not move in the way in which it is a few months ago, moved to the east. Ruined, looted by Napoleon's soldiers regions could not provide his army with food and fodder. In addition, there him was waiting for Russian peasants who had not forgotten the French requisitions and burning with the desire to make good the damage to them.
On the road the Grand Army was a small town Maloyaroslavetz.
Russian army, which was in the village Tarutino, very late learned that the enemy left Moscow, and rushed to intercept him.
Having established that the main forces of Napoleon are going to Maloyaroslavetz, commanding of the avant-garde the general Dokhturov hastened to Maloyaroslavets to block the way for a new Kaluga Kaluga road.
General Dmitry Dokhturov.
Napoleon, seeing the dawn big Russian connection, mistakenly thought that Kutuzov with the main army gives here the battle and stopped the movement of the avant-garde Beauharnais on Maloyaroslavetz, limiting the sending forth only the 13th Division Delzon.
Grand Army retreat from Moscow (green route marked French, red - Russian).
Maloyaroslavetz represented at that time a small town with a population of 1500 inhabitants. In view of the enemy's approach , by order of the mayor Maloiaroslavets P. Bykov was dismantled bridge across the puddle. Soldiers Delzona, the dam came into the city, have guided pontoon bridge next to the destroyed. 2nd Battalion, 13 Infantry Division Delzona remained in the city. Napoleon spent the night with the main forces in Borovsk.
The morning of October 24 with the approach of the forces Dokhturov the battle was. City eight times (according to some sources - 14!) passed from hand to hand, the French were fighting for their lives, knowing full well that if they will make their way, they will have to experience all the delights of "Russian Winter", but rather just hunger, aggravated by cold weather.
Maloyaroslavetz burned almost completely, on the streets because of the fire killed many of the wounded from both sides.
Frenchman Labeaume describes the city after the battle:
"The streets can be distinguished only by the numerous dead bodies, they were dotted, every step across severed arms and legs lay crushed Pass cannons head. From the houses were only just smoldering ruins, under the burning ash which could be seen half-crumbling skeletons."
The losses on the French side were 3,500 people according to the report commander of the 4th Corps of Eugène de Beauharnais. Segur has confirmed this figure, reporting on the 4,000 loss of the Italians, which consisted of the 4th Corps. Chambray is usually accurate in numbers, reported losses of 6 thousand people.
Kutuzov in the report indicated the number of Russian losses in 3000 people, but in the consolidated statements of loss of the 1st Army are 6,665 people (1,282 killed, 3,130 wounded, and the rest are missing.) Many of the missing were burned in the town. It is known that the large losses suffered militias, which, however, were not considered anywhere else. The losses on the Russian side were no less than 7,000 people. The number of prisoners was low on both sides.
However, to make the way to the south of the French did not succeed.
Continue the battle, Napoleon did not dare. As a result, the French army was again forced to move along the Smolensk road, where she was waiting for an ignominious end.
But here's the open space for the imagination. Russian spies could further fall behind in identifying care of Napoleon from Moscow, Army Corps of Dokhturov could be beat, bumping on the main forces of the French (in the true story of his saved the case), Napoleon could more accurately assess the situation and not to delay the troops Beauharnais.
What would happen next? It is unlikely that Napoleon would repeat its self-destructive campaign. Grand Army would return to Europe, retaining most of its forces, and would not allow the head to raise the leaders of the national liberation movements in the countries conquered by France. Russian hardly dared to move on Poland (Kutuzov and in real history was against the hike in Europe) and the Napoleonic empire would retain its territorial integrity.
Napoleonic propaganda trumpeted the news of a brilliant victory over the Russian (the capital was occupied by the enemy after all) and a United Europe there would be nearly two centuries earlier.
On the road the Grand Army was a small town Maloyaroslavetz.
Russian army, which was in the village Tarutino, very late learned that the enemy left Moscow, and rushed to intercept him.
Having established that the main forces of Napoleon are going to Maloyaroslavetz, commanding of the avant-garde the general Dokhturov hastened to Maloyaroslavets to block the way for a new Kaluga Kaluga road.
General Dmitry Dokhturov.
Napoleon, seeing the dawn big Russian connection, mistakenly thought that Kutuzov with the main army gives here the battle and stopped the movement of the avant-garde Beauharnais on Maloyaroslavetz, limiting the sending forth only the 13th Division Delzon.
Grand Army retreat from Moscow (green route marked French, red - Russian).
Maloyaroslavetz represented at that time a small town with a population of 1500 inhabitants. In view of the enemy's approach , by order of the mayor Maloiaroslavets P. Bykov was dismantled bridge across the puddle. Soldiers Delzona, the dam came into the city, have guided pontoon bridge next to the destroyed. 2nd Battalion, 13 Infantry Division Delzona remained in the city. Napoleon spent the night with the main forces in Borovsk.
The morning of October 24 with the approach of the forces Dokhturov the battle was. City eight times (according to some sources - 14!) passed from hand to hand, the French were fighting for their lives, knowing full well that if they will make their way, they will have to experience all the delights of "Russian Winter", but rather just hunger, aggravated by cold weather.
Maloyaroslavetz burned almost completely, on the streets because of the fire killed many of the wounded from both sides.
Frenchman Labeaume describes the city after the battle:
"The streets can be distinguished only by the numerous dead bodies, they were dotted, every step across severed arms and legs lay crushed Pass cannons head. From the houses were only just smoldering ruins, under the burning ash which could be seen half-crumbling skeletons."
The losses on the French side were 3,500 people according to the report commander of the 4th Corps of Eugène de Beauharnais. Segur has confirmed this figure, reporting on the 4,000 loss of the Italians, which consisted of the 4th Corps. Chambray is usually accurate in numbers, reported losses of 6 thousand people.
Kutuzov in the report indicated the number of Russian losses in 3000 people, but in the consolidated statements of loss of the 1st Army are 6,665 people (1,282 killed, 3,130 wounded, and the rest are missing.) Many of the missing were burned in the town. It is known that the large losses suffered militias, which, however, were not considered anywhere else. The losses on the Russian side were no less than 7,000 people. The number of prisoners was low on both sides.
However, to make the way to the south of the French did not succeed.
Continue the battle, Napoleon did not dare. As a result, the French army was again forced to move along the Smolensk road, where she was waiting for an ignominious end.
But here's the open space for the imagination. Russian spies could further fall behind in identifying care of Napoleon from Moscow, Army Corps of Dokhturov could be beat, bumping on the main forces of the French (in the true story of his saved the case), Napoleon could more accurately assess the situation and not to delay the troops Beauharnais.
What would happen next? It is unlikely that Napoleon would repeat its self-destructive campaign. Grand Army would return to Europe, retaining most of its forces, and would not allow the head to raise the leaders of the national liberation movements in the countries conquered by France. Russian hardly dared to move on Poland (Kutuzov and in real history was against the hike in Europe) and the Napoleonic empire would retain its territorial integrity.
Napoleonic propaganda trumpeted the news of a brilliant victory over the Russian (the capital was occupied by the enemy after all) and a United Europe there would be nearly two centuries earlier.
It seems to have moved over Napoleon, or rather parallel to his troops, preventing them from turning to the side.