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Borodino (Raevski Redoubt)

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Title
Borodino (Raevski Redoubt)
Description
Despite Marshal Davout’s suggestion of a maneuver to outflank the weak Russian left, Napoleon instead ordered Davout to move forward toward the Russian fleches (small redoubts), while the flanking maneuver was left to Prince Poniatowski. Three Russian Corps met Davout’s …
Publisher
Date
1812-09-07
Scenario#
213
Scenario Description
Despite Marshal Davout’s suggestion of a maneuver to outflank the weak Russian left, Napoleon instead ordered Davout to move forward toward the Russian fleches (small redoubts), while the flanking maneuver was left to Prince Poniatowski. Three Russian Corps met Davout’s initial advance and even when part of Ney’s and Junot’s Corps were sent to his aid, the Russians refused to give ground. By late morning the fight for the fleches and Semyanovskaya had become a grinding struggle of attrition. A second French assault was being turned back, until Murat’s cavalry charged forward and took the fleches. The Russian right flank commander, Barclay, sent his reserves on his own initiative to retrieve the situation. A full-scale attack against the Raevski (Grand) redoubt was also launched around 2:00 PM, after Eugene had stabilized his right flank. The Russians squandered their advantage in artillery with fully half of their guns unengaged. The French, however, formed a grand battery that rained destruction upon massed Russian formations. Accounts by Russians advancing to counterattack spoke of walking into hell. The French infantry moved to engage the redoubt from the front, while the cavalry swung around to its rear. Kutusov counterattacked with his Guard reserves to stabilize the line, but they in turn were decimated. The Russians were spent, but Napoleon would not release the Imperial Guard infantry and cavalry to destroy the disorganized Russian left wing. With no fresh troops committed to decide the issue, both sides ceased fighting out of mutual exhaustion. In spite of losing some areas in the battlefield, the battered Russian army did not collapse. During the night, Kutusov ordered a retreat.
Location
Borodino, Russia
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Battle of Borodino took place on 7 September 1812 during Napoleon's French invasion of Russia. The Grande Armée won the battle against the Imperial Russian Army with casualties in a ratio 2:3, but failed to gain a decisive victory. Napoleon fought against General Mikhail Kutuzov, whom the Emperor Alexander I of Russia had appointed to replace Barclay de Tolly on 29 August 1812 after the Battle of Smolensk. After the Battle of Borodino Napoleon remained on the battlefield with his army; the Russian forces retreated in an orderly fashion to the south of Moscow.
Narrative Source
Combatants
French
Russians
Additional Information
French Invasion of Russia

Geolocation