Battle of Borodino 1916. Day of Russia: Russian military leaders - heroes of the Battle of Borodino. Who won the Battle of Borodino

The Battle of Borodino (in French history - the Battle of the Moscow River, French Bataille de la Moskova) - the largest battle of the White War of 1812 between the Russian army under the command of General M.I. Kutuzov and the French army of Napoleon I Bonaparte. It was born on the 26th spring (7th spring) 1812 in the village of Borodino, 125 km away from Moscow.

During the 12-year battle, the French army managed to capture the positions of the Russian army in the center and on the left wing, and after the military operations began, the French army went to the exit positions. Thus, Russian historiography respects that the Russian armies achieved victory, but the next day the commander-in-chief of the Russian army M. I. Kutuzov ordered to enter due to great expenses and through the discovery of great reserves from Emperor Napoleon, who rushed to the aid of the French army.

The Russian historian Mikhnevich reported Emperor Napoleon’s statement about Biy:

“Of all my battles, the most rewarding are the ones I fought near Moscow. The French have shown themselves that they will be able to overcome, and the Russians have earned the right to be insurmountable... In fifty battles, I have given, the battle near Moscow showed [the French] the greatest valor and the least success.”

Following the testimony of the French General Pele, a participant in the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon often repeated a similar phrase: “The Battle of Borodino was the most beautiful and worst, the French showed themselves great victories, and the Russians deserved to be insurmountable.”

Respected as bloodshed in the history of one-day battles.

8th spring is the Day of the Military Glory of Russia - the Day of the Borodino battle of the Russian army under the command of M.I. Kutuzov with the French army (this date was taken away by the way of the commemoration change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian one, in fact the day of battle is the 7th of Sunday).

Prehistory

Since the beginning of the French army's invasion of the territory of the Russian Empire in early 1812, the Russian armies have steadily retreated. The swift action and the important numerical superiority of the French gave the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, General of the Infantry Barclay de Tolly, the ability to prepare troops before the battle. The approach, which dragged on for a long time, crying out in deep dissatisfaction, led Emperor Alexander I to replace Barclay de Tolly and appoint General of the Infantry Kutuzov as commander-in-chief. However, the new commander-in-chief made an exit. The strategy outlined by Kutuzov was based, on the one hand, on the enemy’s exposed forces, and on the other, on the reinforcements sufficient for the final battle against Napoleon’s army.

On the 22nd of September (3rd Spring), the Russian army, which advanced from Smolensk, retreated from the village of Borodina, 125 km from Moscow, de Kutuzov, setting the date for the general battle; It was impossible to put it out, since Emperor Alexander, from Kutuzov, was trying to push Emperor Napoleon to Moscow.

On the 24th of September (5th spring) the battle of the Shevardin Redoubt took place, which pinned down the French armies and gave the Russians the opportunity to strengthen their main positions.

Alignment of forces for the beginning of the battle

Number of troops

The actual size of the Russian army is estimated at 112-120 thousand people:

historian Bogdanovich: 103 thousand regular troops (72 thousand infantry, 17 thousand cavalry, 14 thousand artillery), 7 thousand. Cossacks and 10 thousand. militia warriors, 640 harm. 120 thousand at a time. Cholovik.

from the memoirs of General Tol: 95 thousand. regular troops, 7 thousand. Cossacks and 10 thousand. militia warriors. Usyogo under the towel 112 thousand. man, “this army has 640 units of artillery.”

The size of the French army is estimated to be around 138 thousand. soldier ta 587 harmat:

According to the data of the Marquis of Chambray, a roll call was carried out on 21 September (2nd spring), showed the presence of 133,815 military ranks in the French army warehouse (for the number of soldiers who were recruited, their comrades were paid “in absentia”, paying for insurance, so and make the army sick). However, this number does not include the 1,500 sables of the cavalry brigade of divisional General Pajol, which arrived later, but 3 thousand. construction officials of the head quarters.

In addition, the stock of the Russian army of militias can be respected by adding to the regular French army the number of non-combatants (15 thousand) who were present in the French camp and who contributed Russian militias. The number of the French army is also increasing. Similar to the Russian militias, the French non-combatants performed additional functions - carrying the wounded, distributing water, etc.

For military history, it is important to distinguish between the actual size of the army on the battlefield and the troops that were brought into the battle. Prote for the combined forces, which took a decisive fate in the battle of the 26th spring (7th spring) 1812, the French army was also outnumbered. According to the encyclopedia “The Chechen War of 1812,” for example, at the end of the battle, Napoleon lost 18 thousand in reserve, and Kutuzov lost 8-9 thousand. regular troops (zokrem, Guard Preobrazhensky and Semenivsky regiments). At the same time, Kutuzov said that the Russians brought into the battle “all the remaining reserves, now and the guard,” “all reserves are already at the right.”

When assessing the clear disposition of the two armies, one can come to the conclusion of the Marquis of Chambray, which means that the French army is of little superiority, since its infantry was based mainly on the evidence of the soldiers, as well as in Russia there were a lot of recruits. In addition, the advantage of the French gave a significant advantage to the important cavalry.

Fight for the Shevardinsky redoubt

The idea of ​​the head commander of the Russian army Kutuzov was to inflict more losses on the French troops through active defense, change the balance of forces, save the Russian troops for further battles and for further defeat from the French army. Apparently, the order of battle of the Russian troops was inspired by this idea.

The position, outlined by Kutuzov, looked like a straight line, going from the Shevardinsky redoubt on the left flank through the great battery on Chervony Pagorba, later called the Raevsky battery, the village of Borodino in the center, to the village of Maslovo on the right flanzi.

In front of the main battle, early in the 24th spring (5th spring), the Russian rear guard under the command of Lieutenant General Konovnitsin was located near the Kolotsk monastery, 8 km away from the expansion of the main forces, being attacked by the enemy vanguard. The baked biy has dried up, which has lasted for many years. After news of the enemy’s outflanking movement was lost, Konovnitsin advanced the army across the Kolocha River and reached the corps that took up a position in the area of ​​the village of Shevardino.

The shelter of Lieutenant General Gorchakov was located near the Shevardinsky redoubt. There were 11 thousand troops under the command of Gorchakov. To protect the Old Smolensk Road, 6 Cossack regiments of Major General Karpov were lost.

Napoleon's great army approached Borodino in three columns. The main forces: 3 cavalry corps of Marshal Murat, infantry corps of Marshals Davout, Ney, divisional general Junot and the Guard - collapsed along the New Smolensk Road. At the same time, the infantry corps of the Viceroy of Italy Eugene Beauharnais and the cavalry corps of the divisional general Grusha advanced in front of them. The corps of divisional general Poniatovsky was approaching along the old Smolensk road. 35 thousand infantry and cavalry, 180 harmats were directed against the fortifications.

The enemy, the spluttering Shevardinsky, are retiring from night to day, trying to kill off the military lieutenant general Gorchakov.

The French two girls rushed into the redoubt, and immediately the hunting of Lieutenant General Nevirovsky knocked them out. Days descended on the Borodino field, when the enemy once again managed to open the redoubt and push into the village of Shevardino, and the Russian reserves that had arrived, with the 2nd Grenadier and 2nd Grenadier Division beat the redoubt.

The beat gradually weakened and, finally, stuttered. The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Kutuzov, ordered Lieutenant General Gorchakov to lead the army to the main forces beyond Semenivsky Yar.

Pochatkov's position

All day long on the 25th (6th spring) the troops on both sides prepared for the upcoming battle. Shevardinsky Battle gave the Russian troops the opportunity to gain an hour to complete defensive operations on the Borodino position, allowing the grouping of the French military forces and the direction of their head strike to be clarified. Having abandoned the Shevardinsky redoubt, the 2nd Army moved the left flank beyond the Kamyanka River, and the army’s battle order took the form of a blunt kut. The two flanks of the Russian position occupied 4 km, but were uneven. The right flank was defended by the 1st Army of Infantry General Barclay de Tolly at the warehouse of 3 infantry, 3 cavalry corps and reserves (76 thousand troops, 480 troops), the front of his position was covered by the Kolocha River. The left flank was defended by the outnumbered 2nd Army of Infantry General Bagration (34 thousand troops, 156 troops). In addition, the left flank has such strong natural barriers to the front as the right.

After spending 24 serpnya (5th spring) of the Shevardinsky redoubt, the position of the left flank became even more dangerous and spiraled down to 3 missed flushes.

Thus, at the center on the right wing of the Russian position, Kutuzov placed 4 infantry corps out of 7, as well as 3 cavalry corps and Platov’s Cossack corps. According to Kutuzov’s plan, such a tightly grouped army reliably covered the Moscow direct line and at the same time made it possible, out of necessity, to suppress attacks on the flanks and the likes of the French troops. The order of battle of the Russian army was deep and allowed for wide maneuvers of forces on the battlefield. The first line of battle formation of the Russian troops was formed by infantry corps, the other line by cavalry corps, and the third by reserves. Kutuzov highly appreciated the role of the reserves, stating in his disposition: “The reserves may be guarded more than ever, because that general, who will save the reserve, will not overpower.”

Emperor Napoleon, having discovered the weakness of the left flank of the Russian army during the reconnaissance of the 25th spring (6th spring), decided to launch a head strike. It’s obvious to what extent we’ve worked out the battle plan. Our immediate goal was to clear the left bank of the Kolochi River, with the goal of capturing the village of Borodino in the center of the Russian position. This maneuver, Napoleon thought, would gain the respect of the Russians from a direct head strike. Then transfer the main forces of the French army to the right bank of the Kolochi and, converging on Borodino, so that it became increasingly approachable, push the right wing of Kutuzov’s army into Kut, destroy the Kolochi with the Moscow River, and know Shield

To conquer the established command, Napoleon died on the 25th of September (6th Spring), concentrating the main forces (up to 95 thousand) near the Shevardinsky redoubt. The total number of French troops in front of the 2nd Army front was 115 thousand. For the duration of the battle at the center and against the right flank, Napoleon saw a little more than 20 thousand soldiers.

Napoleon realized that it would be more difficult to encircle the Russian troops from the flanks, so he would resist before a frontal attack in order to break through the defenses of the Russian army on the apparently narrow field at Bagration's flushes, enter til the Russian troops, push them to the Moscow River, protect them and protect themselves route to Moscow. In the direct line of the head strike from Raevsky’s battery to Bagration’s flushes, which lasted 2.5 kilometers, the bulk of the French troops were concentrated: the corps of Marshals Davout, Ney, Murat, divisional General Junot, as well as vardiya. In order to gain the respect of the Russian troops, the French planned to launch additional attacks on Utitsa and Borodino. The French army had little depth in its battle formation, which allowed it to increase its striking force from the depths.

Dzherela pointed to Kutuzov’s special idea, which was why he wanted to attack Napoleon’s very left flank. Kutuzov's orders meant that the left flank needed a large number of troops to avoid the breach of his position. The historian Tarle quotes the exact words of Kutuzov: “If the enemy... has his remaining reserves on Bagration’s left flank on the right, then I will let his troops be captured on his flank and till.”

At the end of the 26th century (7th spring) 1812, based on the data taken during the Shevardino battle, Kutuzov decided to strengthen the left flank of the Russian troops, for which he ordered the transfer from the reserve and transfer to the commander of the 2nd Army Bagrat Ion 3rd Infantry Corps . Lieutenant General Tuchkov 1st, and send an artillery reserve with 168 artillery units, which accommodated Psaryov. Following Kutuzov's plan, the third corps is preparing to take action on the flank of the French troops. However, Kutuzov’s chief of staff, General Bennigsen, removed the 3rd Corps from ambush and placed it on the front to the French troops, which did not correspond to Kutuzov’s plan. Bennigsen's intention is to achieve a formal battle plan.

The regrouping of part of the Russian forces on the left flank changed the disproportion of forces and turned the frontal attack, which was Napoleon's plan to the rapid defeat of the Russian army, into a bloody frontal battle.

Progress of the battle

Cob of Battle

On the fifth year of thirty years of war on the 26th spring (7th spring) 1812, over 100 French shells launched an artillery bombardment of the positions of the left flank. At the same time, with the beginning of shelling on the center of the Russian position, the village of Borodino, under the cover of a wounded fog, the division of General Delzon with the corps of the Viceroy of Italy, Eugene Beauharnais, launched an attack. The village was defended by the Life Guards Jager Regiment under the command of Colonel Bystrom. For nearly a year, the rangers fought against the enemy, and having turned the tables several times, they, under the threat of being outflanked by the enemy, crossed the bridge across the Kolocha River. The 106th line regiment of the French, supporting the occupation of the village of Borodina, crossed the river behind the rangers. The Guards Jaegers, having withdrawn reinforcements, made every effort to break through the Russian defenses here:

“The French, encouraged by Borodin’s activities, rushed after the jägers and, perhaps at the same time, crossed the river with them, aka guards jägers, supported by the Manakhtan regiments and the jäger brigade of the 24th division and under the command of Colonel Vuich, who came with Colonel Manakhtin, attacked him They sent us to the bagnets for help, and all the French who were on our shore were victims of their notorious trickery. A place on the river There were a lot of accusations, regardless of the strong fire control, and the French throughout the whole day did not dare to make any moves before the crossing and were content with skirmishing with our jägers.”

Bagration's flashes

The flashes at the front of the battle were occupied by the 2nd squadron-grenadier division under the command of General Vorontsov. On the 6th year of the morning, after an undisturbed cannonade, the French attack on Bagration's flushes began. At the first attack, the French divisions of the generals Dessays and Company, having defeated the Jaegers, made their way through the Utitsa Forest, but only when they began to appear at the junction opposite the most lost flush, they lost their cards The fire and the bulls were thrown over by the flank attack of the Jaegers.

About the 8th year of the morning, the French repeated the attack and buried a fresh flush. Bagration sent the 27th Infantry Division of General Neverovsky, as well as the Okhtirsky Hussars and Novorossiysk Dragoons to attack the flank, to the aid of the 2nd Grenadier Division. The French lost the flushes, recognizing the great expense involved. The division generals Dessay and Company were wounded, the corps commander, Marshal Davout, was shell-shocked when he fell from a dead horse, and almost all the brigade commanders were wounded.

For the 3rd attack, Napoleon strengthened the attacking forces with 3 more infantry divisions from the corps of Marshal Ney, 3 cavalry corps of Marshal Murat and artillery, increasing their number to 160 units.

Bagration, having directly responded to the head attack struck by Napoleon, ordered General Raevsky, who had occupied the central battery, to immediately transfer the entire line of the 7th Infantry Corps to the flushes, and to General Tuchkov 1st to send 3- Yu. Immediately receiving reinforcements, Kutuzov sent the Lithuanian and Izmailovsky regiments, the 1st battalion grenadier division, 7 regiments of the 3rd cavalry corps and the 1st to Bagration from the Life Guards reserve. at the cuirassier division. Dodatkovo from the edge of the right to the left ensign began moving the 2nd Infantry Corps of Lieutenant General Baggovut.

After heavy artillery preparation, the French were able to dodge the hidden flush and the gap between the flushes. During the battle, the division commanders, Generals Neverovsky (27th Infantry) and Vorontsov (2nd Grenadier) were seriously injured and carried away from the battlefield.

The French were counterattacked by three cuirassier regiments, and Marshal Murat suffered little to the Russian cuirassiers, who were soon caught up in the ranks of the Württemberg infantry. Around the part of the French, the confusion began to emerge, and the cuirassiers, not driven by lust, were counterattacked by the French cavalry and defeated. Around 10 years ago, flashes were lost in the hands of the French.

A counterattack by Konovnitsyn’s 3rd Infantry Division corrected the situation. Major General Tuchkov of the 4th died in Sutichtsi, having defeated the attack of the Revel and Murom regiments.

At about this hour, the French 8th Westphalian Corps of divisional General Junot made its way through the Utitsky Forest near the flushes. The camp was being rotated by Captain Zakharov’s 1st battery, which at that hour was heading straight to the flush area. Zakharov, having eliminated the threat to the flashes from the ground, hastily flared up the fire and opened fire on the enemy, which was before the attack. 4 infantry regiments of Baggovut’s 2nd corps, which arrived in time, pushed Junot’s corps into the Utitsky forest, causing significant losses. Russian historians confirm that during the repeated offensive, Junot’s corps would be defeated by the bayonet counterattack, the Westphalian and French protestors would remain completely unfazed. Due to the fears of all the participants, the 8th Corps of Junot took part in the battle until evening.

Until the 4th attack in the 11th year of the war, Napoleon concentrated against the flushes about 45 thousand infantry and cavalry, and perhaps 400 troops. Russian historiography calls this major attack the 8th, the second attack to Junot’s corps on the flush (6th and 7th). Bagration, bachachi, that the artillery of the flashes was impossible to defeat the roaches of the French columns, defeating the covert counterattack of the left wing, the covert number of the army became approximately less than 20 thousand inhabitants. The onslaught of the first ranks of the Russians was slowed down and a fierce hand-to-hand battle ensued, which was so painful over the years. The advantage was lost to the Russian troops, but just before going on a counterattack, it was wounded by a fragment of a cannonball in Stegno. Bagration fell from his horse and was taken from the battlefield. The news of the wounded Bagration Mittevo swept through the ranks of Russian troops and caused a great influx of Russian soldiers. The Russian armies began to advance.

General Konovnitsin took command of the 2nd Army and the disturbances would completely deprive the French of their leverage. The surplus troops, which had already been spent by the administration, were transferred to a new defensive line beyond the Semenivsky Yar, which flowed at the same time. On the same side of the tier there were unoccupied reserves - the Life Guards Lithuanian and Izmailovsky regiments. Russian batteries of 300 units destroyed the entire Semenivsky Strumok under fire. The French, having defeated the Russians, did not dare to attack on the move.

The French head attack shifted from the left flank to the center towards Raevsky’s battery. At that very moment Napoleon did not launch an attack on the left flank of the Russian army. On the day before the village of Semenivskoye, the cavalry corps of Nansouty hung in front of Latour-Maubourg, just as the infantry division of General Friant rushed from the front on Semenivskoye. At this point, Kutuzov recognized the commander of the 6th Corps, Infantry General Dokhturov, as the commander of the entire left flank, replacing Lieutenant General Konovnitsin. The Life Guards hung in the kara and for many years repelled the attacks of Napoleon’s “criminal leaders.” The cuirassier division of Duki was sent to assist the guard during the day, and the cuirassier brigade of Borozdin and the 4th cavalry corps of Sieversu at night. The bloody situation ended with the defeat of the French troops, thrown beyond the yar of the Semenivsky Stream.

The Russian troops were not completely knocked out of Semenivskoye for the remainder of the battle.

Fight for Utitsky Kurgan

In advance of the battle on the 25th September (6th Spring), following Kutuzov’s order, the 3rd Infantry Corps of General Tuchkov of the 1st and up to 10 thousand warriors of the Moscow and Smolensk militia was sent to the area of ​​the Old Smolensk Road. On what day before the war did 2 more Cossack regiments of Karpov join. To connect with the flushes in the Utitsky forest, the Jaeger regiments of Major General Shakhovsky took up the position.

According to Kutuzov's plan, Tuchkov's corps was forced to attack the flank and rear of the enemy from an ambush, which would fight for Bagration's flushes. Prote early on, Chief of Staff Bennigsen hung Tuchkov from the ambush.

26 Serpny (7 Spring) 5th Corps of the French Army, which formed from the Poles under the command of General Poniatowski, destroying the Russian positions bypassing the left flank. The troops clashed with Utitsa around the 8th year, at that moment, when General Tuchkov 1st, on the orders of Bagration, had already sent Konovnitsin’s division from his command. The enemy, emerging from the forest and approaching the Russian jaegers from the village of Utitsa, landed on the heights. Having installed 24 harmati with them, the enemy ignited a hurricane of fire. The clouds of the 1st disturbance will reach the Utitsky Kurgan - a significant milestone. If you tried Poniatovsky to poke his head in and dig into the mound, you would have no small success.

Close to the 11th morning, Poniatovsky, having withdrawn the evil support from the 8th Infantry Corps of Junot, concentrated the fire from 40 troops against the Utitsky Kurgan and buried it by storm. This gave him the opportunity to act around the Russian position.

Tuchkov 1st, will try to eliminate the insecurity, making the most decisive approaches to turn the mound. He especially organized a counterattack on the half-regiment of Pavlovsk grenadiers. They turned the mound, but Lieutenant General Tuchkov 1st himself had suffered a mortal wound. He was replaced by Lieutenant General Baggovut, commander of the 2nd Infantry Corps.

Baggovut lost the Utitsky Kurgan only after the defenders of Bagration's flashes went beyond Semenivsky Yar, which left his position open to flank attacks. We reached the new line of the 2nd Army.

Cossack raid by Platova and Uvarova

At the critical moment of the battle, Kutuzov made a decision about a raid of a group of generals from the cavalry of Uvarov and Platov into the rear and flank of the enemy. Before the 12th anniversary of the day, the 1st Cavalry Corps of Uvarov (28 squadrons, 12 troops, a total of 2,500 troops) and Platov’s Cossacks (8 regiments) crossed the Kolocha River in the area of ​​​​the village of Malaya. Uvarov's corps attacked the French infantry regiment and the Italian cavalry brigade of General Ornano in the area of ​​​​the crossing of the Viina River near the village of Bezzubov. Platov crossed the Viyna River to Pivnich and entered the village, forcing the enemy to change position.

The one-time attack of Uvarov and Platov caused confusion in the enemy camp and the desire to draw troops to the left flank, which stormed Raevsky’s battery on Kurgan Heights. The Viceroy of Italy, Eugene Beauharnais, with the Italian Guard and Pear's corps, stood up to Napoleon against the new threat. Uvarov and Platov turned to the Russian army until the 4th anniversary of the day.

The raid of Uvarov and Platov stopped the enemy’s major attack at 2:00, which allowed the Russian troops to regroup. Napoleon himself did not dare to send his guard through this raid. The cavalry sabotage, although it did not cause any particular harm to the French, made Napoleon feel incompetent in his own body.

“Those who have been at the Battle of Borodino will certainly remember that tragedy, if the frequency of attacks changed along the entire line of the enemy, and we... could have died more,” wrote the military historian, General Mi Khaylivsky-Danilevsky.

Battery Raevsky

The high mound, located at the center of the Russian position, is overwhelmed by the excessive localism. A battery is installed on the nyoma bula, the yak is small with 18 harmatas. The defense of the battery was entrusted to the 7th Infantry Corps under Lieutenant General Raevsky.

Close to the 9th anniversary of the wound, at the start of the battle for Bagration's flushes, the French launched a first attack on the battery with the forces of the 4th corps of the Viceroy of Italy Eugene Beauharnais, as well as the divisions of generals Morand and Gerard with the 1st corps of Marshal Davout. By pouring into the center of the Russian army, Napoleon decided to make it difficult to transfer troops from the right wing of the Russian army to Bagration's flush and thereby ensure for his head forces a quick defeat of the left wing of the Russian army . At the time of the attack, the entire military line of Lieutenant General Raevsky, on the orders of Infantry General Bagration, was assigned to protect the flashes. Unfazed, the attack was defeated by artillery fire.

Immediately, the Viceroy of Italy, Eugene Beauharnais, again attacked the mound. The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Kutuzov, at this point in time fought for the Raevsky battery, the entire cavalry and artillery reserve of about 60 guns and part of the light artillery of the 1st Army. However, unfazed by the heavy artillery fire, the French of the 30th regiment of Brigadier General Bonamy managed to escape into the redoubt.

At this moment, the chief of staff of the 1st Army, Yermolov, and the chief of artillery, Kutaisov, appeared from the Kurgan Heights, having followed Kutuzov’s order to the left flank. Having recovered the battalion of the Ufa Infantry Regiment and having arrived at the new 18th Jaeger Regiment, Yermolov and Kutaisov hit the bunker directly at the redoubt. At the same time, the regiments of Major Generals Paskevich and Vasilchikov struck from the flanks. The redoubt was defeated, and Brigadier General Bonamy was captured. This French regiment, numbering 4,100 men under the command of Bonami, lost almost 300 soldiers. Major General of the Artillery Kutaisev died during the battle for the battery.

Regardless of the coolness right away, I ordered the Jaeger regiments and the 3rd battalion of the Ufa regiment to attack with bagnets, the favorite armor of the Russian soldier. It was baked and terrible and didn’t bother me anymore: the support is extremely precise, the presentation is raised, the sides are turned. Injured by bagnets, Brigadier General Bonamy, having denied mercy [captured], was not killed. The loss on our side is even great and is far beyond the size of the attacking battalions.

Chief of Staff of the 1st Army Yermolov

Kutuzov, having thoroughly noted Raevsky’s ill-fated corps, moving his army from another line. Barclay de Tolly sent the 24th infantry division of Major General Likhachov to the battery to defend the battery.

After the fall of Bagration's flushes, Napoleon decided to develop an offensive against the left wing of the Russian army. The initial plan to break through the defense on this wing with the aim of reaching the head forces of the Russian army, having spent a lot of money, a significant part of these troops went well in the battles for the flushes themselves, as well as the defense on the left wing, regardless of the costs and flashes, lost the unbreakable. Having returned to the fact that the situation in the center of the Russian army had deteriorated, Napoleon decided to redirect his forces to the Raevsky battery. However, the German attack was delayed for 2 years, because at this hour the Russian army and Cossacks appeared among the French.

Having quickly rearranged, Kutuzov transferred from the right flank to the center the 4th Infantry Corps of Lieutenant General Osterman-Tolstoy and the 2nd Cavalry Corps of Major General Korf. Napoleon ordered the 4th Corps to resist the fire with infantry. According to eyewitnesses, the Russians collapsed like cars, sitting in rows as they moved. The route to the 4th Corps could be traced along the trail of the bodies of the dead.

General Miloradovich, the commander of the center of the Russian troops, ordered Adjutant Bibikov to seize Yevgen of Württemberg and hand him over to Miloradovich. The Bibikovs heard Evgen, but there was almost no sound of cannonade, and the aide-de-camp waved his hand, indicating that Miloradovich had been found. At this moment, the cannonball that flew by tore off his hand. Bibikov, falling from his horse, again pointed directly with his other hand.

According to the commander of the 4th infantry division,

General Yevgen Württembergsky

The troops of Lieutenant General Osterman-Tolstoy joined the left flank to the Semenivsky and Preobrazhensky Guards regiments, which were at the battery for the day. Behind them marched the cavalrymen of the 2nd Corps and the Cavalry and Kinny Guards regiments.

Around 3 days later, the French intercepted fire from the front and flashes from 150 guns at Raevsky’s battery and began the attack. 34 cavalry regiments were mobilized for the attack against the 24th Division. The first to attack was the 2nd Cavalry Corps under the command of Divisional General Auguste Caulaincourt (the corps commander, Divisional General Montbrun at that time of the killings). The calico broke through the scorching smoke, left-handedly around Kurgan's height and rushed towards Raevsky's battery. Constricted from the front, flanks and the front by incessant fire, the cuirassiers were raised at great expense (Raevsky’s battery for this cost earned the French the nickname “the grave of the French cavalry”). General Auguste Caulaincourt, like many of his comrades, knew death on the skeletal mound. By this time, the army of the Vice-King of Italy, Eugene Beauharnais, having been speeded up by Caulaincourt's attack, which pinned down the 24th divisions, rushed to the battery from the front and flank. There was a bloody battle on the battery. General Likhachov is completely wounded. On the 4th year of the day, Raevsky’s battery fell.

Having received the news about the fall of Raevsky’s battery, Napoleon destroyed the center of the Russian army and the military headquarters, which is its center, regardless of the access and the highly secure mail, without being kidnapped. After this, the vydpovi vydmovoy is to be brought into the fighting guard. The French attack on the center of the Russian army stalled.

By the end of the 18th year, the Russian army, as before, was militarily deployed in the Borodino position, and the French troops, directly and directly, did not achieve any decisive success. Napoleon, who believed that “a general who does not save fresh troops until the next day, may be beaten again,” never brought in his own guard. Napoleon, as a rule, brought in his guard at the last moment, if victory was prepared by his other troops and if it was necessary to deliver the last decisive blow. Prote, assessing the situation until the end of the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon did not give a sign of victory, and did not risk introducing his remaining reserve into the battle.

The end of the battle

After Raevsky's battery was occupied by the French troops, the battle began to subside. On the left flank, divisional general Poniatowski carried out unsuccessful attacks against the 2nd Army under the command of General Dokhturov (the commander of the 2nd Army, General Bagration, was at that time seriously wounded). At the center and on the right flank on the right there was an artillery firefight until the 7th evening. Following Kutuzov’s reports, it was confirmed that Napoleon had arrived, having withdrawn the army from buried positions. Having reached Girkam (where another battle was lost), the Russians began to prepare for a new battle. However, on the 12th anniversary of the night, Kutuzov’s order arrived, which ordered preparations before the battle of the scheduled coming day. The commander-in-chief of the Russian army decided to lead the army beyond Mozhaisk in order to replenish human costs and better prepare for new battles. Napoleon, confronted by the enemy's resistance, was in a depressed and anxious mood, as his aide-de-camp Armand Caulaincourt (brother of the deceased general Auguste Caulaincourt) said:

The Emperor repeated many times that we could not understand the order of those positions that were buried with such a bravery and that we were so incessantly stolen, they gave us only a small number of prisoners. I have been fed many times with officers who arrived with information, deputies, and some small ones. He ordered a transfer at the outer points so that no more troops had been taken. These successes without accomplishments, without trophies did not satisfy him.

The enemy took away most of his wounded, and we were left with only those troops, as I already spoke about, the 12th harmata of the redoubt... and three others, taken during the first attacks.

General Armand Caulaincourt

Battle pouch

Estimates of Russian spending

The number of expenses of the Russian army has been looked at more than once by historians. Rizny Dzherela gave different numbers:

According to the 18th bulletin of the Great Army (dated 10 spring 1812), 12-13 thousand killed, 5 thousand killed, 40 generals killed, wounded or completely lost, 60 buried shells. The total expenses are estimated at approximately 40-50 thousand.

F. Segur, who was at Napoleon's headquarters, gave completely different data about the trophies: 700 to 800 caplets and about 20 harmats.

A document entitled “Description of the Battle of the Village of Borodino, which took place on September 26, 1812” (probably compiled by K. F. Tolem), which is widely called “Kutuzov’s reports to Alexander I” and dates back to September 1812, indicating 2500 expenses, This includes 13 killed and wounded generals.

38-45 thousand people, including 23 generals. The inscription “45 thousand” is engraved on the Head Monument on the Borodino Field, built in 1839, and is also indicated on the 15th wall of the Gallery of Viysk Glory to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

58 thousand killed and wounded, up to 1000 dead, from 13 to 15 harm. Data on the expenditures are provided here at the base of the chief general of the 1st Army immediately after the battle, the expenditures of the 2nd Army are estimated by historians of the 19th century to be quite 20 thousand. These data were no longer considered reliable at the end of the 19th century, they were not insured by the European Union, and the amount of expenses was “up to 40 thousand.” Current historians appreciate that the reduction of the 1st Army also took revenge on the losses of the 2nd Army, since the 2nd Army did not lose officers responsible for military service.

42.5 thousand inhabitants - the losses of the Russian army from the book of Z. P. Mikhev, published in 1911.

Based on information from the RGVIA archive that was preserved, the Russian army lost 39,300 people killed, wounded and unknown (21,766 in the 1st Army, 17,445 in the 2nd Army), We agree that data from various reasons (do not include the loss of militia and Cossacks), historians call for an increase in this number to 44-45 thousand people. Based on Troitsky, according to the Military Regional Archive of the Headquarters, the figure is 45.6 thousand individuals.

Estimates of French spending

A significant part of the documentation of the Grand Army perished during the attack, so the assessment of the French’s expenses is extremely precarious. The supply of fuel for the French army's waste is being deprived of its power.

According to the 18th bulletin of the Grand Army, the French lost 2,500 killed and nearly 7,500 wounded, 6 generals killed (2 divisional, 4 brigade) and 7-8 wounded. The waste is estimated at approximately 10 thousand individuals. In the past, this data has been repeatedly called into question, and at this time none of the investigators consider it to be reliable.

“Description of the battle near the village of Borodino”, compiled in the name of M.I. Kutuzov (improbably, K.F. Tolem) and dating back to 1812, indicates more than 40,000 personal expenses, including 42 killed and wounded generals.

The largest number of expenses of the Napoleonic army in French historiography, 30 thousand, is based on the support of the French officer Denier, who served as an inspector at Napoleon’s Headquarters, who contributed to the underground expenses French in 3 days of the Battle of Borodino in 49 generals, 37 of them 6550 killed and 21450 wounded. These figures were kept secret by order of Marshal Berthieu due to the inconsistency with the data of Napoleon's bulletin about the expenditure of 8-10 thousand and published before 1842. The figure of 30 thousand, which appears in the literature, is based on the rounded data of Denier (with the understanding that in Denier 1176 soldiers of the Grande Armée were not insured, but they were completely lost).

Later investigations showed that the data was greatly underestimated. So, Day to bring up the number of 269 killed officers of the Grand Army. However, in 1899, the French historian Martinien, on the basis of saved documents, established that no less than 460 officers with the same nickname were killed. Later investigations increased this number to 480. French historians know that “shards of information about the generals and colonels who fell out of favor under Borodino are inaccurate” and underestimates, it can be assumed that other figures are based on incorrect data.”

The Napoleonic general at the side of Segur estimated that the French spent 40 thousand soldiers and officers for Borodin. A. Vasiliev respects Segur’s assessment as tendentiously biased, pointing out that the general wrote for the Bourbon reign, with his own lack of objectivity.

In Russian literature, the number of French expenditures was often estimated at 58,478 people. This number is based on the details of the defector Alexander Schmidt, who once served in the office of Marshal Berthier. This figure was later adopted by patriotic descendants, as indicated on the Head Monument.

For current French historiography, the traditional estimate of French expenses is 30 thousand for 9-10 thousand killed. The Russian historian A. Vasilyev points out, briefly, that the number of expenses of 30 thousand is achieved by such methods of recovery: a) compilation of data about a special warehouse of records that were saved for 2 and 20 springs (one This gives a decline of 45.7 thousand) with the amount of spending in the avant-garde right and the approximate number of sick and retired and b) by the way - the battle of Wagram, equal in number and for the approximate number of costs in the middle of the command warehouse, despite the fact that it is hidden to Vasiliev thinks that a lot of French expenses are clearly visible ( 33,854 people, including 42 generals and 1,820 officers; under Borodin, according to Vasiliev, there are 1,792 people in command, including 49 generals).

The cost to the generals of the sides was killed and wounded by the French - 49 generals, including 8 killed: 2 divisional (Auguste Caulaincourt and Montbrun) and 6 brigade. The Russians had 26 generals, which means that only 73 Russian generals took part in the battle, while the French army only had 70 generals in the cavalry. The French brigadier general was as close to a Russian colonel as he was to a major general.

Prote Zemtsov showed that Vasiliev’s developments are unreliable, and the fragments are based on inaccurate data. So, according to the lists compiled by Zemtsov, “for 5-7 summers, 1928 officers and 49 generals were killed and wounded,” so the total loss to the command was 1977 people, and not 1792, as Vasiliev noted. Vasiliev’s compilation of data about the special warehouse of the Grand Army for the 2nd and 20th spring also, in Zemtsov’s opinion, gave incorrect results, as many of the wounded were not treated, but they returned to action within an hour, just after the battle. In addition, Vasiliev did not capture all units of the French army. Zemtsov himself, using a methodology similar to that of Vasiliev, estimated French spending for 5-7 springs at 38.5 thousand individuals. Also disputed by Vasiliev, the figure for the expenditure of the French troops for the Wars is 33,854 people - for example, the English explorer Chandler estimated them at 40 thousand people.

It is clear that up to several thousand people were killed, adding those who died from wounds, so the number was greater. At the Kolotsk monastery, where the main military hospital of the French army was located, according to the testimony of the captain of the 30th line regiment, C. Francois, in the 10 days following the battle, 3/4 of the wounded died. French encyclopedias say that among 30 thousand of Borodin’s victims died and 20.5 thousand died from wounds.

Zagalny pouch of battle

The Battle of Borodino is one of the bloodiest battles of the 19th century and the bloodiest of all that came before it. According to the most modest estimates of total expenses, nearly 6,000 people died or were injured in the fields today, the French army spent about 25% of its inventory, the Russian - about 30%. On the French side, 60 thousand harmant posts were killed, on the Russian side - 50 thousand. Nevypadkovo Napoleon called the battle of Borodino his greatest battle, although the results were more modest for the great commander, who was victorious.

The number of dead, who died from wounds, was much greater than the official number of those killed on the battlefield; The victims of the battle must be brought to the wounded who later died. In the spring of 1812 - in the spring of 1813, the Russians burned and buried the bodies that were lost in the field. According to the military historian General Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, a total of 58,521 bodies were buried and burned. Russian historians and, from time to time, supporters of the museum-reserve on the Borodino field, estimate the number of people who visited the field at 48-50 thousand people. According to the data of A. Sukhanov, on the Borodino field in many villages (without including the French funerals at the Kolotsk monastery), 49,887 dead were buried.

The commanders wrote down the grudges on their rack, I will overcome. Napoleon's position is explained in his memoirs:

The Battle of Moscow is my greatest battle: it is a battle of giants. Russians have a small population of 170 thousand; the stench of all the advantages is behind them: numerical superiority in infantry, cavalry, artillery, a miraculous position. The stench was overwhelming! Fearless heroes, Ney, Murat, Poniatovsky - to whom belonged the glory of this battle. How many great, how many beautiful historical deeds will be highlighted in it! Here is the story, how these important cuirassiers buried the redoubts, having cut down the gunners on their harmats; here is the story of the heroic self-sacrifice of Montbrun and Caulaincourt, who met death at the dawn of their glory; there is news about those how our gunners, discovered on the level field, were driving against more numerous and well-fortified batteries, and about these fearless infantry, who at the most critical moment, if the general who commanded them, although They are encouraged, they shouted to you: “Calm down, all your soldiers were determined to overcome today, and they will overcome it!

This paragraph is a dictation of 1816 to fate. Across the river, in 1817, Napoleon described the Battle of Borodino as follows:

With an army of 80,000, I rushed at the Russians, who were 250,000 strong, beaten to the teeth and smashing them.

Kutuzov in his report to Emperor Alexander I wrote:

The battle on the 26th was enormous, it was bloody in all the quiet that is visible in the new hours. We had finished the battle completely, and the enemy retreated to the position where they had come to attack us.

Emperor Alexander I, without deceiving himself, would act effectively, but in order to encourage the people’s hopes for the final end of the war, by voting about the Battle of Borodino, as if I would win. Prince Kutuzov was in residence with the Field Marshal General for an award of 100 thousand rubles. Barclay de Tolly having received the Order of St. George, 2nd degree, Prince Bagration - 50 thousand rubles. Fourteen generals received the Order of St. George, 3rd degree. All lower ranks involved in the battle were given 5 rubles per person.

From that time on, in Russian, and after it in Radyansky (between the 1920s and 1930s) historiography began to focus on the Battle of Borodino as before the actual victory of the Russian army. A number of Russian historians also traditionally insist that the result of the Battle of Borodino was insignificant, and the Russian army gained “moral victory” from it.

Foreign historians, until now inferior to their Russian colleagues, view Borodino as Napoleon’s sure victory. Through the war, the French occupied the advanced positions and the replacement of the Russian army, saving them from their reserves, drove the Russians out of the battlefield, and prevented them from entering and entering sew Moscow. However, no one will deny that the Russian army preserved its strength and morale, so that Napoleon never achieved his goal of completely defeating the Russian army.

The main achievements of the general battle of Borodino were that Napoleon was not able to defeat the Russian army, and in the objective minds of the entire Russian campaign of 1812, the day of victory resounded towards Napoleon's final defeat.

The Battle of Borodino marked a crisis in the French strategy for the global general battle. The French, in the hour of battle, were not able to defeat the Russian army, to capitulate Russia and dictate the minds of the world. The Russian troops were able to save their forces for the coming battles.

Memory

Borodino field

The widow of one of the generals who died in the battle fell asleep on the territory of Bagration’s flashes in the wife’s monastery, in which the statute was punished “to offer prayers ... for Orthodox leaders and warriors, who in these places are for the faith, the sovereign and the Laika lives on, was laid in the summer of 1812 rock." At the eighth river of the battle on September 26, 1820, the first temple of the monastery was consecrated. The temple was built as a monument to military glory.

Until 1839, the land in the central part of the Borodino field was purchased by Emperor Mikola I. In 1839, on Kurgan Heights, at the site of the Raevsky battery, a monument was built x Bagration. Opposite the Battery of Raevsky Boulevard, a guardhouse was created for veterans, who were obliged to look at the monument and grave of Bagration, keep the Book of Records of the Soldiers, show the battle plan, what was coming, discoveries from the battlefield.

At the sanctuary of the 100th Battle, the guardhouse was rebuilt, and 33 monuments to corps, divisions, and regiments of the Russian army were erected on the Borodino Field.

On the territory of the daily museum-reserve with an area of ​​110 km², over 200 monuments and monuments have been erected. This past week of spring on the Borodino field, over a thousand participants are performing episodes of the Battle of Borodino during the military-historical reconstruction.

The Battle of Borodino in 1812 - a battle that lasted only one day, was preserved in the history of the planet among the most important forces of light. Having dealt with this blow, Napoleon quickly supported the Russian Empire, otherwise his plans were not destined to come to fruition. It is important that the battle of Borodino itself became the first stage in the fall of the famous conqueror. What do we know about the battle that made Lermontov famous among his beloved works?

Battle of Borodino 1812: history

At this point, when Bonaparte’s army had already begun to subjugate all of continental Europe, the emperor’s power expanded to Africa. He himself spoke with his friends and relatives, so that in order to achieve world peace, he lost control over the Russian lands.

For the rooting of the Russian territory, the army was collected, the number of which became approximately 600 thousand people. The army was rapidly pushing into the depths of the state. However, Napoleon’s soldiers, one by one, perished under the blow of the village militia, and their health suffered through an unimportant climate and filthy food. Prote prosuvannya the military was shaking, the capital was built by the French.

The bloody Battle of Borodino of 1812 became part of the tactics used by Russian commanders. The stinks weakened the warlock's army with insignificant battles, waiting for the final blow.

Main stages

The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was actually a battle that consisted of many battles with the French armies, which resulted in huge expenses on both sides. The first thing that came to light was the village of Borodino, which is located approximately 125 km from Moscow. On the side of Russia they took the fate of de Tolly, on the side of the enemy - the Beauharnais corps.

The Battle of Borodino in 1812 was in turmoil when the battle took place. Fifteen divisions of French marshals and two Russians, led by Vorontsov and Neverovsky, took part in it. At this stage, Bagration healed an important wound, which made him reluctant to entrust command to Konovnitsin.

At that hour, when the Russian soldiers lost the flash, the Battle of Borodino (1812) was already close to 14 years old. A short exchange of distant events: the Russians are moving beyond Semenivsky Yar, where the third battle may take place. Its participants include people who attacked flashes and stole them. The French took away reinforcements, which became Kinota, under the leadership of Nansouty. Uvarov’s cavalry rushed to the aid of the Russian troops, and the Cossacks under the command of Platov also came.

Battery Raevsky

Around here you can take a look at the final stage of such a battle, like the Battle of Borodino (1812). A short note: the battle for the history of the “grave of the French cavalry”, which has gone down in history, lasted for about 7 years. This place of justice became the grave for Bonaparte’s rich soldiers.

Historians, as before, marvel at why the forces of the Russian army abandoned the Shevadinsky redoubt. It is not included that the commander-in-chief will open the left flank in order to turn the enemy’s respect away from the right. This way, the new Smolensk road was blocked, and Napoleon’s army quickly reached Moscow.

There have been preserved a number of historically important documents that shed light on such a thing as the war of 1812. The Battle of Borodino can be seen in the sheet that was sent by Kutuzov to the Russian Emperor even before the beginning. The commander informed the queen that the peculiarities of the locality (open fields) would ensure optimal positions for the Russian troops.

One hundred for Khvilina

The Battle of Borodino (1812) briefly and heatedly appears in such a number of historical battles that there is an enmity that was about to last for hours. It’s true that the battle that began on the 7th of Wednesday was very early, and it took less time to finish. Insanely, there appeared in the middle of the most crooked middle of all these untrimmed battles.

It’s no secret that the Battle of Borodino took away so many lives and brought its own twisted contribution. Historians have not been able to determine the exact number of those killed, they call it 80-100 thousand. bent on both sides. The ghost shows that at least a hundred soldiers suffered skin diseases in the next world.

Heroes

The Vietnamese War of 1812 bestowed a wealth of commanders with well-deserved glory. The Battle of Borodino, of course, killed such a man as Kutuzov. Before speaking, Mikhailo Ilarionovich at that time was no longer an old man whose one eye did not collapse. At the time of the battle, he was still lacking in energy, albeit an old man, and not wearing his signature bandage.

Apparently, Kutuzov emerged as the only hero whom Borodino glorified. At the same time, Bagration, Raevsky, and de Tolly entered history. It’s important that the rest of them lack authority among the military, and want to be the author of the brilliant idea to put partisan forces against the hostile army. According to the legend, at the hour of the Battle of Borodino, General Three lost his horses, which perished under a barrage of shells, and then became incapacitated.

For whom victory was lost

Perhaps the whole story will be devoid of the main intrigue of the bloody battle, the fragments of the offending side, who took part from him, will have a powerful thought behind his drive. French historians reconcile that the great victory of that day was achieved by the military Napoleon. Russians have been pushing for the past, this theory was at the same time supported by Oleksandr Pershiy, who voted the Battle of Borodino as an absolute victory for Russia. Before the speech, the very next day, Kutuzov was given the title of Field Marshal General.

It is clear that Bonaparte was dissatisfied with the reports given by his military leaders. The number of Russian shells destroyed was minimal, just as the army took with it the number of troops it advanced. It is important that the conqueror remains oppressed by the morale of the enemy.

The large-scale battle that began on the 7th spring near the village of Borodino, over the course of two centuries, drew writers, poets, artists, and then directors, who highlighted it in their works. You can remember both the painting “The Hussar's Ballad” and the famous Lermontov's virtuoso, which is now being taught at school.

What really happened and how did the Battle of Borodino in 1812 turn out for the Russians and the French? Buntman, Eidelman are historians who created a laconic and precise text that illuminates the details of the bloody battle. Critics praise this book for its complete knowledge of the era, sparkling with the images of the heroes of the battle (on both sides), because all these aspects are easy to see in reality. The book is definitely worth reading for those who are seriously interested in history and military law.

I.M. Zherin. Poranennya P.I. Bagration at the Battle of Borodino. 1816 rub.

Napoleon, hoping to support the attacking forces of the Semenivsky flushes, ordered his left wing to strike the enemy at Kurgan Heights and take it. The battery was captured at altitude by the general's 26th Infantry Division. The troops passed to the corps of the Viceroy of Beauharnais. Koloch and began the attack on the Great Redoubt, which was their occupation.

K. Vernier, I. Lecomt. Napoleon, among the generals, fights the Battle of Borodino. Rosemated engraving

At this hour the generals passed by the height of Kurgan, occupied by the enemy. Having taken command of the 3rd battalion of the Ufa Infantry Regiment, Yermolov turned the altitude with a strong counterattack about 10 years ago. “By fierce and greedy” is travail in the past. The French 30th Line Regiment, realizing the terrible losses, its surplus flowed from the mound. General Bonnamy is full of ties. General Kutaisov died during this battle. The French artillery began a massive bombardment of Kurgan Heights. Yermolov, having recovered from his wounds, transferred command to the general.

On the farthest edge of the Russian position, the Polish military general Poniatowski launched an attack on the enemy from the village of Utitsya, became stuck in the end for her and could not back up these corps of the Napoleonic army, as and fought against the Semenivsky flushes. The ruins of the Utitsky Kurgan became a stumbling block for the Poles.

Around the 12th day, the sides regrouped their forces on the battlefield. Kutuzov gave additional help to the inhabitants of Kurgan Heights. Strengthening the army M.B. Barclay de Tolly was defeated by the 2nd Conquest Army, which deprived all of the completed Semenivsky flushes. Defending them at great expense is no small feat. The Russian regiments moved beyond Semenovsky Yar, taking up positions on the heights of the village. The French began attacks here with infantry and cavalry.

Battle of Borodino from 9:00 to 12:30

Battle of Borodino (12:30-14:00)

Around the 13th day, the Beauharnais corps renewed its attack on Kurgan Heights. At this hour, following Kutuzov's order, a raid was launched by the Cossack corps of the otaman and the cavalry corps of the general against the enemy's left wing, where the Italian troops stood. The raid of the Russian film, about the effectiveness of which historians recount to this day, tempting Emperor Napoleon to commit all attacks for two years and destroy part of his guard to the aid of Bogarna.

Battle of Borodino from 12:30 to 14:00

During this hour, Kutuzov again regrouped his forces, strengthening the center and left flank.

F. Rubo. "Living place". Canvas, oliya. 1892 r. Museum-panorama "Battle of Borodino". Moscow

Battle of Borodino (14:00-18:00)

A cavalry battle appeared in front of Kurgan Heights. The Russian hussars and dragoons of General Dvichi attacked the enemy cuirassiers and drove them “as far as the batteries.” When mutual attacks began, the sides sharply increased the force of artillery fire, attempting to strangle the enemy’s batteries and cause maximum harm to the living forces.

Near the village of Semenivsky Vorog, the guards brigade of the colonel was attacked (Life Guards Izmailovsky and Lithuanian regiments). The police, hovering near the square, with towel volleys and bagnets repulsed a number of attacks by the enemy cavalry. The general from the Katerynoslav and Order cuirassier regiments came to the aid of the guards, who transferred the French cavalry. The artillery cannonade did not sweep across the entire field, carrying away thousands of human lives.

A.P. Shvabe. Fight at Borodino. Copy of a painting by the artist P. Hess. Another half of the 19th century. Canvas, oliya. TsVIMAIVS

After defeating the Russian military raid, Napoleon's artillery concentrated the great force of its fire against the Kurgan Heights. Vona became, in the words of the participants in the battle, the “volcano” of Borodin’s day. Close to the 15th anniversary of the day, Marshal Murat ordered the cavalry to attack the Russians in full force near the Great Redoubt. The infantry launched an attack on the height, as it had left the battery position that was located there. The cavalry of the 1st Invading Army immediately came to the attention of the enemy cavalry, and the battle of the army raged under the height.

V.V. Vereshchagin. Napoleon I on the Borodino Heights. 1897 r.

After this, the enemy's cavalry strongly attacked the brigade of the Russian Guards Infantry near the village of Semenivskoye, otherwise they were defeated with great harm. The French infantry to the corps of Marshal Ney crossed the Semenivsky Yar, but the attack by great forces was not without success. On the deserted edge of the position of the Kutuz army, the Poles buried the Utitsa Kurgan, but were unable to get out further.

Desario. Fight at Borodino

After the 16th year, the enemy completely destroyed the Kurgan Heights, launching attacks on the Russian positions as they descended from it. Here the cuirassier brigade of the general entered the battle at the warehouse of the Cavalry and Horse Guards regiments. With a decisive blow, the Russian Guards cavalry overthrew the attacking Saxons, forcing them to enter their exit positions.

On the way to the Great Redoubt, the enemy tried to attack with great forces, first with cavalry, but without success. After the 17th year there was no artillery activity here.

After the 16th year, the French cavalry tried to make a strong attack near the village of Semenivske, but attacked the colony of the Life Guards of Preobrazhensky, Semenivsky and the Finnish regiments. The guards rushed forward with the beating of drums and threw bagnets at the warlock. After this, the Finns cleared the forest from the hostile archers, and then the forest itself. About the 19th anniversary of the evening, the towel strolyanina sensed it here.

The remaining splashes of the battle today began to appear on the Kurgan Heights and the Utitsky Kurgan, while the Russians pressed their positions, themselves repeatedly turning into decisive counterattacks. Emperor Napoleon did not send his remaining reserve - the divisions of the Old and Young Guards, in order to turn the fight against the corrosiveness of the French armor.

Until the 18th anniversary of the evening, attacks continued along the entire line. The artillery fire was not even felt by the towel fire on the advanced lances, where the Jaeger infantry was active. The sides did not destroy artillery charges that day. The rest of the evening's light was almost 22 pm, when it became completely dark.

Battle of Borodino from 14:00 to 18:00

Pouches of the Battle of Borodino

During the course of the battle, which went on at sunset and before sunset, the attacking “Great Army” was able to destroy the enemy in the center and on the left flank to advance only 1-1.5 km. In this case, the Russian troops preserved the integrity of the front line and their communications, having resisted many attacks by enemy infantry and cavalry, in which case they themselves suffered counterattacks. The counterbattery fight for all its intricacies and trifles did not give an advantage to either side.

The main strongholds of the Russians on the battlefield - Semenivsky flushes and Kurgan height - were lost from the hands of the enemy. However, the fortifications on them were completely destroyed, and Napoleon ordered the troops to deprive the fortifications of the fortifications and go to their exit positions. From the darkness on the deserted Borodino field, horsemen of the Cossacks came out and took command of the heights above the battlefield. They guarded the enemy's forces and their enemies: the French were afraid of attacks at the night of the Cossack cinema.

The Russian commander-in-chief intends to continue the battle for another day. Ale, having withdrawn the information about the terrible expenses, Kutuzov ordered the Lead Army to advance to Mozhaisk at night. The exit from the Borodino field took place in an organized manner, at the marching columns, under the cover of a strong rearguard. Napoleon found out about the enemy’s exile without lying, but immediately went to reinvestigate the wines without bothering.

In the “battle of the giants” the parties realized great losses, about which the successors are discussing and arguing. It is important to note that in the 24-26 season the Russian army spent between 45 and 50 thousand. osіb (in front of the massive artillery fire), and the “Great Army” - approximately 35 thousand. and more. Other figures are being revised, which are also disputed and require further correction. At any time, the losses of the killed, dead from wounds, wounded and unknown were equal to approximately a third of the stock of the anti-fighting armies. The Borodino field also became a real “twin” for the French cavalry.

The Battle of Borodino in history is also called the “battle of the generals” due to the great expenses of the great command warehouse. The Russian army had 4 generals killed and mortally wounded, and 23 generals wounded and shell-shocked. The “Grand Army” had 12 generals killed or died from wounds, one marshal (Davout) and 38 generals were wounded.

About the cruelty and uncompromising nature of the battle on the Borodino field, check the number of people taken: approximately 1 thousand. I collected one general from each side. Russians - approximately 700 individuals.

Bag of the general battle of the Great German War of 1812. (the result of Napoleon’s Russian campaign) was that Bonaparte did not dare to defeat the enemy’s army, and Kutuzov did not seize Moscow.

Both Napoleon and Kutuzov on Borodino Day demonstrated the mystique of great commanders. The “Great Army” started the battle with massive attacks, which tied up endless battles for Semenivsky flushes and Kurgan heights. As a result, the battle was reorganized on the frontal side, where the chances of success on the attacking side were minimal. The great efforts of the French and their allies turned out to be fruitless.

As if it were not there, both Napoleon and Kutuzov, in their official reports about the battle that took place, announced their victory in the result of the battle on the day of the 26th sickle. M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov was awarded the rank of field marshal for Borodin. Indeed, the offending armies showed the greatest heroism on the Borodin field.

The Battle of Borodino did not become a turning point in the campaign of 1812. Here we come to the thought of the famous military theorist K. Clausewitz, who wrote that “victory lies not just in the buried battlefield, but in the physical and moral defeat of the enemy’s forces.”

After Borodino, the Russian army, the fighting spirit of which was formidable, quickly renewed its strength and was ready to drive out the enemy from between Russia. Napoleon’s “great” “army,” however, lost heart and lost a great deal of its maneuverability and ability to move. Moscow became a real flock for her, and the exit from it suddenly turned into a reality due to the final tragedy on the Berezina.

Material of preparations by the Scientific Research Institute (Military History)
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armored forces of the Russian Federation

“RUSSIANS WEED THE GLORY BY BEING UNSURVIVED”

After the battle of Smolensk, the advance of the Russian army continued. This screamed out the dissatisfaction in the country. Under the pressure of a huge thought, Alexander I recognized the head commander of the Russian army. At Kutuzov's factory, it was necessary to move away from Napoleon's position, and then move between the two. Having also followed the approach tactics, the pro-army and the entire country were expecting another major battle. Therefore, he ordered to find a position for a general battle, as soon as the enemy was found. Borodino, 124 kilometers from Moscow.

The Russian army reached the village of Borodino on September 22, according to the proposal of Colonel K.F. Tolya was formed into a flat position with a length of up to 8 km. On the left flank, the Borodino field covered the important Utitsky forest, and on the right, passing by the bank of the river. The bells were spores Maslovsky flashes - earthen arrow-like fortifications. At the center of the position, a fortification was also created, which removed the different names: Central, Kurgan Heights, or Raevsky’s battery. Semenivsky (Bagration) flushes were created on the left flank. In front of all positions, from the left flank, near the village of Shevardino, there will also be a redoubt that will play the role of a forward defense. However, Napoleon's army, which arrived after a bitter battle, 24 sickles struck them.

Roztashuvannya of the Russian troops. The right flank was occupied by the combat formations of the 1st Western Army of General M.B. Barclay de Tolly, on the left flank there were units of the 2nd Entering Army under the command of P.I. Bagration, and the Old Smolensk road near the village of Utitsya, covering the 3rd Infantry Corps of Lieutenant General N.A. Tuchkova. The Russian troops occupied a defensive position and were fired up at the sight of letter "G". This situation was explained by the fact that the Russian command refused to control the Old and New Smolensk roads leading to Moscow, moreover, it was due to the serious fear of the right-handed enemy’s bypassing the Russians. This is where a significant part of the corps of the 1st Army directly appeared. Napoleon, having launched his head attack on the left flank of the Russian army, did so on the night of the 26th sickle (7th spring), 1812 r. transferring the main forces through the people. I’m pounding, depriving the powerful left flank of more than a handful of cavalry and infantry units to protect it.

The beginning of the battle. The battle began on the fifth year of the war with an attack on the corps of the Vice-King of Italy Ege. Beauharnais to the position of the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment of the village. Borodina. The French captured this point, but this was their most exciting maneuver. Napoleon unleashed his head blow against Bagration's army. Corps of Marshals L.M. Davout, M. Neya, I. Murat and General A. Junot were attacked by Semenivsky flushes several times. Units of the 2nd Army fought heroically against an enemy that was superior in numbers. The French repeatedly attacked flushes, only to deprive them immediately after a counterattack. Until the ninth year, the Napoleonic armies were still completely destroying the fortifications of the Russian left flank, and Bagration, who tried to organize a terrible counterattack at this time, was mortally wounded. “The soul finally flew away from the left flank after the death of this person,” the evidence tells us. As the story goes, the thirst for revenge was captured by those soldiers who were in his exile. When the general was already being carried, the cuirassier Adrianov, who had served him at the hour of battle (and then handed him the death trumpet), ran up to the load and said: “Your Excellency, they will take you kindly, I have no more needs!” Then, as eyewitnesses report, “Adrianov, in front of thousands, launched like an arrow, militarily crashing into the ranks of the enemies and, hitting the rich, falling dead.”

The fight for Raevsky's battery. After the flushes were buried, the main struggle flared up for the center of the Russian position - Raevsky's battery, which between 9 and 11 years saw two strong enemy attacks. About the hour of another attack by Ege's troops. Beauharnais was about to be overwhelmed, but the French were defeated by the success of a successful counterattack by several Russian battalions, defeated by Major General A.P. Yermolov.

Opіvdni Kutuzov sent the Cossacks of the general from the cavalry M.I. Platova and the cavalry corps of Adjutant General F.P. Uvarov at Napoleon’s left flank. The raid of the Russian cinema gained the respect of Napoleon and for several years prevented a new assault by the French on the weakened Russian center. Having quickly re-arranged, Barclay de Tolly regrouped his forces and placed fresh troops on the front line. Just the other day, Napoleonic units made their third attempt to destroy Raevsky’s battery. The actions of Napoleonic lust and cinema resulted in success, but the French were still buried in the process. Major General P.G. is full of wounds. Likhachov. The Russian troops left, but the enemy was unable to break through the new front of their defense, regardless of all the efforts of the two cavalry corps.

Battle pouches. The French were able to achieve tactical successes on all main directions - the Russian armies were deprived of the initial positions and advanced approximately 1 km. However, Napoleonic units were unable to break through the defenses of the Russian troops. Several Russian regiments stood until the death, ready to repel new attacks. Napoleon, however, did not care about the painstaking efforts of his marshals, and did not risk abandoning his remaining reserve - the twenty-thousand-strong Old Guard - for the final blow. Intense artillery fire continued until the evening, and then the French units were withdrawn to the exit lines. It was not possible to overcome the Russian army. As written by the ancient historian E.V. Tarle: “It seemed like no one had achieved victory. The marshals talked among themselves and were dissatisfied. Murat said that he had not recognized the emperor all day, Ney said that the emperor had forgotten his craft. On both sides until evening the artillery grimaced and the smell of bloodshed lingered, but the Russians did not think of advancing rather than retreating. It was already very dark. Pishov is a small board. “What are the Russians?” - Napoleon slept. - “Stand on the spot, your majesty.” “I mean, I still want to intensify the fire,” the emperor ordered. - Give them more!

Frowning, without speaking to anyone, accompanied by honor and generals who did not dare to interrupt his muttering, Napoleon walked around the battlefield in the evening, marveling with burning eyes at the countless corpses. The Emperor had not yet known the end, but the Russians spent their 112 thousand not 30 thousand, but close to 58 thousand; Without knowing it, he himself spent over 50 thousand out of 130 thousand on his way to the Borodino field. Alas, 47 (not 43, as they sometimes write, but 47) of his top generals were hit and seriously wounded, and they found out this evening. French and Russian corpses littered the ground so thickly that the imperial horse was searching for a place to dump the hoard between the mountains of bodies of people and horses. Stogin and the cries of the wounded rushed from the ends of the field. The Russian wounded told their retinue: “The stinks did not let out the watery stogin,” wrote one of the mail, Count Segur, “perhaps, far from their stinks, they were less likely to pay for mercy. But truly those whose stench was strong from the pain they had endured were the French.”

The literature contains numerous facts about the loss of parties, and even more about the struggle. It is worth noting what the opponents did without meeting their own goals: Napoleon did not think of defeating the Russian army, Kutuzov did not think of seizing Moscow. However, the great forces, formed by the French army, turned out to be fruitless. Borodino brought bitter disappointment to Napoleon - the result of this battle of atrocities without guessing neither Austerlitz, nor Yana, nor Friedland. The bloodless French army could not re-investigate the enemy. The Russian army, fighting on its own territory, was able to increase the size of its ranks in a short period of time. Therefore, at the end of the battle, Napoleon himself was more accurate when he said: “Of all my battles, the most rewarding are the ones I fought near Moscow. The French in New York showed themselves that they would succeed. And the Russians gained fame by being invincible.”

RESCRIPT OF OLEXANDER I

“Mikhailo Ilarionovich! The general development of the military situation of our active armies would have been initial successes, but their legacy does not reveal less than the same kind of activity that would be required to defeat the enemy.

For obvious reasons and compelling reasons, I find it necessary to appoint one strong commander-in-chief over all the active armies, who, according to his special abilities, would be ranked at the very seniority .

Considering your merits, love until death and repeated traces of noble exploits give you a valid right to my trust.

Choosing you for this important task, I ask Almighty God to bless your activities to the glory of the Russian army and to let those happy hopes that Fatherland puts on you come true.”

DONESENNYA KUTUZOVA

“The battle on the 26th was enormous, it was bloody in the silence that is visible in the new clock. We had finished the battle completely, and the enemy retreated to the position where they had come to attack us; Prote superfluous waste, and from our side is crushed, especially because the most needed generals were wounded, made me afraid to take the Moscow road. This day I am in the village of Nari and I may arrive at the front of the army to go to me from Moscow for reinforcements. It seems that the loss is very great and that the French army has a secret idea that they spent 40,000 wounded and killed. Around the divisional general Bonamy, who was captured, and others were killed. Among others, Davoust of injuries. Rearguard inquiries are being made today. Now, having realized that the corps of the Viceroy of Italy is located in Russia, and for this purpose, the Adjutant General of Winzingerode Pishov will drive to Zvenigorod, in order to close this dear Moscow.”

3 MEMOIRS OF CALENCURE

“We have never lost so many generals and officers in one battle... There were few of them. The Russians showed great courage; The significant territory that had surrendered to us was evacuated from order. Their lavas did not fall into disarray... they quickly aggravated death and completely surrendered to our important attacks. There has never been a time before for the enemy positions to recognize such baked and systematic attacks and for them to stand with such zeal. The Emperor repeated many times that we cannot understand the order of those positions that were buried during such a war and that were so incessantly stolen, they gave us only a small number of prisoners... These successes are without complete they were not satisfied without trophies... »

TO THE REPORT TO GENERAL RAIVSKY

“The enemy, who ruled his entire army in our eyes, moved in one column straight to our front; having reached this point, the strong colonies reinforced their left flank, went straight to the redoubt and, regardless of the strong cardboard fire of my troops, climbed over the parapet without a shot to the head. At that very hour, from the right flank, Major General Paskevich and his regiments attacked with bagnets on the left flank of the enemy, which was behind the redoubt. Major General Vasilchikov himself attacked the right flank, and Major General Yermolov, having taken the battalion of the Jaeger regiments directed by Colonel Vuich, hit the bagnet directly on the redoubt, blaming everyone who was in the new colony in full Major General Vasilchikov and Paskevich overtook Mitt's enemy colonies and drove them to the tea gardens so hard that it was unlikely that anyone would escape from them. It’s impossible for me to describe more to the corps in a few words, that after the enemy’s defeat, turning back to their place, they stayed in them until the enemy’s repeated attacks, until the beaten and wounded ghosts were completely worthless And now my redoubt has occupied M. General -Major Likhachov. Your Excellency is aware that Major General Vasilchikov collected the Russian surpluses of the 12th and 27th divisions and with the Lithuanian Guards Regiment, holding his important position until the evening, at the left end of everything and our line continues..."

DIRECTORY EMERGENCY ABOUT THE DEPRESSION OF MOSCOW

“With the extreme and poor heart of the skin of the Vitchin, we promise that the enemy of the spring will enter Moscow on the 3rd. Let the Russian people not scold. By the way, let us swear to the skin and skin to boil with a new spirit of courage, firmness and irresistible hope, so that all evil and harm that befall us as enemies will turn on its head. The enemy captured Moscow not by crushing our forces, but by weakening them. The commander-in-chief of the first generals has identified the need and it is necessary to give up the immediate necessity in order to use reliable and short-term methods to transform the short-term triumph of the enemy into inevitable death. How painful it is to every Russian sense that the royal city of Moscow contains the enemies of its fatherlandism; but it contains them empty, bare from all the treasures and bags. The proud conqueror, having risen before her, became the king of the entire Russian kingdom and ascribed to him such a light as to judge; Otherwise, you will be fooled in your hopes and you will not find in the capital not only ways to take a bath, but also ways to sleep. In the meantime, our forces around Moscow will not stop blocking off all the roads and corrals that we are trying to obtain for food, today they were in need, until we can’t help but hope that they will amaze the minds of the capture of Moscow. What is wrongly guilty of will be committed by his own power..."

Battle of Borodino - the main battle of the Great Patriotic War of 1812, which took place on the 7th spring (26 sickles after the old style) in 1812.

Russian Imperial Army

Commander-in-Chief - General of the Infantry, Prince Mikhailo Ilarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov. The main forces of the Russian army were regular troops, reduced to the 1st attack army under the command of the General of Infantry M. B. Barclay de Tolly and the 2nd Entering Army under the command of Infantry General P. I. Bagration.

Great Army

The commander-in-chief is the Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte. The Crimea of ​​the French troops, to the warehouse of the Grand Army included contingents from the powers of the Rhineland, Westphalia, Bavaria, Württemberg, Cleve, Berg, Prussia, Saxony, the Netherlands, Nassau, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw of Spain, , Kingdom of Naples, Swiss Confederation, Swiss Confederation of European Powers, who were lying idle under the French Empire.

Number of anti-insurgency parties

There are two main versions of the number of French troops that took part in the battle. Since the so-called “Gzhatsky Rakhunk”, the Great Army before the battle had 135,000 people with 900 harmats. According to another version, the number of French troops approached 185,000 people. at 1200 harmats, the data is indicated on the Central Monument on the Borodino Field. This difference in numbers is explained by the fact that during the transition from Gzhatsk to the Kolotsk Monastery, the Great Army was exhausted by reserve units, which gradually poured into the army warehouse and were not guarded during the roll call in Gzhatsk.

The number of Russian troops who took part in the battle is less disputed and stands at 118,000. with 600 harmats, including 10,000 warriors of the Moscow and Smolensk militia. It is impossible to respect the militias as full-time fighters, the remains of the stench were practically not recovered and did not last, and were used as auxiliary personnel during the daily fortification of disputes and for the collection and removal of the wounded from the battlefield .

Cause the battle

The result of the campaign is 1812 rubles. Napoleon Bonaparte planning to draw the Russian army into a general battle, at any time, taking advantage of the significant superiority of numbers, defeat the enemy and force Emperor Alexander to capitulation. The Russian army was systematically advancing deeper into its territory, leading to a decisive battle. The constant occurrence of serious battles had a detrimental effect on the morale of both soldiers and officers, including General of the Infantry Kutuzov, who was recently appointed commander-in-chief, giving Bonaparte the battle general. Having believed that the French armies were disintegrating their forces, the Grand Army was seriously diminishing in numbers. In this case, he did not understand the usual illusions of the enemy’s forces and his capabilities and intelligence, that Bonaparte, as a commander, is extremely careless, and his soldiers are preparing a great military testimony and are eager to fight. However, there was still no date for a general battle, and the further advance to Moscow without a serious battle would have sapped the military morale and raised the distrust of the army in the future. Doctors of all these officials, Kutuzov had the right to pardon and lost the upcoming battle, and in their minds it was determined to choose the place of battle.

Battlefield

The scene of the upcoming battle was carefully prepared by the Russian quartermasters. They chose such a position, as if it would negate the superiority of the Grand Army in numbers, especially in the number of artillery, which allows them to quietly maneuver the reserves. The flanks of the position did not exclude the possibility of deep detours, and it was also important to the extent that it was possible to cover all the important roads that lead to Moscow through Mozhaisk, then. Old and New Smolensk roads, and the Gzhatsky tract. On the battlefield you can take into account the locality that extends from evening to afternoon from Novy Selo to the village of Artemka and from the approach to the descent from Fomkino to Novy Selo. The locality excites a great number of streams, rivers and ravines that flow across the battlefield from day to day. The Russian position was rearranged in such a way that the attacking enemy, first within the range of towel firing, would destroy the Kamyanka and Semenivsky strumka on the left flank and in the center, as well as the valley of the Koloch River right flank, which is under the fire of Russian artillery . This allowed the Russian troops to invite the enemy to carry out coordinated attacks and increase their penetration to key points of the position.

Engineering positions. Fortification

The very nature of locality has been transferred through the use of various fortification disputes to enhance defense potential. Stretch 23-25 ​​sickles (4-6 springs) 1812 rub. Russian engineers have built a great system of work. On the north side of the village of Shevardino there was a planned redoubt on the 5th Garmat, which was intended to protect the main Russian position and to increase the respect of the enemy in preparing the Russian army before the final battle. On the 24th of September, the French troops tried to burn this massacre, which went down in history as the Battle for the Shevardino Redoubt. The extreme right flank of the Russian position was covered by flushes from the village of Maslovo, the crossing of the Koloch River from the village of Borodino was covered by earthen batteries from the village of Gorki. At the center of the position, on Kurgan Height, a fortification was erected, known as the Raevsky Battery. Farther this afternoon, near the village of Semenivske, a fortification was also built for the earth. In the space between Semenivsky Yar, Utitsky Forest and the Yar of the Kamyanka River, a number of lunettes were built, which became famous as Bagration's flashes. In the Utitsky forest, a system of pins was organized, which made it difficult for the enemy to move through the forest. Russian fortifications have abandoned the principle of intersecting fire, and opened a wide range of fire pits on the approaches to them. Another feature of the Russian fortifications was their inability to defeat the enemy for their own purposes.

Side plans

The Battle of Borodino, like most other battles of that era, demonstrates the extreme brutality of the battles, largely due to the tasks of the opposing sides. The defeat was unpleasant for both Kutuzov and Bonaparte. The defeat of the Russian army meant a defeat in the war, and the remaining reserves to cover expenses were not transferred to the order of Kutuzov in the near future. Bonaparte also cared that there was no chance of victory for the Swedes, but the war would not be lost in order to defeat his plan and conquer Moscow, since we wanted to dictate the minds of the world, it was necessary for us to defeat the Russians. army The offended commanders also realized that they would have to face a strong, inveterate and careless enemy, and it would not be easy to prevail in the upcoming battle. The Russian commander-in-chief, having secured the enemy, attacked a strongly fortified position, relying on a strong system of fortifications. Drawn into the assault on Russian fortifications, the enemy's troops were exposed to counterattacks by both infantry and cavalry. An important mental success was the preservation of the military strength of the Russian army after the battle.

Bonaparte, however, intends to break through the Russian positions, to seize their key points, and thus, having disorganized the Russian military formations, to achieve victory. Saving the military resources of the Great Army was also practical for the new army, it was practical to invest in additional expenses and the ability to restore the strength of its troops in the depths of the enemy territory awkward. We also understand that without replenishing supplies of provisions, fodder and ammunition, we will not be able to continue the campaign for a long time. Without knowing what reserves Kutuzov had at his disposal, and if he could repay his expenses, victory in the battle, and not just victory, but the defeat of the Russian army, was the only possible way out situations.

The equalization of opposing sides

For more than ten years, the Russian troops periodically clashed with the French on the battlefields, so the Russian command was aware of the enemy’s tactics, as well as the fighting skills of the French soldiers. Russian infantry, harvested during the wars with the Turks and the French, represented a terrible force. Despite the fact that the Russian infantry battalions were inferior to the French in numbers, they were distinguished by greater mobility and maneuverability. The traditional virtues of the Russian soldier - steadfastness, dedication and humility - were recognized by their opponents. The Russian cavalry was distinguished by a rich army of troops, excellent training of its leaders, as well as a large number of brave and initiative commanders. The artillery, equipped with the latest technology, has little tactical flexibility due to the structure of a manual organizational structure and good training of commanders. The great anniversary of the Russian troops was a high fighting spirit and a special moral character. The presence of local bariers and national authorities, a single organizational structure, felt the war's war, which was also, to some extent, equalized by the enemy.

The Great Army, under the control of the Russian Imperial Army, was a complete picture. In addition to the French bastards, they also included the British region - Bonaparte's satellites, who were often not eager to fight for the interests of others, and often listened to the French There is mutual enmity among their allies. The French units were largely composed of veterans who had gone through the darkness of the front campaigns and little great combat evidence. French soldiers, on behalf of their allies, adored Bonaparte and were ready to vacate whatever his order. The French infantry traditionally acted in large battle formations in large numbers, which at the same time, with the offensive zeal and high fighting spirit, threatened them with a very dangerous enemy. However, the viciousness of the French cavalry deprived the majority of the population both from the point of view of the training of the cavalrymen themselves and from the dissatisfied state of the Chinese warehouse, so Bonaparte invested more in the German and Polish cavalry. The national integrity of the Grand Army could not but be reflected in the artillery, representing a variety of systems and calibers. The great part of the Grand Army was also those that the allied contingents were organized according to their own traditions and established military structure, which composed their formations in divisions and corps, as well as governing them through government and national authorities.

Progress of the battle

The Battle of Borodino began early on Serpnya 26 (Verse 7), 1812. The wound is about 6 years old. French artillery opened fire along the entire front, shelling Russian positions. Around the same time, the French colonies began to collapse in the wake of the fire, hanging at the exit lines for the attack.

The first to notice the attacks of the Life Guards was the Jaeger Regiment, which occupied the village of Borodino. The division of General Delzon at the warehouse of the 84th, 92nd and 106th regiments of the line infantry, speeding through the morning fog, tried to dislodge the guards jägers from their positions, but wasted on the inveterate reliance. As a result of a flank attack by the 106th Line Regiment, the Jaegers were forced to recapture Borodino and advance beyond the Koloch River. The French tried to cross after them, but were killed by the counterattack of the 1st, 19th and 40th Jaeger regiments and the Guards crew, and, realizing significant losses, they began to rebel. The place through Koloch was burned by the sailors of the Guards crew, and, right up to the end of the battle, the French did not try to attack this area.

Bagration's flashes on the left flank of the Russian position were occupied by the troops of the 2nd Grenadier Division of Major General Vorontsov, as well as the artillery of the 32nd and 11th battery companies. In front of the flashes of Kamyanka's vozdovzh, the lancets of the Russian jägers were shaking. In the Utitsky Forest, while moving around the flank, the flashes covered three Jaeger regiments under the command of Prince I.A. Shakhovsky. The 27th Infantry Division of Major General Neverovsky was located behind the flushes. The Semenivsky Heights were occupied by the 2nd Grenadier Division of Major General Duke Karl of Mecklenburg, as well as the 2nd Cuirassier Division of Major General Duka. They were opposed by the corps of Marshals Davout and Ney, General Junot, as well as the cavalry of Marshal Murat, supported by significant artillery forces. Thus, the number of enemy troops that were assigned for action against Bagration’s flushes amounted to 115,000 people.

Close to the 6th anniversary of the wound, the divisions of generals Dessay and Company with the corps of Marshal Davout began to appear in exit positions for an attack. Then the French infantry was confronted by the devastating fire of Russian artillery and the counterattack of the Jaegers, and was afraid of the development of the attack.

Having regrouped, the French launched an attack on each other for about 7 years. During the attack, the enemy again retreated from the baked support of the flushes. Undeterred by their losses, the infantry from Company's division managed to fall into one of the flushes, but as a result of a well-coordinated attack by the Russian infantry and the cavalry of the Okhtira Hussars and the Novorossiysk Dragoon Regiment The French, in confusion, began to rush back again. About the outbreak of the battle, one can attest to the fact that even before this moment Generals Rapp, Dessay, Kompan and others were wounded, and Marshal Davout himself was shell-shocked.

Bagration, bachachi, that the enemy is concentrating forces for a third, even more intense attack, having brought up the 3rd infantry division of Major General Konovnitsin to the flushes, and Kutuzov from the army reserve saw a handful of battalions of the 1st Conducted Grenadier Division, Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment, as well as the 3rd Cavalry Corps and the 1st Cuirassier Division. Tim, against the flushes, Bonaparte has already concentrated over 160 troops, as well as three infantry divisions from the corps of Marshal Ney and several cavalry units of Marshal Murat.

Around the 8th hour, the third flush attack began. The Russian artillery, firing grapeshot from short distances, regardless of the enemy's fire, inflicted great losses on the French columns. Regardless of this, the French lust from the division of the Company and Ledru managed to break through the left flush and in the intervals between other fortifications. A counterattack by the 27th Infantry and the 2nd Grenadier Division, supported by the cavalry of the 4th Cavalry Corps, forced the French to hastily advance to their exit positions.

Nearly 9 years into the morning, Bonaparte unleashed the fourth flush attack. Until this moment, the expanse of flashes, overflowing with cannonballs and being littered with dead and dying people, was already a terrible sight. Thick colonies of French infantry again rushed to attack the Russian fortifications. Fighting for flushes turned into hand-to-hand combat on the parapets, Nevirovsky's infantry and Vorontsov's grenadiers fought with a quiet zeal, destined to defeat the enemy. They had all sorts of handy tools, bagnets, cutlasses, artillery pieces, towel ramrods. Prote, regardless of all the efforts of the defencists, until the 10th year of the morning the enemy managed to get flushes. Prote Bagration to introduce the 2nd Grenadier Division of Major General, Duke Karl of Mecklenburg and the 2nd Cuirassier Division of Major General Duki. Before the counterattack, both the surpluses of Vorontsov’s grenadiers and Nevirovsky’s hunts were consumed. The French, who suffered terribly under the fire of the Russian artillery, did not have the opportunity to recover the buried treasure, did not withstand the organized attack of the Russian units and lost the flush. The attack of the Russian cuirassiers was so rapid that Marshal Murat himself, having completely lost his head, was caught up in a light brown lust.

Around the 11th hour of the morning, the hearty, heel attack of flushes begins. Due to strong artillery support, the French infantry managed to occupy the flushes again, and here the third infantry division of Major General Konovnitsin entered the battle. During this counterattack, Major General Tuchkov of the 4th died heroically, defeating the attack of the Revel and Murom infantry regiments with a banner in his hands. The French will once again lose their flushes.

Bonaparte, bachachi, that Chergov’s attack again ended in failure, in the presence of General Junot’s corps, which had Westphalian units reaching the warehouse. Poniatowski’s corps, which was behind Napoleon’s plan, to bypass the power of the flash, loading in the battles of the village of Utitsya on the Old Smolensk Road, and its destiny was not conquered, the desire of Davu and Neya recognized the most important losses and was revealed, just like encouraged them Murat's own cavalry, their meta - Bagration's flashes - was still lost in the hands of the Russians. The final attack of the Flashes began with the penetration of Junot's Westphalians through the Utitsky Forest at the flank and back of the Russian fortifications. Unfazed by the baked operation of the Russian Jaegers, the German hunters, who had made their way through the abatis, were allowed to leave their mission. Prote, having emerged from the forest, the Westphalians were confronted by the fire of Captain Zakharov's cannon-artillery battery. Not having woken up before the attack, the Westphalian infantry suffered heavy losses from the card volleys and immediately recognized the counterattacks of the Russian cavalry. The 2nd Corps of Lieutenant General Baggovut, who moved forward and stabilized the camp. The attack of the flushes from the front by the desire of Ney and Davout, which was developing at that hour, was again defeated.

The flush attack was carried out by Bonaparte according to this very plan. The attack of Ney and Davout from the front and Junot from the flank again hit the baked support. At the junction of the Utitsky forest, the Brest and Ryazan infantry regiments moved to the bayonet, stopping the deadly attack of the Westphalians. The expenditures of the Grand Army became increasingly important, attacks followed attacks, and flushes were never taken.

About the 12th year of the day, the eighth flush attack begins. From the French side, about 45,000 men of infantry and cavalry, supported by the fire of up to 400 artillery shells, suffered the fate of the Russian troops, who reached this front. about half the number. The French infantry launched a frontal attack on the Russian fortifications; their numerical superiority allowed them not to lose their respect to the artillery fire. Todi Bagration, of course, is becoming critical, especially having resisted the counterattack of Russian lust, as soon as he was wounded in the battle and was killed in battle. General Konovnitsin left the 2nd Western Army. Understanding that away from the worn-out and littered with bodies of driven flushes is ineffective, Konovnitsin leads the army beyond Semenivsky Yar. The attempt of the French on the shoulders of the Russian troops, who were about to retreat to Semenivske, was reflected by the dagger fire of the Russian artillery, placed on the hills of the village.

Close to the 9th anniversary of the wound, at that hour, when they were already fighting for Bagration's flushes, Bonaparte launched an attack on the center of the Russian position - Kurgan Heights, where there was a massacre that went down in history as Raevsky's Battery. The battery had 18 infantry units, as well as infantry from the 26th infantry division of Major General Paskevich. Other units of the 7th Infantry Corps of Lieutenant General Raevsky covered the battery from the flanks. Against the battery, behind Bonaparte’s plan, the 4th (Italian) corps of his little brother, Prince Eugene of Beauharnais, was in action.

After a heavy artillery bombardment, the batteries were attacked by the divisions of Generals Morand and Gerard, whose onslaught was defeated by the hurricane fire of Russian shells. Close to the 10th rank of Beauharnais, introduce the Brusier division. During the attack, the 30th line regiment and the 2nd Badensky regiment were able to attack the battery. The Russian infantry began to feel overwhelmed by the enemy, and the head of the artillery of the 1st offensive army, Major General Kutaisov, who stumbled nearby, killed the soldiers, especially stopping the Russian counterattack although. During the course of the untouched, almost baked bayonet battle, the area was cleared, and Brigadier General Bonamy, who was at the battery at that moment, was in full custody. Tim is no lesser, Kutaisov himself was killed in this battle.

To strengthen the defense of the battery, Barclay de Tolly sent the 24th Infantry Division of Major General Likhachov, and the right battery was taken over by the 7th Infantry Division of Major General Kaptsevich. Beauharnais also tested the regrouping of its forces, but the third attack on the Raevsky battery, which was planned, was delayed for two years through the cavalry of Uvarov and Platov, which quickly ended in the era of the Grand Army. After a quick moment, Kutuzov moved to the battery area the 4th Infantry Corps of Lieutenant General Osterman-Tolstoy and the 2nd Cavalry Corps of Major General Korf, as well as the Life Guards Kinny and Cavalry Guard regiments.

Having reconciled so that the threat to his forces had passed, Eugene Beauharnais launched the third attack on Raevsky’s battery. This is the fate of the Italian Guard, supported by the cavalry of General Grusha. At the same time, the cavalry of generals Caulaincourt and Latour-Maubourg arrived at the interval between the village of Semenivske and the Kurgan heights. Their task is to break through the Russian line, go to the flank of the battery and attack from the rear. However, during this attack by General Caulaincourt, the attack of the French cuirassiers was defeated by Russian artillery fire. At the same hour, the Beauharnais infantry begins an assault on the enemy from the front. Infantrymen from the 24th Infantry Division of General Likhachov fought with unprecedented intensity, until 4 p.m. the battery was taken, and Likhachov himself suffered numerous injuries. Between the village of Semenivske and the Kurgan heights, the baked cavalry situation was revealed, the Saxon cuirassiers of Lorge and the Polish lancers of Rozhnetsky were trying to break through the punishment of Russian lust. Cavalrymen from the 2nd and 3rd cavalry corps of the Russian army came to their aid. However, despite strong support, Lorzh's cuirassiers were able to break through into the depths of the Russian army's expansion. At this moment, the Life Guards Kinny and Cavalry Guard regiments entered the battle. Unfazed by the numerical superiority of the enemy, the Russian Cavalry Guard launched a counterattack against the enemy. After the bloody events, the Russian guards dared the Saxons to advance.

The 7th Infantry Division of General Kaptsevich simultaneously withstood the attacks of French, Italian and German cavalry from Grusha's corps. From all sides, the Russian infantry fought vigorously until the cavalry guards and Kinna Guards, as well as cavalrymen from the 2nd and 3rd cavalry corps, came to their aid. Unable to withstand a stunning counterattack, having realized the great losses, the French light cavalry was afraid to retreat.

At the same time, he was sharpening his battle for Semenivsky Yar. Having buried the flushes, Bonaparte realized that he could not achieve anything - the Russian armies occupied a new line of defense along the rapid and marshy Semenivsky Yar and were ready to continue chewing the battle. To the right, beyond the ruins of the village of Semenivske, surpluses of the 27th Infantry and 2nd Squadron Grenadier Divisions were being transported, joining their right flank with the Tobolsk and Volinsk Infantry Regiments. At the village site, the 2nd Grenadier Division took up defensive positions, and today the 3rd Infantry Division was deployed against it. Their left flank was covered by the still fresh Life Guards Lithuanian and Izmailovsky regiments. These forces were commanded by Lieutenant General Dokhturov, who replaced Konovnitsin, who assumed command of the 2nd Army in place of the seriously wounded Bagration.

Marshals Yes, Davout and Murat miraculously realized that their military forces were not in a position to conquer this border, and they returned to Napoleon with orders to bring in the remaining reserve - the Old Guard. However, Bonaparte, rightly respecting that such a risik is too great, having inspired, or even transferred from her the order of the guard artillery.

Close to the same day, Friant's division unsuccessfully attacked the village of Semenivske. The French hunt came at great expense. Suddenly, the important cavalry of General Nansouti entered the battle - in the space between the Utitsky forest and the village of Semenivske. However, their road was blocked by a square of the Life Guards of the Lithuanian and Izmailovsky regiments. Floating under the heavy fire of enemy artillery, the Guards infantry defeated three attacks by French cuirassiers. The cuirassiers of General Duca came to the aid of the guard, throwing off the French important note with a decisive blow. The breakthrough of Latour-Maubourg's cavalry in the center was also defeated, and the battle began to fade.

On the extreme left flank of the Russian position, on the Old Smolensk Road, under the command of Lieutenant General Tuchkov, the 1st Infantry Corps, six Cossack regiments of Major General Karpov of the 2nd Warriors Mos Kovsky and Smolensky militia. At the old enclosure there was a shelter on the Old Smolensk road and a barrier to the possible deep detour of the left flank of the Russian army. Zagin took a position at the top of the village of Utitsa, which later took away the name of the Utitsa mound.

Around the 8th anniversary of the war on the Old Smolensk Road, the front lines of Marshal Poniatowski’s corps appeared, formed from Polish units and infantry. Using Poniatowski’s method, there was a deep bypass of the Russian left flank, and the Russian troops, who had stumbled uncontrollably on their way, overshot this maneuver. At this point, Tuchkov 1st sent the 3rd Infantry Division of Major General Konovnitsin to help the flash soldiers, who had weakened their forces. Ponyatovsky, with the support of the artillery, immediately tried to defeat Tuchkov’s 1st position from his position, but was not successful. Close to the 11th anniversary of the wound, the Poles renewed their attacks and achieved momentary success by burying the Utitsky Kurgan. ONE TUKKOV 1st, having prolonged the attack of the Pavlovsky Grenadodsky I Bilozersky, I Vilmanststskiy Pikhnikhihi, Zmusov Polyakiv Vikhіdnі positions, the Tuchkov himself 1st PID Hour of the County of Buv Buv deadly storage. Command over the troops of this enclosure passed to Lieutenant General Baggovut.

Having regrouped, close to the first day of the day, Poniatowski again tried to break up the Russian corral, having surrounded him from the flank. The prote Taurian Grenadier and Minsk Infantry Regiments disrupted this maneuver with a stunning counterattack. The Poles did not stop trying to defeat the enemy, pro General Baggovut, Karl Fedorovich / Baggovut, with brave and decisive actions, defeating all their attacks, daring to go beyond the village of Utitsa and go on the defensive.

On the far right flank of the Russian army, the developments developed less dramatically. Nearly 10 years old, when the pressure of the French troops along the entire line began to weaken, Kutuzov ordered Lieutenant General Uvarov and Otaman Platov to launch a cavalry raid near the front of the Great Army, in order to remove the enemy and weaken go to the Russian defense. Close to the anniversary of the day of the cavalry from the 1st cavalry corps of Uvarov, for the great battle of the French, the village of Bezzubovo suddenly appeared. The cavalry division of General Ornano hastily moved beyond the Viina River, and at the increase of the Russian cavalry, the square of the 84th line regiment appeared in this area after the battle for the village of Borodino. Having suffered several short-range attacks, under the fire of the Russian horse artillery, the French infantry began to advance. At that time, Platov’s Cossacks, along forest roads, reached deep into the Great Army, reaching the village of Valuyevo, where the main military services of the French were located. When she appeared, Bonaparte was very worried, worried about slowing down activity in the center at any time. In order to eliminate the threat on his left flank, Napoleon decided to withdraw about 20,000 people from the direct main attack, thereby providing the necessary support for the Russian troops.

The battle is over. Pouches

Around 6 o'clock in the evening the battle gradually ended. Until the 9th year, the French continued to try to bypass the Russian positions through the Utitsky Forest, but were thwarted by the intense fire of the riflemen of the Finnish Life Guards Regiment, and were confused about their plans c. Napoleon realized that he would restore the buried flushes and Kurgan heights, but could not destroy the support of the Russian Imperial Army. The burying of these points did not change their position on the ground, and the main line of the Russian troops was not broken, and the main forces of the Grand Army were wasted on their assault. Already today, the Emperor of the French orders the Russian fortifications to be abandoned and to go to exit positions. Bagration's flushes and Raevsky's battery, which cost such great expenses, turned out to be a disaster for the French. The losses of the Grand Army resulted in 58,000 soldiers, 1,600 officers and 47 generals killed, wounded and unknown. The battle cost the Russian troops 38,000 soldiers, 1,500 officers and 29 generals killed, wounded and lost to obscurity.

For Napoleon the general, the battle ended in vain. Without reaching the set goals, the Russian army saved its battle, and Bonaparte could also be called a survivor. The battle lost a lot of evidence, killed soldiers, and it was impossible for the reserves to replenish the costs. The upcoming campaign also fell into doubt. The fighting spirit of the army has subsided.

However, Kutuzov was forced to take credit for his success. Despite the great expense, the army did not allow itself to be overcome and preserved its high fighting spirit until the end of the battle. The line of the Russian troops was broken, and the enemy was killed and exsanguinated. Prote, unimportantly, on the outer ground, he was obliged to continue the battle of the coming day, Kutuzov punished him about the outer entrance. We understand that without the arrival of reserves and a complete restoration of the army, it is not possible to continue the campaign and bring the war to the ultimate victory, since Bonaparte’s expenses were wrong, and this is the last day no further results will be achieved.

M.I. Kutuzov wrote about the battle’s pouches as follows: “The battle, on the 26th, was the most bloody in recent times. We had finished the battle completely, and the enemy retreated to the position where they had come to attack us.”

And the axis of Napoleon’s assessment: “The Battle of Moscow-Ritsa was one of those battles where the greatest achievements were revealed and the least results were achieved. The French showed themselves that they would be able to overcome it, and the Russians have earned the right to be invincible.”