The Battle of Shevardinsky redoubt: details

The battle around the Shevardino redoubt took place on the eve of the Battle of Borodino and is considered its prologue. The battle for control of the important fortification began because Napoleon needed a more favorable position for the subsequent offensive, and Kutuzov wanted to delay the time necessary for the reorganization of his army.

The day before

In the morning of August 24 (September 5), 1812, the French first came to the Russian positions. The earliest battle began near Kolotsky monastery. The main forces of the Russian army were located 8 kilometers from there. The first to hit was Pyotr Konovnitsyn's rear guard. After hours of fighting, he, along with his detachment crossed the Kolochu River and stopped near the village of Shevardino.

Kutuzov needed to gain time to complete the preparatory engineering work on the construction of fortifications. Therefore, he chose the village of Shevardino as a place of detention for the French. The day before there was built a pentagonal redoubt. At first it was considered part of the left flank. When the Russian positions were pushed back, the Shevardinsky redoubt became an independent front line position.

Seeing the fortification, Napoleon immediately ordered to capture him. The thing was that it prevented the French forces from turning around. Three best divisions, part of Davout's corps, and the Polish cavalry of Józef Poniatowski went to the attack. It is interesting that initially the main French forces turned on the field to the north-west and west of Borodino. Kutuzov wanted just that. However, Napoleon guessed the opponent's plan and did not accept his rules of the game. That is why the French sources described the attacking Redoubt forces as the right flank of the Bonaparte army.

The Russian Army

Shevardinsky redoubt defended under the command of Lieutenant-General Andrey Gorchakov. It was the nephew of Suvorov, who already distinguished himself in the Swiss and Italian campaigns. He became a general at the age of 21. Gorchakov was subject to the 27th Division of Dmitry Neverovsky, several regiments of cavalry, and a detachment of militia. The battle for Shevardinsky redoubt turned out to be a stellar hour for the general. He had 11,000 soldiers at his disposal, while Napoleon sent 35,000 to attack.

The forces of Gorchakov were located as follows. On the redoubt were 12 guns from the 12th battery company, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vinsper. Behind them was the 27th Infantry Division. In the first line were Simbirsk and Odessa regiments. In the second - Tarnopol and Vilna. The Jäger Regiments (6 in all) are located near Alexinki on the right bank of the Kolochi River. There were many ravines and bushes here. The same units occupied Doroninsky Grove on the outskirts of Doronino.

To the north of Shevardino village, from which the name Shevardinsky redoubt was derived, Chernigov and Kharkov dragoon regiments took their positions . To the south of the fortification, on the hill, was an eight-armed battery of the 9th mounted company. It was covered by two squadrons, part of the Akhtyrsky Hussar Regiment. To the right of the redoubt took the position of the guns of the 23rd light company, as well as the artillery of the 9th mounted company and the 21st light company.

In the Russian rear was the 2nd Civic Division. It was commanded by Major-General Ilya Duka. Next to Kamenka is the 2nd grenadier division of Karl Mecklenburg. Another 4 battalions rose near the village of Semenovskaya. In all, when the battle began for the Shevardino Redoubt, Gorchakov had 46 guns, 38 cavalry squadrons and 36 infantry battalions. To the left of it was a forest, and to the right is a village of the same name.

The French offensive

An important factor in the security of Russian troops was the cover of the neighboring Old Smolenskaya road. Cossack regiments of Major-General Akim Karpov acted as her defenders. Poniatowski's corps moved along this road.

The battle for the Shevardinsk Redoubt began with the attack of Napoleon's divisions. They attacked from the other, the New Smolensk road. Initially, the brunt of the blow fell on the 5th division of Jean-Dominique Compan. His soldiers were distinguished by an outstanding reputation. On the shelves of the Compan laid down many legends. One of them, the 57th linear, after the Italian campaign was nicknamed Grozny. It included experienced French veteran soldiers. The Fifth Division consisted of four regiments of linear infantry, two artillery companies and a combined voltiger regiment. It included 30 guns and almost 10 thousand infantrymen.

The enemy went to where the Shevardinsky Redoubt is located, and embraced the fortification from the south and the north. Twice the French broke through, but each time they beat out Neverovsky's infantry.

Compan's actions

The enemy was moving along the high road. Three enemy columns kept at the same height. At two o'clock in the afternoon they crossed Koloch and headed for Shevardinsky redoubt. In short, the battle of that day was described by many eyewitnesses, including Alexander Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky. He noted that Konovitsyn was forced to retreat to Borodino. After that, the rearguard regiments began to be part of the corps. Arranged in combat order, the Russian army appeared to the enemy's gaze. Access to it was blocked by Shevardinsky redoubt. The history of that battle attracted the attention of many historians ...

Compan skillfully took advantage of the features of the local terrain. Why was Shevardinsky redoubt built? To prevent the French from rebuilding and attacking the main Russian army. In order to facilitate the capture of the fortification, Compan took advantage of the occupied high ground as a platform for his guns. The guns caused great damage by shooting at the redoubt and refuge of the infantry.

The battle

The first shootout lasted about an hour. Having held on unexpectedly for a long time, the Russian flankers and the yegeri retreated. Just at this time, under the personal command of Napoleon, the enemy's forces marched straight for the fortifications. They were preceded by the fire of numerous enemy artillery.

There was an excessive numerical superiority of the French. It forced Gorchakov to immediately put into operation the reserve grenadiers. However, to get there, they needed time. While they were approaching, the defending forces and the Shevardino Redoubt fell asleep, cores, grapes, grenades and bullets. "What is it, if not victory ?!" - thought the French, but their triumph was short-lived. Only they began to master the redoubt, as in the battle entered the reserve grenadiers. Their approach was truly impressive. In front of the grenadiers were priests clad in relics. With crosses in their hands, they strengthened the fighting spirit of the soldiers and inspired them to go on the attack.

The regiments that came to the aid of redoubt reached the level with the battery. The enemy was thrown back. In the heat of the battle began a hand-to-hand fight. Opponents alternately turned each other over and intercepted the initiative, but neither side could take possession of the necessary advantage for the final victory. Darkened, and Shevardino, redoubt and the forest located on the left wing remained for the Russians.

Culmination

The day passed, the evening followed, and the defenders of the field fortification continued to hold their position. The enemy firing stopped for a while. But with the onset of darkness, the cuirassiers came to help Poniatowski. Together they rushed into a new attack. On the redoubt heard the approach of the French troops. In the dark, it was impossible to determine their number. But when in the disposition of the French the haystacks burned , the light lit up the dense column of the enemy that was on the offensive. She was moving towards the right Russian flank.

By this time Gorchakov had only one division and one battalion left. Then the general went on a trick. He ordered the battalion to hit the drums and shout "Hurray !!!", but do not get moving. Hearing the music, the French were bewildered and lost their initial pace. Meanwhile, the Russian cuirassiers from the 2nd Cuirassier Division entered the battle at full gallop and repulsed the attack.

The French division of Compan with a new attempt broke into the Shevardino redoubt only closer to midnight. A terrible massacre ensued. Soldiers fought hand to hand. Visibility was almost zero. It was not only darkness that prevented it, but also thick smoke. Opponents mingled with each other. Finally, the French faltered and again retreated, dropping 5 cannon. Three guns remained in place, the other two were removed by cuirassiers. The battle stopped. About midnight on the horizon again arose the French column.

It was then that, on the orders of Kutuzov, Gorchakov finally retreated. To keep the remote from other positions redoubt now was senseless. Military genius has achieved its goal, as it has been given enough time to enable the main Russian army to take the positions it needs and prepare additional fortifications.

A sleepless night of Napoleon

The day after the battle, Bonaparte conducted a review of one of the regiments of the Compan. The emperor asked in astonishment where the third battalion that was entering him had gone. The colonel told the tsar that he had stayed on the redoubt. The forest that was next door continued to swarm with Russian soldiers. Arrows constantly arranged forays and continued small attacks. Only when the cavalry of Murat fully occupied the cause, she managed to clear the plain. Thus ended the battle for the Shevardinsk Redoubt (the date of the battle is indicated at the beginning of the article).

This day became alarming for Napoleon. He slept little and badly. Finally, General Caulaincourt came to him, who reported that not one prisoner had fallen into the hands of the French. Surprised, Napoleon began to ask him strict questions. Did the French cavalry not attack the enemy on time? What did the Russians want: to win or to die? The general replied that surrounded enemy soldiers preferred to commit suicide. Kolenkur explained this behavior by the fact that the Russians are used to fighting the Turks, and they rarely take prisoners. Moreover, the interlocutor of Napoleon persisted, Gorchakov's soldiers were obviously brought to fanaticism. The Emperor was deeply impressed and plunged into meditation.

The Importance of Redoubt

Although the description of the fight for the redoubt differs from each other in details, they all confirm that the emperor appreciated the value of the fortification. Therefore, instead of reaching the Borodino field north of the Novaya Smolenskaya road, he attacked Shevardino. At the same time the French with the help of the corps of Bogarne were shielded from a possible attack on the left flank. As a result of this strategy, the Russians had to sever their military contact and withdraw their forces to Semyonovskie heights, closer to the flushes. During the retreat, sound signals were used to attack. They were needed to disinform the enemy.

The importance that the Shevardinsky Redoubt carried on was briefly mentioned by all French sources. Captain Labom recalled that the murderous fire that was fought from this fortification carried horror into the ranks of the Napoleonic army.

Subsequent maneuvers

So, the battle for Shevardinsky redoubt became the prologue of the whole battle of Borodino. Somehow it resembled a duel of heroes, who traditionally started the medieval battles of the Eastern Slavs. Each side in a certain sense has achieved its goal. Kutuzov managed to prepare for the general battle, and Napoleon visually demonstrated the power of his army. At the same time, the Russian commander-in-chief determined the most probable direction of the enemy strike. He began to prepare for the battle based on the fact that the French had to attack him on the left.

Having won the battle for the Shevardino Redoubt, Bonaparte had the opportunity to deploy his own army in front of the enemy system. The bridgehead, which he took to attack the Russian left flank, was extremely profitable. The maneuver of Napoleon forced Kutuzov to organize a regrouping of his forces at night on the eve of the general battle. From the fortified heights, it was evident how the French were increasingly being fed to the right, and more and more of their shooters were gathering in the woods. From the redoubt, the artillery of the Great Army was transported by various paths to surrounding hills and hills.

Nevertheless, Gorchakov immediately proved that the Russians would fight fiercely, which did not promise Napoleon an easy victory, to which he was accustomed during the wars in Europe. Kutuzov, after the battle for redoubt, moved the Grenadier battalion of Count Vorontsov closer to the strengthening next to Semenovsky. He separated Tuchkov's corps from the reserve and moved it to the Old Smolenskaya road. Other shelves from the militia were left behind the lines, they were supposed to help the wounded. Because of the maneuver of the French army, Kutuzov changed his headquarters. From Tatarinov she moved to Gorki. In addition, 4 Jaeger regiments were sent to the forest to protect communications between the 2nd army and the corps of Tuchkov.

Results

As a result of the actions of the French, Semenov flushes (they are also called the Bagrationovs) came to the fore, whereas the Maslovskys were useless. The importance of the Old Smolenskaya road has sharply increased. Now, with the help of this route, the French were given the opportunity to conduct a covering maneuver. The center of gravity of the upcoming Borodino events moved further south. In the hands of Napoleon was the dominant height, which he received due to his risky attack. The French Emperor no longer needed to break through the Russian fortified line, based on Koloch and characterized by natural barriers in the form of hard-to-reach river banks. Thus, Napoleon aligned his position and, in a certain sense, outplayed Kutuzov. The further fate of the battle of Borodino depended on the skill of commanders on the battlefield.

It is believed that the capture of the Shevardino redoubt the French lost about 4-5 thousand people killed and wounded, while the Russian losses amounted to 6-7 thousand. Such a large loss is due to the significant predominance of enemy artillery and numerical superiority of the enemy. Russian troops suffered significant losses due to flanking and crossfire.