BATTLE OF MALOYAROSLAVETS

The 'Battle of Maloyaroslavets' took place on October 24 1812, between the Russians, under Marshal Kutuzov, and part of the corps of Eugène de Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson, under General Delzons which numbered about 20,000 strong.

Contents

Prelude

The battle

Prelude

On October 19, Napoleon evacuated Moscow and marched south-west to Kaluga, de Beauharnais leading the advance. Unaware of this, and believing the force sighted at Fominskoye, 40 miles south-west of Moscow, was a foraging party, Kutuzov send General Dokhturov with 12,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry and 84 guns to surprise it. While on the road, Dokhturov learned this force was the Grand Armée and decided to hold out until reinforcements came at the road junction and town of Maloyaroslavets, on the Luzha river.

The battle

Dokhturov entered the town from the south and found the French spearhead had seized a bridgehead. Fierce fighting began; the town changed hands five times. General Raevski arrived with 10,000 more Russians; once more they took the town, though not the bridgehead. De Beauharnais threw in his 15th (Italian) division, under Domenico Pino (Minister of War of the Kingdom of Italy), and by evening they had again expelled the Russians. Marshal Kutusov arrived, decided against a pitched battle with the Grand Army the next day, and to retire instead to Kaluga. The French claimed a victory, but it was a Russian strategic success, for now wishing to avoid battle, Napoleon changed his line of march to the north, through Mozhaisk and Smolensk, the route of his advance that he had wished to avoid. French casualties were about 5,000, including Delzons killed, while the Russians lost 6,000.