Battle of Swolna

Battle of Swolna
Part of the French invasion of Russia

Near Beshenkovichi, on the banks of the Western Dvina, Belarus. July 29, 1812. 1830s
Date11 August 1812
Location55°43′0″N 28°2′0″E / 55.71667°N 28.03333°E / 55.71667; 28.03333
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
Russian Empire Russian Empire First French Empire French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Russian Empire General d'Auvray First French Empire Nicolas Oudinot
Strength
9,000[1] 10,000[1]
Casualties and losses
700–800[1][2] 1,500[1][2]
Map
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Swolna
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Siege of Riga 24 July – 18 December 1812: Macdonald's Prussians
Tilsit
10
Warsaw
9
Berezina
8
Battle of Berezina 26–29 November 1812: Napoleon, Chichagov, Wittgenstein, Kutuzov only pursuit
Maloyaro-
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7
Battle of Maloyaroslavets 24 October 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon
Moscow
6
Moscow 14 September to 19 October 1812: Napoleon
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5
Battle of Borodino 7 September 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon October 1812: Napoleon's Retreat
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4
Battle of Smolensk 16 August 1812: Napoleon November 1812: : Napoleon's retreat
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3
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Vilna
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Kowno
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  current battle
  Prussian corps
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The Battle of Swolna took place 11 August 1812 near the village of Swolna where Oudinot ran at the river Svolna into the Russians.[1][2]

Prelude

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Napoleon had sent a Bavarian Corps to reinforce the troops of Oudinot. Although they were hit hard by dysentery Oudinot started a new offensive.[3] Russian troops moved towards the village of Kokhanovichi, since d'Auvray decided that the lateral advance guard of the French was heading there, and his main forces were heading towards the city of Sebezh. In fact, the French are into this for a while they was moving towards Osveya, across from the Russian 1st Separate Infantry Corps. On August 10, Oudinot’s troops advanced to the Svolnyapekh River, the forward detachments occupied the village of Kokhanovichi, the Swolna manor and the village of Ostry Konets (several kilometers upstream the Swolna River), where there were bridges across the Swolna River.[4]

Battle

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Svolna river near Valyasy village (Belarus)

Neither side was able to enforce the crossing of the Svolna.[2]

Aftermath

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Oudinot retreated behind the Drissa.[2]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 434.
  2. ^ a b c d e Riehn 1990, p. 277.
  3. ^ Riehn 1990, p. 276.
  4. ^ Отечественная война 1812 года: Энциклопедия (Patriotic War of 1812: an Encyclopedia) (in Russian). Moscow: РОССПЭН. 2004, p. 644

References

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  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  • Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780070527317. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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