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1812 CAMPAIGN - BORODINO

 
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This map revised from the West Point Atlas shows the width of Napoleon's operational grouping as he sought to catch both Bagration and Barclay de Tolly separately but failed to do so before they united at Smolensk. On the left (northern) flank Wittgenstein has ignored MacDonald and struck a sharp blow against Oudinot and received one in return but finally forcing him back to Polotsk on 31 July. On 2 August Napoleon learned of Tormassov's successes in the Allied right rear and ordered Schwarzenburg to assist Reynier (off map to left). Tormassov's and Wittgenstein's successes this early on the Allied flanks created panic in the Allied rear areas. Napoleon had to detach units from Ponyatovski's Polish corps and order Latour Maubourg to cover the right rear of the Allied theater.
The map shows the renewed but unsuccessful effort by Oudinot and St. Cyr together to hold Wittgenstein back. By 4 August Bagration has concentrated his troops around Smolensk but is undermining rather than cooperating with Barclay de Tolly. Barclay had moved there from Viteebsk ahead of Napoleon. On 6 August Barclay reluctantly decided to counter attack. On the 7th he advanced but then sensed a trap and withdrew in time. Meanwhile Napoleon was preparing to cross the Dniper to the south and move on Smolensk. Davout crossed on the 12th followed by Ney, Murat, Eugene and the Guard. On the 14th the French ran into the Russian rear guard commanded by Neverovski at Krasnoi.Thus, on the 14th the Russians have joined their two armies to defend Smolensk, but Barclay is still considering a counter attack north of the Dniper but Napoleon has shifted from the direct route there from Vitebsk across the Dniper in an effort to outflank them at Smolensk. On the 15th Rayevski reenforced Neverovski to oppose the French advance. Bagration became concerned about his left flank and Barclay finally realized the great danger to Smolensk.

 
   

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