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1812 CAMPAIGN - BORODINO

 
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This section of the map from the West Point Atlas depicts the situation in the western part of the theater on 2 November, the time when Napoleon has reached Vyazma during the initial part of his retreat. Meanwhile Victor is attempting to garrison multiple towns and supply bases from Vitebsk to Smolensk since his arrival at Smolensk on 24 Sept. and simultaneously fend off Wittgenstein, who has been fighting St Cyr at Polotsk. Of interest is that the garrison commander of the allied force in the key town, Vilna, at this point is Jomini (future author on military theory). On the northern flank Steingell ignored MacDonald's threat to Riga and marched south in an attempt to trap St Cyr between his force and that of Wittgenstein. On 20 October St Cyr defeated Wittgenstein at Polotsk and then withdrew, sending Wrede west to cover Vilna. Victor went to St Cyr's aid, joining the depleted II Corps on 29 Oct. There he skirmished with Wittgenstein before withdrawing south. Wittgenstein is now dangerously close to the key river crossing at Borisov. For the past 2 months Dombrovski (detached from Ponyatovski's Polish Corps) has been garrisoning towns along the right, southern, flank of the Grand Army. And Bronyakovski is holding the critical main French supply depot at Minsk. A critical action is taking place to the west, off this map. There Admiral Chichagov has united his troops from Moldavia with Tormassov's army of Volynia and is maneuvering around the Austrians and Prussians of generals Schwarzenberg and Reynier. Leaving Sacken to keep these opponents busy, Chichagov is slipping past them and will soon overwhelm a surprised Bronyakivski at Minsk before Dombrovksi can do anything about it. Now only will Chichagov have a major supply depot Napoleon was counting on, but worse, he will be as close to the key bridge at Borisov as Wittgenstein is and together they can cut Napoleon off. (Or so it is hoped).

 
   

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