Battle of Smoliani

Battle of Smoliani
Part of the French invasion of Russia

The night bivouac of Napoleon's army during the retreat from Russia.
Date13–14 November 1812
Location
Bol'shiye Smolyantsy, Governorate of Vitebsk, Russian Empire
54°50′N 29°11′E / 54.833°N 29.183°E / 54.833; 29.183
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Russian Empire First French Empire French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Russian Empire Peter Wittgenstein First French Empire Claude Victor
First French Empire Nicholas Oudinot
Strength

30,000 troops:

  • more than 6,000 involved on the 1st day;
  • unknown number involved on the 2nd day.

approx. 25,000 troops available:

  • 6,000 involved on the 1st day;
  • 5,000 involved on the 2nd day.
Casualties and losses
3,000 3,000
French invasion of Russia
Map
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Smoliani
Claude Victor in Smoliani 13–14 November 1812
Pultusk
15
Gorodeczno
14
Battle of Gorodechno 12 August 1812: Schwarzenberg's Austrians
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13
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12
Tauroggen 30 December 1812: Ludwig Yorck's Prussians signed the Convention of Tauroggen
Riga
11
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-
slavets
7
Battle of Maloyaroslavets 24 October 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon
Moscow
6
Moscow 14 September to 19 October 1812: Napoleon
Borodino
5
Battle of Borodino 7 September 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon October 1812: Napoleon's Retreat
Smolensk
4
Battle of Smolensk 16 August 1812: Napoleon November 1812: : Napoleon's retreat
Vitebsk
3
Battle of Vitebsk 26 July 1812: Napoleon
Vilna
2
Kowno
1
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  Prussian corps
  Napoleon
  Austrian corps

At the Battle of Smoliani (November 13–14, 1812), the Russians under General Peter Wittgenstein defeated the French forces of Marshal Claude Victor and Marshal Nicholas Oudinot. This battle was the last effort of the French to reestablish their northern flank in Russia, known as the "Dwina Line". Previously, the French had been defeated in this sector at the Second battle of Polotsk (October 18–20, 1812) and at the Battle of Czasniki (October 31, 1812)