Battle of Vyazma

This article is about the 1812 battle. For the World War II battles around Vyazma, see Battle of Bryansk, Vyazma airborne operation, and Operation Hannover.
Battle of Vyazma
Part of the French invasion of Russia

Battle of Vyazma, by Peter von Hess
Date3 November 1812 (22 Oct. by OS)
Location
Vyazma, Russian Empire
55°12′N 34°15′E / 55.200°N 34.250°E / 55.200; 34.250
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Russian Empire Mikhail Miloradovich
Russian Empire Ivan Paskevich
Russian Empire Matvei Platov		 First French Empire Louis Nicolas Davout
First French Empire Eugène de Beauharnais
First French Empire Michel Ney
Józef Antoni Poniatowski
Józef Zajączek
Strength
26,500 troops 37,000 (24,000 engaged)
Casualties and losses
1,800[1][2]–2,500[3] 4,000 killed and wounded[4]
2,000 prisoners[5]

The Battle of Vyazma (3 November 1812; 22 October by OS), occurred at the beginning of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. In this encounter a Russian force commanded by General Miloradovich inflicted heavy losses on the rear guard of the Grande Armée.[6] Although the French thwarted Miloradovich's goal of encircling and destroying the corps of Marshal Davout, they withdrew in a partial state of disorder due to ongoing Russian harassment and heavy artillery bombardments.[7][8][9] The French reversal at Vyazma, although indecisive, was significant due to its damaging impact on several corps of Napoleon's retreating army.[10]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference riehn340 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Егоршина 2023, p. 285.
  3. ^ Foord, page 319, cites the figure of 2,500 Russian losses
  4. ^ Foord, p. 319
  5. ^ Foord, p. 319
  6. ^ Lieven, pp. 264–265
  7. ^ Lieven, p. 264
  8. ^ Caulaincourt, p. 1974
  9. ^ Segur, p. 167
  10. ^ Caulaincourt, p. 197; Segur, p. 168