First Battle of Krasnoi

The First Battle of Krasnoi was a battle fought on 14 August between Ney's French troops and Neverovsky's Russian troops. It ended with a victory for the French, but the Russians retreated in good order to Smolensk.

First Battle of Krasnoi
Part of the French invasion of Russia

Belarusian Polatsak (Połacak)
Date14 August 1812
Location
Krasnoi, southwest of Smolensk
54°33′22″N 31°25′29″E
Result French victory
Belligerents
French Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Michel Ney Dmitry Neverovsky[1]
Strength
20,000[2] 6,000-7,000[2][3]
Casualties and losses
500 killed, wounded or captured[2][3] 1,500 killed, wounded or captured[2][3]
French invasion of Russia
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  current battle
  Prussian corps
  Napoleon
  Austrian corps

Prelude

Bagration had reinforced Neverovsky's troops with some cavalry and ordered him to cover Krasnoi and especially westwards the direction of Orsha.[1]

Battle

Ney drove him out of Krasnoi and captured part of his artillery, the first trophies of the entire campaign. Neverovsky assembled his 6,000 to 7,000 men into a huge square Ney's cavalry could not break. The square moved across the field over a palisade fence and Ney's cavalry could not follow. Neverovsky's troops were able to get away in good order but left 1,500 men behind.[3]

Aftermath

Neverovsky returned to Smolensk and reported.[3] The battle of Smolensk started only two days later.

Notes
  1. Riehn 1990, p. 212.
  2. Bodart 1908, p. 435.
  3. Riehn 1990, p. 213.

References
  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  • Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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