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Revision as of 12:11, 31 October 2006

Revision as of 12:11, 31 October 2006

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== Saltanovka ==

I don't know anything about the battle. Here's what the [[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]] says: "Saltanovka is a village south of [[Mogilev]], which was the scene of a battle during the Patriotic War of 1812. On 8/20 July Mogilev was occupied by 26,000-strong French forces under Marshal Davout, with their vanguard advancing on Saltanovka. At the same time the 2nd army, led by Bagration, was retreating from [[Bobruisk]] towards Old [[Bychaw]] and Mogilev in order to join the 1st Army. After learning that the French occupied Mogilev, Bagration ordered the 7th infantry corps of General Nikolai Raevsky (15,000 troops) to oust the enemy from the town. On 10/22 July Raevsky's troops put to flight Davout's vanguard. On 11/23 July they attacked French positions near Saltanovka. When the action was well under way, Bagration understood that he had to deal with Davout's main force rather than with a vanguard and, believing the breakthrough was impossible, ordered the 2nd Army to withdraw to New Bychaw and [[Mstislavl]], while their retreat was covered by Raevsky's corps. By the end of the day French forces still held Saltanovka and prepared to continue hostilities, but Russian forces crossed back behind the Dnieper on 12/24 Dnieper." P.S. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Did_you_know&oldid=84139518 Have you seen Battle of Vyazma] on [[Main Page]] inon Saturday? --<font color="FC4339">[[User:Ghirlandajo|Ghirla]]</font> ^{<font color="C98726">[[User_talk:Ghirlandajo|-трёп-]]</font>} 09:08, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

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The book "BattleBattles of Russia" (Moscow, 2002) claims that Davout attempted to circumvent Raevsky's corps from the right, but his plan was frustrated by the tenacity of Paskevich's division. The action is known for its stern hand-to-hand fighting. Raevsky personally led the counterattack together with his 17-year-old son. After the battle, he reported that "many officers and simple soldiers, having sustained two wounds and bound them with bandages, returned to action, as if to a feast... On this day, everyone was a hero". By the way, we have a picture of the battle [[:Image:Raevsky exploit.jpg|here]]. --<font color="FC4339">[[User:Ghirlandajo|Ghirla]]</font> ^{<font color="C98726">[[User_talk:Ghirlandajo|-трёп-]]</font>} 12:04, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

I discovered that the correspondence between Bagration and Alexander I in June-July 1812 is available [http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/benkendorf_ah/06.html online]. And this is an introduction to the memoirs of Count [[Alexander Benckendorff]]: "In his encounter with Davout, Bagration displayed the best qualities of a strategian. He turned to his advantage the tactical failure in fighting his way through Mogilev. The energy displayed by Rayevsky when he attacked French forces at Saltanovka, disoriented Davout, who prepared for new and stronger attacks and expected them at Mogilev. Bagration took advantage of his inaction to retreat along the Dnieper to Mstislavl and then to Smolensk. The result was superior to the victory with taking of banners, cannons, and prisoners". And [http://mogilev2000.narod.ru/fotoex/soltanovka/soltanovka.htm here] is a picture of the chapel commemorating the place where the Saltanovka battle was fought. --<font color="FC4339">[[User:Ghirlandajo|Ghirla]]</font> ^{<font color="C98726">[[User_talk:Ghirlandajo|-трёп-]]</font>} 12:09, 31 October 2006 (UTC)