NOVEMBER 1809 FRENCH TURN
The Emperor crosses the Pyrenees into France.
Davout marches the Grande Armee to the outskirts of Warsaw in pursuit of Kutusov. Rains turn the Polish roads into mud and the army becomes strung out. When Davout finally engages the prepared Russian positions, he is decisively defeated.
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| Date | Name | Attacker | Defender | Description | Victor | Casualties |
| November 1809 | Lowicz |  Davout 110,000 |
 Kutusov100,000 |
Davout launches the 210,000 strong Grande Armee across southern Prussia in pursuit of Kutusov's retreating Russians. Late season rains turn the sandy Polish roads into rivers of mud. Both Bernadotte and Bessieres' corps fall several days behind. When Davout arrives at the Russians' fortified camp, he has only 110,000 men. Fearful that Kutusov's 100,000 men will resume their retreat, Davout elects to attack the next morning. The Russian positions prove formidable and well placed. Unable to turn either flank, Davout resorts to brutal frontal assaults. The French exhaust themselves to little effect. Davout is thrown from his horse and knocked unconscious just as Kutusov launches a counterattack. The Russian surge cracks the French line. Russian cavalry seizes a critical road juncture forcing the French to fight to escape. Only a well-led rear guard prevents total disaster as the French quit the battlefield. |
Russia |
30,000 French 10,000 Russian |
Barclay de Tolly marches with a Russian-Swedish force from Hamburg to Cassel. Westphalia is dissolved and Hesse reestablished. Russian transports unload additional reinforcements on the Baltic coast.
In Portugal, Wellington orders the English army into winter quarters.
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| Date | Name | Attacker | Defender | Description | Victor | Casualties |
| November 1809 | Prezlau | Kutusov 120,000 |
Bernadotte 90,000 |
Following the victory at Lowicz, Kutusov makes plans to go into winter quarters. A personal emissary from the Tsar shakes the old warrior into action. Marching with 120,000 men preceded by an enormous cavalry screen, Kutusov discovers Bernadotte and Bessieres' corps struggling to catch up with Davout and the main body of the Grande Armee. With total cavalry superiority, Kutusov gains a complete picture of the French dispositions. Kutusov launches assaults isolating the two French corps. A total lack of coordination between Bernadotte and Bessieres aggravates the French efforts to mount a defensive effort. Strung out with no cavalry support, Bessieres' Bavarians and Wurtembergers are cut to pieces. Bernadotte manages to save most of his corps only because the Russians are too preoccupied with finishing off Bessieres. |
Russia |
35,000 French 10,000 Russian |