PODUBNO
The broken promises of the Russians
in 1809 began Napoleon thinking of punishing them again. He expected
a quick campaign with one great battle and paid little attention
to the fighting in Spain. When he latched upon an objective he
was always single-minded about it. Once he formulated a plan he
stuck to it to the end. Having decided to punish Russia he ignored
Spain. While Napoleon was advancing towards Smolensk, and later
Moscow, his right flank was protected by Schwarzenberg's Austrian
corps and Reynier's Saxon corps. He called Scwarzenberg towards
him, just as Tormassov assaulted Reynier and destroyed one of
his isolated brigades. Always the dependable general, Schwarzenberg
headed back to help Reynier while sending a note to Napoleon explaining
his actions. Against 25,000 Austrians and 13,000 Saxons, Tormassov
had only 18,000 men to defend himself. He began retreating until
he found a strong position. There he waited for his 13,000 man
reserve. The Russian position was a strong one. Tormassov was
behind a river with swampland on his flanks. A frontal assault
would be bloody. Schwarzenberg had no desire to get Austrians
slaughtered for a French Emperor. He would fight minor skirmishes
if necessary, but maneuvering in the old Prussian style was his
main form of attack. Reynier suggested that he strike the Russian
left flank. Schwarzenberg agreed, and gave him two Austrian corps
to help him do so. The Saxon light infantry reached the crossroads,
were pushed back, reinforced, and advanced forwards again. Reynier
emerged from the woods onto a plain. The Saxon left moved forward.
Lilienberg was wounded and Bianchi took over his command. The
Russians had hurriedly to change their positions to face the Saxons.
The Saxon left attempted to cut the Russians only line of retreat,
the Kobrin to Gorodetschna road. The Russians concentrated their
artillery against the Saxon left and the Austrians across the
river. Russian dragoons repeatedly charged the Saxon left, forcing
them into square. Other Russian cavalry charged the Saxon center.
Reynier's cavalry drove them off and attempted to cut the Russian
retreat. The Russian cavalry in turn drove them off. The cavalry
began to tire and the Saxon left began moving forward towards
evening. The Austrians finally started moving slowly against the
Russian right around 5 PM. As the Russians began withdrawing from
his front, Frimont advanced across the river. The Russians sent
infantry and cavalry to await Frimont's attack. Finding the position
too strong, Frimont withdrew across the river as night was falling.
Tormassov received his 13,000 reinforcements, but decided to find
a better position to make a stand. Russian losses were 4000, with
500 captured, the Austrians lost 2000. Saxons lost 832 men and
5 guns(all destroyed in artillery duels). For the moment, it was
safe for Napoleon to march on Moscow. Had Reynier lost the battle
of Podubno, Napoleon might have wintered at Smolensk.
