August,15 (August,2)
(From P.A.Zhilin "The Patriotic War Of 1812",
E.V.Tarle, Complete Works, Volume VII, "Napoleon's Invasion to Russia",Moscow 1959)
General NeverovskyThe portrait by Dow. |
Napoleon concentrated his forces in the region of Lubavichy, Rasasna, and Liady and was about to make a flanking march to cross the Dneper river and capture the city of Smolensk by a blow from the South, cutting off the Russian troops on the way to Moscow. On the morning of August,15 the Guards and others French Corps got the order to move through Liady and Krasny to Smolensk.
Only Neverovsky's small detachment was sent to the south of the Dnieper river. This was because of the erroneous supposition of Barclay de Tolly that the main danger was to the right flank, but Bagration considered reasonably that they had to pay the main attention to their left flank.
The French troops were coming to Smolensk. They were the Cavalry of Marshal Murat, the Guards, the Infantry Corps of Marshals Davout and Ney.(1)
At noon on August,15 the vanguard of Murat and the troops of Ney that followed it came to the town of Krasniy, defended by General Neverovsky's detachment.
The furious fighting lasted into the late evening. The soldiers of Neverovsky were young and unskilled but they fought bravely and selflessly. But the detachment of Neverovsky was very small and was not able to stand up the outnumbering enemy very long.
All they could do was delay the French, Neverovsky's detachment was smashed and thrown from Krasniy, but he retreated like a lion, French General Segur wrote (2) , "Neverovsky's losses were about 1500 men, 800 ofthem captured; Neverovsky retreated, fighting, and escaping annihilation.
He sent a report to Bagration asking for immediate help. But the troops sent for aid were too late. Neverovsky himself was counted killed until General Raevsky met him and those left in his detachment on August,16 on the road to Krasny..
The French troops in attack at Krasny. October, 15, 1812
Drawing by participant of the campaign French Artillery Colonel Faber du Faur
- Bogdanovich M.I. "The History Of The Patriotic War of 1812 Year From Reliable Sources". St.Petersburg, 1859, Volume 1, p.242
- Segur F. "The Russian Campaign: Memoirs of An Aide-de-Camp of Emperor Napoleon I", Moscow, 1913, p.73
