September, 3 (August,22)
(From L.G.Beskrovny "The Borodino Battle", Moscow, 1971,
P.A.Zhilin "The Patriotic War Of 1812",
E.V.Tarle, Complete Works, Volume VII, "Napoleon's Invasion to Russia",Moscow 1959)
Two months had passed since the beginning of the war, and already a large Russian territory was captured by the French. The situation was serious for Russia: The military failures, and resolute dissatisfaction with the leadership of Barclay de Tolly made the relations between the Russian generals very stiff and difficult.
In the evening of the day that Smolensk fell (August 17th, 1812) there was a meeting of the extraordinary committee members in the house of General Field-Marshal N.I.Saltikov, Chairman of the State Council. Also present were Commander-in-Chief of St.Petersburg, S.K.Vyazmitinov; Privy Councillors Prince P.V.Lopukhin and Count V.P.Kochubey, and Police Minister A.D.Balashov. After a thorough discussion of the military situation, they arrived at the unanimous conclusion that one of the causes of the military failures was the absence of a single Commander-in-Chief. Three Russian Armies were acting in a huge territory. They were separated from each other and did not co-ordinate their movements. This was producing poor results.
One-man management is critical for military achievement. The Commander-in-Chief must be a person with unquestionable authority; so the members made a unanimous decision: to ask Alexander I to appoint General of Infantry Kutuzov to the post of Commander-in-Chief.
For a long time Alexander did not agree with this decision. He considered it for three days, until August 20th, then, at last, relented and agreed to sign the order to the Senate, to appointment Kutuzov as Commander-in-Chief of all Russian armies. Although Alexander did not like Kutuzov at all, he had to comply with this request of the committee and appointed Kutuzov to the new post. He thought highly of Barclay de Tolly and respected him. Barclay was an industrious military organizer, a Scotchman by birth, though in Russia he was often erroneously called a German. Alexander had turned his attention to him during the Swedish campaign of 1809 and greatly appreciated his refulness. After that campaign Barclay became the War Minister. He was a cautious strategist and could instinctively develop tactics for success. Also, Barclay had courage to go against the stream and hold his own to the end.
At the start of the war, no one in the Russian Headquarters realized that it would spread throughout huge areas of the country, but it became clear later. Barclay was the only one who understood how Napoleon decoyed into Russia, he knew that at first he would be able to defeat Napoleon's troops using the "Scythian" tactics. From the very beginning Barclay didn't want to risk total defeat by allowing the Russian army to be defeated in a general battle in the early days of the war.
Alexander disliked Kutuzov because after the death of Empress Katherine II, he was one of the many officers, under the command of Suvorov, who sent in their resignations, and as many, was out of service for a long time. When Alexander became the Emperor, Kutuzov had been the General-Governor of St.Petersburg for about a year. But he had not fulfilled his duties very well. Officials, seeing the General-Governor's non-intervention into their business, had been embezzling state property. Corruption flourished in the city, and robberies were common in the streets. When Alexander returned to St.Petersburg from a long trip, he was astonished at what he saw in the Russian capital. He was very much displeased with such "carelessness in police service".
In August of 1802 Kutuzov was dismissed and had nowhere to go but to his village, Goroshki, in the province of Volyn Gubernia. The nobility did not like this at all. They were quite happy with a Governor who did not meddle in their business and whose policies were so generous to them.
When the Napolenic forces first marched into Russia, most of the noblemen were terrified that Napoleon, who was constantly moving deeper into Russian territory, would liberate the peasants from serfdom and excite them against their landlords. So the noblemen were most displeased with Barclay's retreat even deeper into their territory. The name of Barclay became hated in Russian society, none could speak it without passion; someone even called him a traitor. Others said he was mad or just a fool, but they all agreed he was ruining them and betraying Russia (1).
After his appointment Kutuzov went to the village of Tsarevo-Zaymishe and at once appointed Barclay as commander of the part of the Russian army he had been commanding before Smolensk, and, similarly, appointed Bagration to the command of the army he had been commanding before, so there was no change except for his own position as Commander-in-Chief.
Kutuzov's arriving to the village of Tsarevo-Zaymische
(the picture by Gerasimov)
The position at the village Borodino had been selected under the order of Kutuzov as it was perfect for his plan. After examining it he wrote to Alexander:
"The position I took near Borodino village, 12 versts from Mozhaysk, is one of the best that may be found in this plain country. The weakest part of this position is on the left flank, but I shall try to compensate for that by my art. It is desirable that the enemy would attack us on this position, for if they do, I would have high hopes for victory".What were the advantages the Commander-in-Chief saw in this position? The country around Borodino was slightly hilly with bushes suitable for hiding, and the Old and New Smolensk road ran across the country. The right flank was covered by the Moscow river and the left flank was set against the almost impassable Utitsky forest. The Kolocha river, with a sloping left and steep right bank, ran across the Borodino field to the New Smolensk road. Smaller rivers and streams (Voyna, Semenovka, Kamenka, Ognits, Stognets and others) flowed into the Kolocha. The dominating heights and also the small villages could be used as strong points. The broken country of the Borodino field would allow the Russians to hide the true disposition of their troops from the enemy, and give themselves opportunities to manoeuvre during battle.
The length of the Russian position was about 8 versts. The depth, near 7 versts. Engineering preparation (making fortifications and so forth) was needed, but they would not have enough time to complete it. The Russian troops began arriving in the Borodino field on the morning of September 3rd (August,22) and disposed along the line of defense from the village of Maslovo to Shevardino.
The army of Barclay was on the right flank, Bargation's army on the left. The final disposition had not been worked out yet, and the first work on the fortifications began: The Maslovsky fortifications: one redoubt and two lunettes for 26 artillery guns and a abatis were built on the right flank. Along the right bank of the Kolocha River, at the village of Gorky, they began establishing a line of four artillery batteries, and the Central and Kurgannaya batteries for 12 guns. The Shevardino redoubt was built on the left flank for 12 guns; it would cover the left flank of the Russian army.
Bagration worried about the possibility of the French turning his left flank from the side of the Old Smolensk road. He reported his concerns to Kutuzov, and Barclay de Tolly was consulted. They agreed with Bargation's suggestion to move the army's left flank to the Semenovskoe-Utitsy line and build fortifications where needed. In accordance with this, the building of the Semenovskie arrows (field fortifications) for 24 guns was begun, and they continued building the Shevardino redoubt to "discover the true direction of the enemy forces," as Barklay wrote, "and, if possible, also determine the main intentions of Napoleon".
The engineering construction was in progress from September 4th to the 6th (August, 23-25). In this short time the Russians could only complete several strong points to be used for strengthening the whole line of defense. Most work was done at night, so although not all was completed, it was expected that Napoleon would not see the serious Russian fortifications on the Borodino field until the battle actually began. Kutuzov also took measures for delivering food to the army and for carrying wounded to Moscow.
Napolen came to the Borodino field on September 5th (August, 24). He reconnoitre the area and saw the positions Kutuzov had taken which gave the French the opportunity for active attack only in the Russian centre and left flank. But first, the French main forces had to cross the Kolocha River and take the Shevardino redoubt, which they thought was only a preliminary fortification.
- 1812 in the memoirs of V.I.Bakunina. "The Russian Olden Times", 1885, N 9, page 403
