Battle of Nowo Schwerschen
| Battle of Nowo Schwerschen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the French invasion of Russia | |||||||
 Count Charles-Marie de Lambert | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Russian Empire |
 Lithuania Duchy of Warsaw | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Karl Lambert | Franciszek Ksawery Kossecki | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 4,500[1] | 3,500[1] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 50[1] | 1,300[1] | ||||||
The Battle of Nowo Schwerschen was fought on Friday, 13 November 1812, near Nowo Schwerschen, part of the Russian Empire at the time.[2] An unexperienced Lithuanian force under General Franciszek Ksawery Kossecki was defeated by seasoned Russian forces led by Count Lambert from Admiral Chichagov's Army of the Danube.[2]
Kossecki's forces were given the task of protecting Minsk from a southeast attack and ensure a path of retreat for Napoleon's Grande Armée.[3]
Background[edit]
Maret sent General Kossecki with about 3,000 infantry and 500 cavalry men to Nowo Schwerschen where they were to protect the crossing of the Niemen.[4]
According to Smith, Kossecki's division was composed of:[2]
- 18th Lithuanian Infantry Regiment (one bn.)
- 19th Lithuanian Infantry Regiment (one bn.)
- 20th Lithuanian Infantry Regiment (one bn.)
- 21st Lithuanian Infantry Regiment (one bn.)
- combined Cavalry regiment
Count Lambert's units included the 10th and 14th Jaegers.[2]
Battle[edit]
On November 13, Lambert arrived at Nowo Schwerschen with the Third Western Army's vanguard. Kossecki's raw Lithuanian recruits were driven off with heavy losses by the cavalry.
Aftermath[edit]
The defeated detachment was once more attacked in the battle of Kaidanowo.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Bodart 1908, p. 442.
- ^ a b c d e Smith 2004, p. 147.
- ^ Glemža 2003, p. 154.
- ^ Riehn 1990, pp. 367–368.
Sources[edit]
- Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905) (in German). Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- Glemža, Liudas (2003). "Lietuviški Daliniai Prancūzijos Kariuomenėje 1812-1814 m.". Karo Archyvas (in Lithuanian). 18. Vilnius: General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. doi:10.47459/ka.2003.18.4. S2CID 240261124.
- Riehn, Richard K. (1990). 1812 : Napoleon's Russian campaign. ISBN 9780070527317. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- Smith, Digby (2004). Napoleon against Russia: a concise history of 1812. Great Britain: Pen and Sword Military. ISBN 9781783409587.
External links[edit]
Media related to Battle of Nowo Schwerschen at Wikimedia Commons
