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The Ironies of the Battle of Borodino

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by suvorovetz (U12273591) on Sunday, 3rd May 2009

  The Battle of Borodino on September 6, 1812 was, I believe, the bloodiest of all Napoleonic War battles. Newly appointed as the Chief Commander of the Russian Army Kutuzov was and is lauded as the national hero for taking the stand and trying to stop Napoleon from advancing on Moscow. However, historians I agree with consider this move as unjustified risk, since the Grande Armee was arguably the superior force on the battle field. Before the battle, Napoleon's best general Davout suggested a massive flanking attack south of Russian fortifications, which Napoleon refused. Meanwhile, Kutuzov placed considerable number of jagers and infantry hidden in the woods in front of the fortifications that would impede such an attack and buy some time for the Russians to regroup by ambushing the advancing French. Yet, Russian general Benningsen, moved the jagers and the infantry from the concealed position into the open without even notifying Kutuzov, when Benningsen was inspecting the Russian positions on the eve of the battle. The only top commanders Kutuzov refused the award after the battle were Cossack generals Uvarov and Platov, who had been instructed to attack the northern flank of the French positions. They actually did so in the late morning - early afternoon of the day of the battle. Although the Cossacks weren't mauled as badly as the rest of the army, they created such chaos and confusion with their raid that by all French accounts, they were the ones who saved the Russian Army from the decisive assault by the Guard that would most certainly wipe out the Russian regulars for all intents and purposes. Under this threat, Napoleon not only held off the Guard, but also shifted his attention northwards at the very moment the French were gaining momentum for the decisive thrust in the center. And finally, although Napoleon technically won the battle by pushing the Russians off their positions by that faithful evening, his failure to destroy the Russian Army eventually cost him his own Grande Armee.

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  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Sunday, 3rd May 2009

  My favourite irony about Borodino is that Tolstoy got the experience to base his superb version of the battle from the Crimea, where the Brits were on the side of the French. Perfide Albion.
  
  Probably not the irony you had in mind, though.

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  Posted by suvorovetz (U12273591) on Sunday, 3rd May 2009

  Probably not the irony you had in mind, thoughΒ  Oh, please,LongWeekend. Any irony will do.
  
  What about this one - it should be a good one: Knyaz (Count) Bagration was considered one of the best Russian generals with the reputation of being a brilliant tactician and a fearless one, albeit somewhat a hot-head. I think that Alan Schom has very perceptively pointed out in his 'Napoleon Bonaparte' that from the beginning of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon, Bagration had been insubordinate and a distraction to the initial Chief Russian Commander De Tolly. In all likelihood, his conduct was one of the reasons for Alexander to replace De Tolly with long retired by that time Kutuzov, whom Bagration used to be under command of before. In the heat of the Battle of Borodino, Bagration, who was in charge of defending the Fleches (south flank fortifications), received a severe wound to his leg. He refused the amputation and passed away hours after the battle. Of course, if De Tolly had not been replaced by Kutuzov, chances are that De Tolly would never give the battle based on his strategy of hit and run in order to preserve the Russian Army. Perhaps, Bagration would survive to fight on and cause some more trouble.

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  Posted by Vizzer aka U_numbers (U2011621) on Monday, 4th May 2009

  My favourite irony about Borodino is that Tolstoy got the experience to base his superb version of the battle from the Crimea, where the Brits were on the side of the French.Β 
  
  Tolstoy also give a sort of psychological overview of the battle. He likened the Grand Armee to a billiard ball or a bowling ball whose momentum was good but which on contact with another ball (i.e. the Russian army at Borodino) was able to bounce the other ball backwards but in doing so lost all of its own momentum. An intriguing view but maybe a little too simplistic.
  
  He also gave an interesting rationale explaining the subsequent burning of Moscow. Since 1812 both Russian and French propagandists had blamed each other for the conflagration. The French had said that Russian incendiaries had burned the city in order to spite Napoleon. The Russians on the other hand had said that Napoleon had ordered the burning of the city in a vengeful rage at being denied an official surrender.
  
  Tolstoy basically dismissed both theories. He suggested said that an abandoned and predominantly wooden city in time of war is simply going to burn. That's all that was going to happen. No need to apportion blame. It was a certainty and pretty much a law of physics. Just face facts.

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  Posted by suvorovetz (U12273591) on Monday, 4th May 2009

  Vizzer aka U_numbers Tolstoy basically dismissed both theories. He suggested said that an abandoned and predominantly wooden city in time of war is simply going to burn.Β  I would say that both sides were somewhat right. Firstly, Moscow Governor Knyaz Rastopchin ordered all fire fighting equipment removed from the city upon the evacuation. It's likely that parts of the city were consequently torched. On the other hand, Napoleon at some point lost control over Grande Armee, which by many accounts was engaged in looting. Which - apart from ensued fires and chaos - precipitated the Grande Armee's rapid demise.

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