Battle of Vyazma | |||||||
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Part of the French invasion of Russia | |||||||
Battle of Vyazma, by Peter von Hess | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Russian Empire | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Mikhail Miloradovich |
Louis Nicolas Davout Eugène de Beauharnais Michel Ney Józef Antoni Poniatowski Józef Zajączek | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
26,500 troops | 37,000 (24,000 engaged) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1,800 to 2,500[1] | 4,000 killed and wounded;[2] 2,000 prisoners[3] |
The Battle of Vyazma (3 November 1812; 22 October by OS), occurred at the beginning of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. In this encounter a Russian force commanded by General Miloradovich inflicted heavy losses on the rear guard of the Grande Armée.[4] Although the French thwarted Miloradovich's goal of encircling and destroying the corps of Marshal Davout, they withdrew in a partial state of disorder due to ongoing Russian harassment and heavy artillery bombardments.[5][6][7] The French reversal at Vyazma, although indecisive, was significant due to its damaging impact on several corps of Napoleon's retreating army.[8]