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Occupation of Vitebsk
Battle Name : Occupation of Vitebsk
Date(s) : 28 July 1812
Part of : The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , Napoleon's Russian Campaign ,
Outcome : An inconclusive engagement between the Grande Armee and Russian 1st Army
Type of battle : Land
Summary
The 2 Russian armies of Bagration and Barclay de Tolly had intended to meet and combine at Vitebsk, and Napoleon, sensing this, re-grouped and made a 3rd attempt to bring the Russians to a decisive battle at the city. However after engagements at Mohilev and Ostronovo, Barclay de Tolly arrived at Vitebsk but Bagration couldn't. Without his aid, Barclay de Tolly decided to fall back and concentrate on Smolensk.
The French were unopposed when they entered the city, but by this time the Grande Armee had suffered 100,000 casualties from various causes since the beginning of the campaign.
Location
City of Vitebsk, Russia (Russia)
More details
The 2 Russian armies of Bagration and Barclay de Tolly had intended to meet and combine at Vitebsk, and Napoleon, sensing this, re-grouped and made a 3rd attempt to bring the Russians to a decisive battle at the city. However after engagements at Mohilev and Ostronovo, Barclay de Tolly arrived at Vitebsk but Bagration couldn't. Without his aid, Barclay de Tolly decided to fall back and concentrate on Smolensk.
The French were unopposed when they entered the city, but by this time the Grande Armee had suffered 100,000 casualties from various causes since the beginning of the campaign.
