the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

carriages were destroyed by the enemy fire. 154 Napoleon exaggerated Bagration’s losses
by claiming 2,000 captured, 1,500 wounded, 12 guns and 100 wagons captured. 155 The
French lost approximately 1,200 men, mostly from Oudinot’s division. 156 Bagration
reported one colonel, 2 French officers and 50 privates were captured as well as the eagle
and battalion flag of the 40 th Line. 157 He wrote to Grand Duke Constantine, “Glory!
Glory! Glory! Victory, honor, hurrah… the advance guard proved that 5,000 men can
stand against 30,000 men, save the army, honor, glory and the sacred flags.” 158
30 officers
10 musicians
728 privates
81 horses
24 officers
6 musicians
675 privates
6 non-commissioned
Total: 768 killed, 711 missing, 931 wounded
63 officers
13 musicians
845 privates
10 non-commissioned
22 horses
154 Bagration reported 8 guns lost because of destroyed carriages, However, The French
describe an attempt of the surrounded Russian artillery battery company to bluff its way through
the French lines. In the darkness, the Russian officer spoke in French with the French officer and
claimed to be one of the French units. Yet, he failed to name it correctly and the Russians were
put to sword. Blein, “Campagne de 1805,” Mémoires Recoinnaissances, Carton MR 109; Hugo,
Histoire des Armées Francaises, III, 271.
155 Napoleon to Clarke, 18 November 1805, Correspondance de Napoleon Ier, No. 9508, XI,
516. The 26 th Bulletin exaggerated Russian casualties, claiming 2,000 killed, 2,000 wounded, 12
cannon and 100 wagons. 26e Bulletin de Grand Armée, 18 November 1805, Correspondance de
Napoleon Ier, No. 9510, XI, 517-19. For English translation, see David J. Markham, Imperial
Glory: The Bulletins of Napoleon’s Grande Armée, 1805-1814, (Londoin, 2003), 45. Thiers
referred to 3,000 Russians killed and wounded. History of Consulate and Empire, IV, 50.
Langeron claimed Bagration had 8,000 troops and lost 4,000 men with 8 guns. Journal inedit de
la campagne de 1805, 22. Hugo estimated Russian losses as 2,100 captured and 12 guns. Hugo,
Histoire des Armées Francaises, III, 271.
156 Bowden, Austerlitz, 297; Egger, Das Gefecht bei Hollabrunn und Schongrabern, 17;
Digby Smith refers to 2,000 killed and wounded, 52 captured and 1 flag lost. Napoleonic Wars
Data Book, 214.
157 Kutuzov to Alexander, 19 November 1805, RGVIA, f. VUA, fond 846, op. 16, d. 3108,
l.75-76; Kwiatkowski, Die Kämpfe bei Schöngrabern und Oberhollabrunn 1805 und 1809, 215;
Egger, Das Gefecht bei Hollabrunn und Schongrabern, 17;
158 Bagration to Constantine, RGVIA, f. VUA, fond 846, op. 16, d. 3117, l. 40-40b. The
letter is dated 14 [26] October 1805, however it is obviously misdated, since there was no major
fighting on 26 October. This author believes the letters should be dated after the battle of
Schongrabern.
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