the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

While Bagration fought at Schograbern, Kutuzov withdrew his army by forced
marches to Brünn. On 19 November the Russian army reached this city, turning
eastwards towards Wischau. Kutuzov had its troops organized into two columns under
Essen II and Dokhturov. Major General Miloradovich followed them with a brigade.
Kutuzov moved his army along the main Brünn road to Raigern, where he crossed the
Schwarzawa River and moved to Schlappanitz. All transports were left behind. 163
Bagration was again left to form rear guard and protect the bridge at Raigern. He slowly
followed the main army and took up next position at Schlappanitz, covering the Olmutz
Road with his patrols. 164
The French advance guards still pursued the Russian army and harassed its rear
guard. 165 On 20 November, Bagration made a stand against the French at Raussnitz. 166 At
9:00 a.m. several columns of the French infantry approached Bagration’s positions and
attacked his outposts. Soon the French cavalry joined the action and Bagration had to
commit Major General Chaplitz’s cavalry to check the French advance. The battle was
waged the entire day until 7:00 p.m. when the French retreated. Bagration waited for
another hour and then slowly withdrew his detachment to Prossnitz. He reported over 50
Frenchmen and 1 flag captured and minimized his losses at 111 killed and 38 wounded.
Recent study of this engagement acknowledged the Russian casualties as some 130 killed
and missing, over 120 captured and more than 330 wounded. 167
163 Marching Order, 17 November 1805, Documents of M.I. Kutuzov’s Headquarters, 173-74.
164 Marching Orders, 17-18 November 1805, Ibid., 175-76.
165 Napoleon claimed the French captured some 2,000 Russians at Pohrlitz on 18 November.
27e Bulletin de Grand Armée, Correspondance de Napoleon Ier, No. 9511, XI, 519-20.
166 Bagration commanded 5 th Jager Regiment, one battalion of Old Ingermanland Regiment,
Pavlograd Hussar, Tver Dragoon, Life Guard Cuirassier Regiments, half of Mariupol Hussar
Regiment and 2 squadrons of St. Petersburg Dragoon Regiment. He also had two Cossack
Regiments of Sysoev I and Malakhov, and horse artillery company of Ignatiev; in total some
6,000 men. Short Historical Study on the Austrian Campaign, in Informatsionnii biulleten
“Orgkomiteta 1805 goda,”
167
Short Historical Study on the Austrian Campaign, in Informatsionnii biulleten
“Orgkomiteta 1805 goda,” Bagration reported the following casualties:
Units Killed/Missing Wounded Captured
248