25.12.2013 Views

the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

imagined. Friends became foes to each o<strong>the</strong>r and <strong>the</strong> uproar, consternation, impediments<br />

and danger, momentarily increased.” 230 Amid this panic, Bagration kept his composure<br />

and immediately marched with his advance guard to meet <strong>the</strong> French. However, <strong>the</strong><br />

French did not engage him but “contended to rest a tame spectator <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> [Russian]<br />

movements over <strong>the</strong> bridge.” 231<br />

Bennigsen was soon informed about Napoleon’s movements to Koenigsberg and<br />

feared Ney and Murat would soon cut his road to Tilsit. 232 So he decided to leave<br />

Bagration behind to halt <strong>the</strong> French. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Russian <strong>of</strong>ficers recalled,<br />

In order to somehow slow down Napoleon’s impetuous move from<br />

Wehlau and avoid <strong>the</strong> barriers that Murat and Ney would erect while we<br />

fell back on Tilsit, we had to sacrifice our rearguard… Something similar<br />

had taken place a year and half earlier when Kutuzov, in <strong>the</strong> same dire<br />

straits and for <strong>the</strong> same reasons, had left Bagration under Hollabrun and<br />

Schöngrabern to face enormous forces <strong>of</strong> Lannes, Soult and Murat. But,<br />

just as before, a lucky star was watching over Suvorov’s protégé. It<br />

seemed that Providence was saving him for <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> Borodino and his<br />

great sacrifice! 233<br />

Bagration, supported by Platov’s Cossacks, remained on <strong>the</strong> left bank <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Pregel. 234 He dispatched part <strong>of</strong> his cavalry in support <strong>of</strong> General Kamensky, who was<br />

retreating from Koenigsberg. 235 The rear guard, “worn out by <strong>the</strong> fighting for last ten<br />

days and reeling from <strong>the</strong> latest blow [at Friedland],” 236 <strong>the</strong>n followed <strong>the</strong> main <strong>army</strong> to<br />

230 Wilson, Brief Remarks, 164.<br />

231 Ibid., 164-65.<br />

232 Bennigsen to Alexander, 17 June 1807, Wilson, Brief Remarks, 251; Journal <strong>of</strong> Military<br />

Operations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Russian Imperial Army, 262-63. For French moves, see 80 th Bulletin, 19 June<br />

1807, Correspondance de Napoleon Ier, No. 12,775, XV, 434-36.<br />

233 Denisov, “Tilsit in 1807,” in Writings, 234.<br />

234 Journal <strong>of</strong> Military Operations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Russian Imperial Army, 263-64. Platov’s Cossacks<br />

had a minor skirmish during <strong>the</strong> crossing, killing 30 and capturing 4 Frenchmen.<br />

235 Yermolov, Memoirs, 107.<br />

236 Denisov, “Tilsit in 1807,” in Writings, 229.<br />

423

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!