the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Bagration halted the crossing to the east bank of the Niemen on 5 July and his
entire army proceeded to Korelichi. 46 He told Platov about the retreat from Nikolaev to
Nesvizh and asked him to detain the enemy at Vishnev and Volozhin and to conceal the
withdrawal of the main forces. Platov was told to hold positions on 5 and 6 July, and then
withdraw to Nikolaev where dragoons would guard ferries on the Nieman. 47 “After your
retreat [along the west bank],” Bagration wrote, “We shall search together for means to
unite with the 1 st [Western] Army. This is the only way to gain time to concentrate with
minimum losses.” 48 Bagration remained at Nikolaev till 4:00 p.m. on 5 July. Receiving
no news from Platov, he sent another dispatch confirming his previous letter. “I am
staying here only to learn what you will do.” 49 He specified that the ferries at Nikolaev
and Koledzany would be destroyed at the midday of 6 July. 50 Bagration also dispatched
orders to Dorokhov to retreat to Stolbtsy and unite with the 2nd Western Army at Novy
Swerzhen.
Late on 5 July, the 2 nd Western Army reached Korelichi, and, to anticipate Davout
at Minsk, Bagration moved it by a forced march. 51 He requested his commanders to use
every opportunity to rest the troops and keep them battle-ready. The army continued the
46 Order, 5 July 1812, Inostrantsev, Operations of the 2 nd Western Army, 434-36;
Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Campaign of 1812, 211; Butenev, Recollections, 18. At the head of
army was the advance guard under General Vasil’chikov consisting of the Narva Infantry, 5 th
Jager, Akhtyrsk Hussar, Lithuanian Lancers, and the Kiev Dragoon regiments, horse artillery and
three Cossack regiments. The main forces of the 7th and 8th Infantry Corps followed the advance
guard. Both corps were organized as independent columns preceded by engineers.
47 Bagration to Platov, 5 July 1812, Secret Correspondence of Bagration, 50; Don Cossacks
in 1812, 75; Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Campaign of 1812, 211.
48 Don Cossacks in 1812, 75.
49 Ibid., 76.
50 Bagration to Platov, 5 July 1812, Secret Correspondence of Bagration, 50.
51 Inostrantsev, Operations of the 2 nd Western Army, 440-41; Fabry, Campaign de Russie, I,
234.
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