the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

The next day, the Cossacks crossed the Niemen at Nikolaev, destroyed the bridge and
ferries, and proceeded to southeast along the Niemen. By the time Platov arrived at
Koledzani, the ferry built here by 2 nd Western Army and guarded until the afternoon of 6
July, had been destroyed in accordance with Bagration’s previous orders. An attempt to
ford the river failed, and Platov was compelled to turn his Corps towards Korelichy and
follow Bagration’s army. 58
Bagration criticized Platov for leaving Dorokhov and proud Cossack took offense
at this reproach. He responded with a sharp letter, explaining his dangerous positions
with impassable terrain and superior French troops. Platov was particularly stung by
Bagration’s appeal to serve the Fatherland. “I did not expect these accusations from you
on sacrificing Dorokhov and reminding me of the service to the Tsar and Fatherland.”
Platov referred to his forty-two years of service, devotion to Russia and asked Bagration
to not write “such sharp and reprimanding remarks” 59
Thus, the relations between the two commanders deteriorated at a very crucial
moment for the 2 nd Western Army. Platov, an independent commander of the Cossack
Corps, was attached to the 1 st Western Army. He might have refused to cooperate with
Bagration and jeopardized the 2 nd Western Army, but both generals had been friends for
decades. These close relations helped to solve the problem, when Bagration wrote a
conciliatory letter to Platov:
I just received your letter and was hurt to hear of your distress. I swear
that nobody can separate us…. I highly respect you and you must be
ashamed to doubt my sincere feelings toward you. To show that I am
grateful, and not displeased, I ask you to send me back the letter you
consider offensive 60
58 Platov to Bagration, 8 July 1812, Secret Correspondence of Bagration, 55. See also
Grouchy, Emmanuel, Maréchal. Mémoires, (Paris, 1879), III, 51-52.
59 Platov to Bagration, 7-8 July 1812, Secret Correspondence of Bagration, 55; Inostrantsev,
Operations of the 2 nd Western Army, 445-48.
60 Bagration to Platov, 8 July 1812, Inostrantsev, Operations of the 2 nd Western Army, 448-
661