the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

In the meantime, Ataman Platov joined the 1 st Western Army and his Cossack
Corps was deployed on the road from Rudnia to Smolensk. Platov was ordered to secure
the left flank of the 1 st Western Army and cover the road from Porechye to Dukhovshina,
where the supply trains were located. 11 It seemed Barclay de Tolly intended to
concentrate his forces and prepare for battle at Smolensk. He wrote to Bagration:
I intend to anticipate the enemy [at Smolensk] and prevent him from
penetrating deeper into our country. I am firm in my decision not to retreat
under any circumstances and will fight a battle despite the united forces of
Napoleon and Davout. I think nothing could now prevent your advance to
Smolensk. The future of our state depends on your movement…. 12
At the time, Bagration had out-marched Davout by crossing the Dnieper at Novy
Bykhov, proceeding to Smolensk. On 30 July he informed Barclay de Tolly that the 2 nd
army would arrive at Smolensk on 3 August. 13 Despite a hard, intense march, the 2 nd
Western army was in good spirits. The chief of staff of the 1 st Western Army, General
Alexander Yermolov, recalled,
The 1 st Army was exhausted by the continuous withdrawal and soldiers
began to mutiny; there were cases of insubordination and agitation…. At
the same time, the 2 nd Western Army arrived [at Smolensk] in an entirely
different state of mind. The music, joyful songs animated soldiers. These
troops showed only the pride for the danger they had escaped and the
readiness to face and overcome a new danger. It seemed as if the 2 nd
Western Army did not retreat from the Nieman to the Dnieper, but covered
this distance with triumph. 14
11 Vorontsov, The Patriotic War in Smolensk Gubernya, 79.
12 Barclay de Tolly to Bagration, 30 July 1812, Ibid., 79; also Correspondence of Bagration,
214.
13 Bagration to Barclay de Tolly, 30 July 1812, Correspondence of Bagration, 213.
14 Yermolov, Memoirs, I, 155.
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