the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Another contemporary remarked that “the difference in spirits of the armies, was
that the 1 st Army relied on itself and the Russian God, while the 2 nd army also trusted
Prince Bagration…. His presence, eagle-like appearance, cheerful expression and keen
humor inspired soldiers.” 15
Bagration himself arrived at Smolensk on 2 August to discuss the future war plans
with Barclay de Tolly. This meeting was of a great importance for the fate of the army.
Discord that developed between Barclay and Bagration was neither a simple quarrel
between two generals, nor a mere disagreement on strategy. This conflict stemmed from
a political discord between the old Russian aristocracy and the “foreigners,” the so-called
“Germans.” Russian society watched this opposition with a passionate interest. 16
The main reason for this tension was the difference of views on the strategy
among the senior officers and army commanders who represented opposing political
parties. Barclay de Tolly 17 was surrounded by the “German party,” mainly consisted of
the émigré families from Western Europe, who supported his defensive. Opposing it was
the “Russian party” of the majority of the Russian army that urged the offensive. Grand
Duke Constantine and generals Peter Bagration, Alexander Yermolov, Nikolay
Rayevsky, Dimitry Dokhturov, Matvei Platov, Illarion Vasyl’chykov, Nikolay Tuckov,
Paul Tuchkov and Alexander Tuchkov, Peter Konovnitsyn, Paul Shuvalov and others –
all believed in the possibility of defeating Napoleon by vigorous offensive and supported
Bagration’s appeals. Denis Davidov recalled that,
Inspired with ardent love to our mother land, Prince [Bagration], with
unrestrained ardor characteristic of all Asians, felt anger against Barclay;
15 Gribanov, Bagration in St. Petersburg, 185.
16 Tartarovsky, Nerazgadannyi Barklai: legendy i byl’ 1812 goda [Unknown Barclay:
Legends and Tales of 1812], (Moscow, 1996), 63-65.
17 Barclay de Tolly himself was third-generation Russian from Livonia, where his Scottish
ancestors settled in the 17 th century. See Josselson, Barclay de Tolly, vii, 1-5; Tartarovsky,
Unknown Barclay, 5-15.
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