the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

August General Rayevsky had 10,000 men and 72 guns 68 at Smolensk. He knew that
both Bagration and Barclay de Tolly were hurrying to his aid. He saw his duty clearly -
he and his men must die, if necessary, to defend the city and gain time for the main
forces. To prepare for the French assault, Rayevsky deployed most of his men beyond the
suburbs. 69
Apparently, Napoleon was concerned with Bagration’s troops (6 th Jagers) at
Katan and thought it could threaten his army, as it lay stretched along Rassasna-
Smolensk road. 70 Therefore, he halted the 1 st Corps, except for General Charles Etienne
Gudin’s division, at Korythnia. Early on 16 August the bulk of troops of Ney and Murat
reached Smolensk. The French moved some batteries into action against Rayevsky’s
artillery and Ney deployed his corps opposite the Krasnyi suburb and the Royal Bastion.
Murat’s divisions extended to the right. The French made several attacks but were
repulsed and, to Rayevsky’s surprise, made no other attempts. 71 With some 19,000
68 The strength of Rayevsky’s corps varies from 9,394 to over 15,000 men. Rayevsky
reported that he had less than 10,000 men on the first day. Rayevsky to Kutuzov, 7 September
1812, No. 254, Russkii Invalid, 172 (August 1912); Troitsky, 1812: The Glorious Year of Russia,
110; Vorontsov, The Patriotic War of 1812 in Smolensk Gubernya, 102, Clausewitz, The
Campaign of 1812 in Russia, 123;
69 General Paskevich’s division occupied Krasnoi suburb and the ditch with the Vilna
regiment from the 27 th Division and battalion of convalescents in reserve behind the city walls.
Kolubakin’s division defended Mstislavl suburb, and Stavidzki’s brigade of the 27 th division was
deployed at Roslavl suburb. Four battalions were in reserve in town and two more were deployed
to watch the line from the Roslavl suburb to the river. Eighteen guns were placed on Royal
Bastion and the rest along the earth ramparts behind the walls. Troitsky, 1812: The Glorious Year
of Russia, 116; Vorontsov, The Patriotic War of 1812 in Smolensk Gubernya, 102-4; Baye,
L’épopée de Smolensk en 1812, 113-14.
70 Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon, 786; Foord, Napoleon’s Russian Campaign of
1812, 134; 84; Nafziger, Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia, 186; Segur, Napoleon’s Russian
Campaign, 27.
71 Rayevsky to Kutuzov, 7 September 1812, No. 254; Rayevsky to Kutuzov, 21 December
1812, Russkii Invalid, 172 (August 1912).
765