the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Meanwhile, the Russian army continued to retreat eastward. The 1 st Western
Army had crossed the Dnieper and reached Dorogobouzh. 98 Barclay de Tolly realized
that a battle would have to be fought before moving much closer to Moscow. He
instructed several junior officers, including Quartermaster-general Colonel Toll, to seek
advantageous terrain for battle. As a result, two formidable positions were found at
Usvyatie on the Uzha River and at Tsarevo-Zaimische, near Vya’zma. 99 On 21 August
Barclay and Bagration, accompanied by Grand Duke Constantine and aide-de-camps,
met at Usvyatie to inspect the site. Both commanders found the position faulty on several
counts, including an unprotected left flank; so Bagration suggested another site near to
Dorogobouzh. 100 During the reconnaissance of Usvyatie, Colonel Toll erroneously
defended advantages of this position, in spite of Barclay’s sound conclusions. Toll even
insulted Barclay, who refrained from an angry reply, but Bagration got furious and
defended Barclay. He ranted at the young quartermaster-general,
If you cannot choose position, that is not to say that others cannot also!
How dare you, you unlicked cub, address the commander-in-chief in such
manner? He owes his position to his great qualities, and deserves every
consideration. I am his senior, but I set the example by serving under him.
It is disgraceful that a young swelled head like you should use such
language towards the man on whom depends the fate of the army and the
empire. Thank his generosity that worse does not befall you, for if I had
my way I would have changed your blue ribbon [of the Order of Knight of
St. Andrew] for a common soldier’s belts!” 101
98 Its retreat was covered by Platov’s Cossacks and the rear guard under General Baron
Korff, while Barclay deployed Jagers under Baron Rozen on the left bank of the river. Supply
trains were directed on a detour through Dukhovshina to Dorogobouzh and the wounded were
sent to Vya’zma. Vorontsov, The Patriotic War of 1812 in Smolensk Gubernya, 154.
99 Clausewitz, The Campaign of 1812 in Russia, 133
100 Ibid., 134.
101 A witness recalls that “everybody was silent. Barclay de Tolly remained taciturn… while
Toll began to cry and tears went down on his face.” Dnevnik kapitana Puschina za 1812 god
[Diary of Captain Puschin on 1812 Campaign], Aglamov, Historical Materials of the
Semyenovsky Lifeguard Regiment, 45; Yermolov, Memoirs, I, 180; Vorontsov, The Patriotic
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