the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Infantry Division recalled, “Our division was virtually annihilated…. When the
remaining troops were rallied, only 700 men gathered… Just 40 men survived from my
regiment….” 85 French demonstrated maginificent courage during this assault. The 57 th
Line particularly distinguished itself. Living up to its nickname “Le Terrible”, it
advanced steadily with muskets leveled but withholding fire. The French kept
withholding fire, while the Russian bullets mowed them down. Impressed by the courage
of these soldiers, Bagration “several times clapped his hands and cried ‘Bravo, bravo!’“ 86
The French assault overwhelmed the Russsians and drove them back. In this
critical situation Bagration decided to counterattack with every available soldier. He
rallied the 8 th Infantry Corps, 4 th Cavalry Corps, 2 nd Cuirrassier Division and attacked the
French. A witness recalled, “Observing the menacing movement of the French forces and
grasping their intentions, Prince Bagration conceived a great design. Under his orders,
the entire left wing in all its length moved quickly forward with fixed bayonets.” 87
Another participant, Count Buturlin later described the Russian attack. “Entire line of the
left flank suddenly moved in a bayonet attack. The assault was dreadful…a desperate and
savage fighting followed at which both sides demonstrated marvelous and superhuman
courage.” 88 According to Count Segur, “Their fire decimated our ranks. Their attack was
violent, impetuous, with infantry, artillery and cavalry all joining in one great effort. Ney
and Murat, whose concern now was not to complete the victory, but just to hold what
they had gained, braced themselves against this onslaught.” 89
85 “Iz vispominanii N. I. Andreeva,” [From N.I. Andreev’s Memoirs], Russkii arkhiv, 10
(1879): 191-93
86 Borodino: Documents, Letters and Recollections, 377; “Capitulation of Paris in 1814:
Razskaz M.F. Orlova,” Russkaya starina, 20 (1877): 647; Tarle, Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia,
192. Duffy, Borodino, 104; Foord, Napoleon’s Russian Campaign, 211; Davidov, Writings, 527
87 Glinka, The Battle of Borodino, II, 13-17.
88 Buturlin, Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia, I, 300; “Rasskaz o Borodinskom srazhenii
otdelennogo Unter-Ofitsera Tikhonova” [Officer Tikhonov’s Recollections on Battle of
Borodino], in Chtenia imperatorskogo obschestva istorii drevnostei [Proceedings of the Imperial
Historical Society], 1 (1872), 119-20.
89 Segur, Napoleon’s Russian Campaign, 68.
817