First Battle of Polotsk

First Battle of Polotsk
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Jean-Charles Langlois. Battle of Polotsk on August 18, 1812
Date 17–18 August 1812 Location Polotsk, Russian Empire 55°29′N 28°48′E Result See § Aftermath
Belligerents
French Empire Kingdom of Bavaria	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr Nicolas Oudinot (WIA)	Peter Wittgenstein
Strength
18,000–19,000 men involved 150 guns 44,000 men total available	17,000–22,000 men 98 guns
Casualties and losses
2,500–6,000 casualties	1,800–5,500 killed and wounded 1,200–1,500 men captured 14 guns

French invasion of Russia

330km
205miles

Polotsk

15

Pultusk

14

Gorodeczno

13

Drohiczyn

12

Tauroggen

11

Riga

10

Tilsit

9

Warsaw

8

Berezina

7

Maloyaro-
slavets

6

Moscow

5

Borodino

4

Smolensk

3

Vitebsk

2

Vilna

1

Kowno

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19th-century Russian lithograph depicting Wittgenstein's Chevalier-Guardsmen fighting the first battle of Polotsk.

Pursuit of French chasseurs à cheval by Horse Guardsmen near Polotsk on 18 August 1812. Depicted by Philipp Chirko

In the First Battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot near the city of Polotsk, halting Oudinot's advance toward Saint Petersburg once more as at the Battle of Klyastitsy. It was a strategic Russian success, but tactically the battle ended in a draw. The First Battle of Polotsk should be distinguished from the Second Battle of Polotsk which took place during the same campaign two months later.