Battles & Campaigns · 1812
Battle of Gorodechno
Haradzyechna, Pruzhany District, Belarus
What happened
At daybreak the allies crossed a marsh on narrow causeways to attack Tormasov's line. Fighting and artillery fire went on all day, and the attacks on the Russian centre and left failed. Even so, Tormasov expected a fresh attack the next morning and withdrew that evening.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It counted as an allied victory. Together with the fighting at Polotsk, it encouraged Napoleon to keep advancing toward Moscow.
What came next
Tormasov withdrew to Ratno, and Napoleon's main army pushed on toward Smolensk and Moscow.
Did you know?
Napoleon reportedly brushed off doubts by saying: 'The wine has been poured, it must now be drunk.'
Timeline
- 12 August 1812Battle of Gorodechno.
- 17–18 August 1812First Battle of Polotsk.
- August 1812Battle of Smolensk.