Battle of Tarutino
Near Tarutino, Russia
What happened
Russian forces under Mikhail Kutuzov, with Levin von Bennigsen leading the attack, struck the French corps of Joachim Murat. While Napoleon's army was still in Moscow, Russian columns made a night attack on Murat's corps, but several lost their way in the dark forest. Cossacks reached the French camp and captured it. Murat rallied his troops, and French cavalry counterattacks restored the position before he pulled back to avoid being surrounded.
Why it matters
The battle destroyed valuable French cavalry and raised Russian morale. It showed that Napoleon's army could be beaten and helped push him toward retreat.
What came next
The next day, 19 October 1812, Napoleon began leaving Moscow toward Kaluga. The next major battle was at Maloyaroslavets on 24 October.
Did you know?
Leo Tolstoy describes this battle in his novel War and Peace.
Timeline
- 18 October 1812Battle of Tarutino.
- 19 October 1812Napoleon begins retreating from Moscow toward Kaluga.
- 24 October 1812Battle of Maloyaroslavets.