Battle of Vyazma
Vyazma, Russia
What happened
Russian forces under Mikhail Miloradovich and Matvei Platov attacked the French rearguard under Eugène de Beauharnais, Davout, Ney and Poniatowski. As Napoleon's army retreated from Moscow, Russian cavalry struck its rearguard near Vyazma and cut Davout's corps off. Eugène counterattacked and freed Davout, but Russian artillery kept firing. The French corps pulled back into Vyazma, where fighting went on in the streets until evening.
Why it matters
The French got away, but the battle shook the morale of several French corps. Afterwards the rearguard retreated in disorder, and its broken units became easy targets for Cossack raids.
What came next
Napoleon reached Smolensk with what was left of his army. The armies met again at Krasnoi on 15 November.
Did you know?
Kutuzov's main army was only about 20 miles away, but he sent Miloradovich just 3,000 heavy cavalry.
Timeline
- 24 October 1812Battle of Maloyaroslavets.
- 3 November 1812Battle of Vyazma.
- 15 November 1812Battle of Krasnoi.
- 26–29 November 1812Battle of the Berezina.