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Polotsk 1


Battle Name : Polotsk 1

Date(s) : 16 August 1812 - 18 August 1812

Part of : The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , Napoleon's Russian Campaign ,

Outcome : An inconclusive engagement between Franco-Bavarian Forces and Russian forces

Type of battle : Land

Summary

An uneven battle with fierce fighting for some troops very little for others e.g. the Russian left wing was scarcely engaged. High casualties on both sides [Russian lost a quarter of their men the Franco-Bavarians lost a third] was in part due to the high concentration of guns [Russ 135 Fr-Bav 120] .Every officer of the Grodno Hussars was a casualty on the 18th.

Location

A town on the river Dwina in Belarus about 60 miles northwest of Witebsk. (Belarus)

Casualty figures

Franco-Bavarian Forces

Number engaged :
18,000

Casualties :
6,000 (33.33%)

Russian forces

Number engaged :
22,000

Casualties :
5,500 (25.00%)