1812 Incident near Krasnoi

AN INCIDENT NEAR KRASNOI

1812

translated by Geert van Uythoven

A translation from German of an incident during the French retreat out of Russia.

“Two Württemberg generals with their adjutants, and several other Württemberg officers, had found quarters for the night in the barn in Smerlino village, situated two rifle shots side wards of the main road, a great half hour behind Krasnoi. The village was partially burned down. Beside the group already mentioned, about a thousand more humans remained inside the village, among which were sutlers, and many so called ‘officiers et soldats isolés’. Early in the morning at once everyone yelled: ‘Cosaques! Cosaques!’. And after this everyone panicked and routed in the direction of the main road. Most even did not wait for their wagons to be put to the horses, but abandoned everything.

We had in our company possibly eight armed Württemberg soldiers. One of the generals took the lucky decision to deploy these at the entrance of the village, ordering them to open fire as soon as the Cossacks closed in. The Cossacks, which expected no resistance, were deceived and believed there were more troops inside the place. This moment of respite was used in an effort reach the main road with our small company caravan, which was reached luckily.

Arriving here our small company collected again, and the majority believed it better to advance along the main road and to carry on the battle here when necessary.

Our situation worsened however when we observed two huge Cossack troops in the distance, advancing each on one site of the main road. In addition, in front of us was a defile. It was clear they had chosen this point to make our capture even more certain. As far as we could see before and behind us, nowhere a formed unit was to be seen. Instead however, everywhere wagons with fugitives moved along. It was decided to form a wagon fortress. Everyone still possessing a musket, sabre or pistol, was forced by the generals and officers, with pistol or sable in the hand, to join our ranks, and the wagons were invited to move in position.

Our eight Württemberg soldiers formed our fighting force, to which maybe two to three hundred dispersed and badly armed infantry- and cavalrymen were added. This corps was led by two generals and over forty officers of all sorts of units. These men were deployed for defence behind the first row of wagons. Finally, our sorry situation was much improved by the arrival of a lone cannon, which however had only two rounds left. One of the generals ordered one round to be fired at the Cossacks, in an effort to shy them away.

To our misfortune we had no match to fire the cannon. This lack was remedied in another way. The same general made fire with his tinder-box, holding the tinder at the touchhole and firing the cannon. The Cossacks were held at bay this way, enabling us to clear the defile. Soon after, the Cossacks closed in from all sides again, and made a Hurrah! [i.e. charged]. Our posture and our fire saw them off for a second time. Honestly, a true picture of real self-defence!

We remained in this situation for about an hour, until finally again a troop of Cossacks was reported to be in our backs. We quickly ascertained however that these were Polish lancers, which we united with and together reached Krasnoi safely.

In this way, in hours of need one often finds means to oppose misfortunes luckily, if one does not lose his head and will remain steadfast.”

Source: “Anekdote”, in ‘Militair-Wochenblatt’, 8. Jahrgang (Berlin 1823), No. 383, p.2855-2856, taken from Hügels “Taschenbuch für die Infanterie-Offiziere im Felde”