Napoleon in 1812

Chapter 12

Battle of Hrodna – 6

The commander in charge of the army blocking the Bagration Corps at Krunol Hill was Andoche Junot.11) The general, who had faced British, Spanish, and Portuguese forces in the Iberian Peninsula war, had been called by Napoleon to serve as commander during the Russian expedition. Junot had always thought that his position and rank in the military lagged behind his other coup comrades, because of his long service in the war on the peninsula, which was less recognized internationally. Therefore, he was dreaming of becoming a pillar of the Empire by achieving an incredible feat in this war. Although the Russian expedition had been overturned by the Emperor’s change of heart even before it began in earnest, Junot was fortunate to have a chance to prove himself.

“When I first heard His Majesty the Emperor’s grand strategy, I thought it was a ridiculous plan. But… His Majesty is indeed His Majesty.”

The generals and officers who had listened to the Emperor’s ‘plans’ had thought that they were ingenious but unrealistic. But it turned out it was them who had short thoughts. The strategist Emperor had eventually led the Russian troops with deceptive and false information to the city of Hrodna, where the deployment of his own troops was designed perfectly. Russia would surely be defeated.

“We need a general who is calm, courageous and able to move quickly to defend the Krunol Hill here against the Russians. … I believe you are the right person for this job.’

Just a few months ago, the Emperor had sent a letter with harsh reproofs and criticism to Junot. It was a nervous resentment after his defeat against the British troops of Arthur Wellesley, (2) therefore failing to end the Iberian Peninsula war. When preparing for the Russian expedition, the Emperor had coldly embarrassed Junot. But then, the Emperor had given faith to Junot as if he were a different person.

The Emperor’s words had been friendly and warm enough to remind Junot of the days when he had been treated like a trusted subordinate and close friend 15 years ago. At that moment, Junot had been so moved that he had almost shed tears. Since then, he had vowed dozens of times to achieve this operation with his life and a firm determination. He could never lose.

“I’ll report to you, Commander! The Russian cavalry in red clothes was spotted running toward the back of the hill. Their number is about 10,000!”

“The Slavs decided to shake us. You have finished preparing, haven’t you?”

“We’ve made everything ready to turn the other side of the hill into the Land of Death. Corpses will become manure and blood will irrigate the grasslands.”

Nodding at the officer’s confident words, Junot examined the Bagration corps with a telescope. The headquarters were quiet and the Russian infantry showed signs of vigor again.

‘As His Majesty said, the enemy has a good intuition. The commander, Bagration, is certainly suspicious of us.’

That was probably because they were fighting too well, not like foreign soldiers. The soldiers dressed in Austrian and Prussian uniforms were actually French. Napoleon had come up with an unconventional strategy, swaping the uniforms.

In other words, Napoleon’s Corps, now running from Ostrołęka, was actually a combined army of Austrian, Prussian, the Confederation of the Rhine’s, and Italian troops, and the real French elite troops were fighting in foreign uniforms here in Hrodna.

When they had first heard about this strategy, the French soldiers had opposed it vigorously. Why should they pretend to be a ‘little’ foreign army? In particular, the guards, who had to give up on the honorable Imperial Guard’s uniforms for foreign ones, had protested very strongly. In response, Napoleon had said, ‘Your soldier’s honor is of course valuable, but I can repay you with great victories and the success of the Empire. However, in case of defeat, nothing can repay the prestige of the Empire.’

“Bagration’s suspicion must be similar. His large-scale maneuvers must be a move to confirm the deployment of our cavalry and intercept it. It’s the Empire’s tactics to hide the cavalry behind hills and then send it at a critical moment.’

Napoleon, who had predicted so far, had even set up a tactic against it. That was the battle in front of them.

“Fire!”

What awaited the Russian cavalry running at the back of the Krunol Hill was another artillery battalion aiming directly at them, and not the cavalry nor an empty space. The same thing happened on Barclay’s side, just as the Cossack cavalry was smashed by the surprise fire. The shells, bouncing off the dry ground of the grasslands, swept away Bagration’s cavalry that was running briskly. The screams of horses and humans rang the ground. Leading the cavalry, General Borozdin cursed at the bloody scene.

“I can’t believe these guys! How many cannons did they bring!? There’s no way Nabot could hand over so many cannons to foreign troops!?”

Nevertheless, Borozdin confirmed that the distance from the enemy artillery was only about 400 yards (366 meters). This distance was short enough to reach them within two minutes. When anger, embarrassment and greed obscured his thoughts, General Borozdin lost his reason. Forgetting even the basic strategy that the cannons would naturally have a separate unit protecting them, General Borozdin ordered the Russian cavalry to charge.

The Russian cavalry screamed and ran like wild boars. Waiting for them was the French Imperial Guards, and among them the regiment of the Empress’ Dragoons. [31

Tata! Bang! Tatatata! Bang!

The average cavalryman’s shooting skills were inferior to the infantry’s. It was just that difficult to aim and shoot an enemy on a moving horse. However, the Empress’ Dragoons regiment was different. These were the elite troops of the Empire, had received the highest evaluations in shooting, close quarter combat, and horseback riding. The shots fired by the regiment flew with correct trajectories and penetrated the Russian cavalry. The Russians’ charge was temporarily slowed by their fire.

“Fire! Fire!”

The French cannons did not miss this time. The French had replaced the old-fashioned iron shells with lead shots and pellets, and fired again at the Russian cavalry. The destructive power of lead shots and pellets fired from close range was something that no troops could withstand, no matter how brave they were. The Russian cavalry battalion had no choice but to flee and retreat with countless casualties.

“Pull out your swords! For the Empress’ Guard!”

Brigadier General Louis-Michel Letort de Lorville, 141 the commander of the Empress’ Dragoons regiment, shouted. Although the uniforms they were wearing belonged to the Austrian cavalry, they never lost their bravery and pride.

“Charge towards the enemy of the Empire! Long live the Emperor Bonaparte!”

“Long live the Great Free French Empire!!”

The number of the Empress’ Dragoons barely exceeded 1,000, but it was enough to sweep the Russian cavalry who was fleeing without fighting. The Dragoons following the Russians swung their swords without mercy. Some Russian riders drew their swords and fought back, but those who were bleeding and falling were the Russians.

The Empress’ Dragoons also rushed towards the Bagration infantry battalions. The Bagration Corps originally intended to send the Russian cavalry to the rear of the Krunol Hill and simultaneously advance the infantry to fight on two fronts. To stop this, Junot and the French troops were engaged in a fierce gunfight and close quarter fight near the hill. Without slowing down their advance, the Empress’ Dragoons on the side of the Bagration infantry battalion made a strong charge and tore the battle line apart like they were splitting a bamboo. The Bagration infantry battalion got caught by it and its formation and command system quickly collapsed.

“We are victorious! Charge!!”

Andoche Junot was a commander who knew the correct timing. As soon as he judged that they had gained enough momentum, he immediately ordered the infantry in line to charge with bayonets. As their morale rose, the French in Prussian and Austrian uniforms charged at the Russians with fierce shouts.

The Russian soldiers, who had never been pushed back in close quarter fight, had no answer to this situation. It was a brutal massacre. The Bagration infantry battalion was forced to retreat, leaving countless bodies behind them. The soldiers on the hill cheered as they lifted their flags. The flags belonged to Austria and Prussia, but the victory was for France.

TL notes

[1] Jean-Andoche Junot

[2] Arthur Wellesley

(3] Empress’ Dragoons

[4] Louis-Michel Letort de Lorville