GOLYMIN (1806) Battle Report
At first glance, Golymin looks like a tough--if not suicidal--assignment for the outnumbered Russian rearguard. But once you see the battlefield, it becomes much easier to understand how General Dmitry Gallitzin defended his ground so successfully. The road network at Golymin is flanked by marshes impassable by Murat's French cavalry, and the woods help block line of sight, making a coordinated French envelopment difficult to organize. Here's how our historical battle unfolded:
2:00pm: Lasalle's cavalry division begins a wide, flanking maneuver around the Russian left to avoid the marshes. Augereau's VII Corps arrives in force, marching in assault columns toward the Russian defensive front.
2:30pm: Murat arrives with the remainder of his cavalry corps, and the French horsemen continue swinging wide around the Russian left. Augereau now begins deploying in line, approaching the heavily fortified village of Kalezin. Russian batteries open fire.
3:00pm: Seeking a decisive engagement on their far right flank, Russian cuirassiers charge across open ground to meet a small body of French light cavalry. Somehow, the French check this advance. In the center, Augereau's corps continues to deploy for battle in front of the Russian lines at Kalezin.
3:30pm: Limited reinforcements for both sides struggle to reach the battle, making little progress over the muddy roads. Gallitzin now commits his cavalry reserve to check Murat's large body of cavalry riding around the Russian left. Deadly Russian artillery fire devastates the French infantry in the center, and Augereau begins to wish that Murat might have delayed the battle in time for French guns to be brought to the field. [Below, the battle begins to take shape before 3:30pm]
2:00pm: Lasalle's cavalry division begins a wide, flanking maneuver around the Russian left to avoid the marshes. Augereau's VII Corps arrives in force, marching in assault columns toward the Russian defensive front.
2:30pm: Murat arrives with the remainder of his cavalry corps, and the French horsemen continue swinging wide around the Russian left. Augereau now begins deploying in line, approaching the heavily fortified village of Kalezin. Russian batteries open fire.
3:00pm: Seeking a decisive engagement on their far right flank, Russian cuirassiers charge across open ground to meet a small body of French light cavalry. Somehow, the French check this advance. In the center, Augereau's corps continues to deploy for battle in front of the Russian lines at Kalezin.
3:30pm: Limited reinforcements for both sides struggle to reach the battle, making little progress over the muddy roads. Gallitzin now commits his cavalry reserve to check Murat's large body of cavalry riding around the Russian left. Deadly Russian artillery fire devastates the French infantry in the center, and Augereau begins to wish that Murat might have delayed the battle in time for French guns to be brought to the field. [Below, the battle begins to take shape before 3:30pm]
4:00pm: Lines of infantry trade musket fire around Kalezin, but Russian artillery support places the French at a distinct disadvantage. On the Russian right, Pahlen's heavy cuirassiers are actually losing ground to a much smaller body of enemy chasseurs. On the opposite flank, Murat struggles to position his cavalry amidst the marshes and woods. In a brash move of courage--or perhaps frustration--a unit of French dragoons charges into the center of the Russian line. The French are bloodily repulsed.
4:30pm: Disordered from indecisive combat, the cavalry on both flanks pause to regroup. In the center, however, Augereau launches a full attack on Kalezin. French infantry fight in close combat with the Russian garrison in the village, but niether side can gain the edge.
5:00pm: Russian artillery fire begins showing its effects, with two French brigades now badly mauled. In the streets of Kalezin, the French are ejected after a greuling melee. With his cavalry finally deployed, Murat launches his dragoons against the Russian horse, driving the Russians back toward Golymin. The critical town is now within reach!
5:30pm: A furious Russian counter attack recovers some lost ground in the vicinity of Golymin. Two Russian batteries have now redeployed and begun pouring fire into Lasalle's division.
6:00pm: Exhausted by steep casualties, Murat and Augereau call off the attack.
4:30pm: Disordered from indecisive combat, the cavalry on both flanks pause to regroup. In the center, however, Augereau launches a full attack on Kalezin. French infantry fight in close combat with the Russian garrison in the village, but niether side can gain the edge.
5:00pm: Russian artillery fire begins showing its effects, with two French brigades now badly mauled. In the streets of Kalezin, the French are ejected after a greuling melee. With his cavalry finally deployed, Murat launches his dragoons against the Russian horse, driving the Russians back toward Golymin. The critical town is now within reach!
5:30pm: A furious Russian counter attack recovers some lost ground in the vicinity of Golymin. Two Russian batteries have now redeployed and begun pouring fire into Lasalle's division.
6:00pm: Exhausted by steep casualties, Murat and Augereau call off the attack.
Victory Objectives:The French controlled three road exits, and the Russians controlled two exits, along with Golymin. The other road exits were contested. The French sufferred almost 3,000 casaulties and the Russians lost just 1,000 men. The outcome here was quite similiar to the historical flow of the battle.
|
General Gallitzin's Report
The Russians deployed in a crescent with the cavalry brigades formed en masse in the rear, ready to counter and the artillery deployed in two large batteries to cover likely approaches. I felt that by fighting a static battle as opposed to a fighting withdrawal I could hold Golymin and a couple of roads as long as my casualties stayed low, something I didn't think would happen in a running fight. Interior lines would allow me to bring troops to bear wherever needed inside the hedgehog. The French attacks surprised me both in the timid way in which they attacked and the lack of coordination between the divisions. Dieter's infantry hesitated within range of my guns and the majority of the French casualities occurred in front the Russian guns for no gain.
My worst fear was that a broad, rapid infantry assault to the Russian front would have pinned me and allowed the numerous French cavalry formations to swoop down upon our rear. Ultimately it was not to be, as the French committed their forces piecemeal. It was a close, tense fight as the French cavalry probed around the Russian garrison and their infantry began an assault on the Russian lines. Neither side could achieve a decisive advantage and the battle see-sawed back and forth, but in the end while the French controlled most of the road, they failed to capture the town of Golymin and absorbed unacceptably high casualities.
My worst fear was that a broad, rapid infantry assault to the Russian front would have pinned me and allowed the numerous French cavalry formations to swoop down upon our rear. Ultimately it was not to be, as the French committed their forces piecemeal. It was a close, tense fight as the French cavalry probed around the Russian garrison and their infantry began an assault on the Russian lines. Neither side could achieve a decisive advantage and the battle see-sawed back and forth, but in the end while the French controlled most of the road, they failed to capture the town of Golymin and absorbed unacceptably high casualities.
Marshal Murat's Report
It falls upon me, with deep regret, to inform the Emperor of our frustrating defeat at Golymin. It became immediately clear that the Russians intended to fight from a static defensive position, anchored by the village of Kalezin and its surrounding marshes. Marshal Augereau and I agreed to undertake a double envelopment of the enemy position. The terrain made this maneuver slow and ponderous, allowing the merciless Russian artillery to devastate us with fire. What I would have given to have just two batteries of French artillery to soften the enemy!
Finally, around 5:00pm our assault wavered on a knife's edge, nearly breaking the Russian line in two places. But the stubborn Russians snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, deflecting our attack and gaining enough time to withdraw from the field.
Finally, around 5:00pm our assault wavered on a knife's edge, nearly breaking the Russian line in two places. But the stubborn Russians snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, deflecting our attack and gaining enough time to withdraw from the field.