Battle of Vilnius (1812)

The Battle of Vilnius (also known as battle of Vilna), in 1812 was part of Napoléon Bonaparte invasion of Russia, a campaign famously marked by its logistical and environmental challenges, ultimately leading to a disastrous retreat for the French Grande Armée. The battle took place from June 28–29, 1812 in Vilnius (then part of the Russian Empire, now the capital of Lithuania), soon after Napoleon launched his invasion by crossing the Nieman River.

Battle of Vilnius
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Napoleon and his army retreating from Russia several weeks/months later after the Battle of Borodino, and the burning of Moscow.
Date 28 June 1812 (1812-06-28) Location Vilnius, Lithuania 54°42′29″N 25°15′26″E Result Coalition/Russian victory
Belligerents
French Empire Duchy of Warsaw	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Napoleon I Joachim Murat Michel Ney Louis-Nicolas Davout	Mikhail Kutuzov Mikhail Barclay de Tolly Pyotr Bagration Alexander Tormasov
Strength
France Around 70,000-80,000 French soldiers.	Russia Around 35,000-40,000 or 100,000 Russian soldiers.
Casualties and losses
France Around 20,000–25,000 French soldiers died. around 6,000 French soldiers wounded. around 2,000 French soldiers captured.	Russia Around 3,000-5,000 Russian soldiers died.
Total: around 73,000 soldiers died, and wounded

French invasion of Russia:
Battle of Vilnius

500km
300miles

Borodino

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Vilnius

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Gorodeczno

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Saltanovka

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Tilsit

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Kowno

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Description

• Napoleon's army split into 5 columns.
• Napoleon crossed the Russian border at Kowno... 1.
• Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout's corps left Vilnius on 1 July 1812 to occupy Minsk, and defeated Pyotr Bagration at the Battle of Saltanovka... 4.

• Marshal Étienne Macdonald's (Prussian) Corps entered the Russian border at Tilsit... 2.

• The King of Westphalia Jérôme Bonaparte joined the campaign on 1 July crossing the Niemen river as one of the leaders of the column (Right Flank Force), and led the French army at the Mir. But later he left the army and went to home after.

• Prince Schwarzenberg (French ally) led the battle of the Austrian Corps at the Gorodeczno... 5.

Napoleonic Wars

1000km
620miles

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6

5

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Key:

1

Third Coalition: Germany 1803:...Austerlitz...

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Fourth Coalition: Prussia 1806:...Berlin...

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Peninsular War: Portugal 1807...Torres Vedras...

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Peninsular War: Spain 1808...Vitoria...

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Fifth Coalition: Austria 1809:...Landshut...

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French invasion of Russia 1812:...Moscow...

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Sixth Coalition: Germany 1813:...Leipzig...

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Sixth Coalition: France 1814:...Paris...

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Hundred Days 1815:...Waterloo...

Background

Napoleon goal was to enforce his Continental System, which aimed to block trade between Britain and the rest of Europe. Russia’s defiance of this embargo led to Napoleon’s decision to invade, with a massive force of over 600,000 soldiers drawn from various parts of his empire.

The campaign began in June 1812 (also known as French invasion of Russia or Sixth Coalition), with Napoleon’s Grande Armée marching into Russia. Despite initial successes, including the capture of Moscow, the French forces faced severe logistical problems, including lack of supplies and the Russian tactic of scorched earth, which deprived Napoleon of the resources needed to sustain his army. The harsh Russian winter and persistent Russian military pressure compounded the difficulties, leading to heavy casualties and a disastrous retreat.

The failure of the invasion marked a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It significantly weakened Napoleon's army, and the remnants of the Grande Armée were effectively destroyed during the retreat. This defeat ultimately contributed to Napoleon's downfall and reshaped European geopolitics.

History

The Battle in June 1812 was a key early encounter during Napoleon's invasion of Russia. As the French army advanced, Vilnius became a strategic target for Napoleon, who hoped to secure the city quickly and force a decisive battle with Russian forces. However, the Russian army, under commanders such as General Mikhail Barclay de Tolly, effectively evaded direct engagement by strategically retreating, leaving Vilnius vulnerable. The French forces, led by Marshal Joachim Murat, Michel Ney, and Louis-Nicolas Davout entered Vilnius on June 28, only to find that much of the city’s supplies and infrastructure had been destroyed by the retreating Russians to slow the French advance and deprive them of resources.

French Occupation and Russian Withdrawal

Minard's latest (modern) version of the French casualities map. See also Attrition warfare against Napoleon.

Russian forces under Barclay de Tolly, and Prince Pyotr Bagration heavily outnumbered and unprepared to confront Napoleon's massive force, chose to abandon Vilnius without offering significant/major resistance. The retreat was a part of the Russian strategy called Fabian strategy by drawing Napoleon further into Russian territory while stretching his supply lines, rather than engaging in a full-scale confrontation. Napoleon's troops entered Vilnius on June 28, with little opposition.

Weather and Logistical Struggles

Although the battle itself was brief and resulted in minimal fighting, the entry into Vilnius highlighted some of the critical issues that would later impact Napoleon’s campaign. The intense summer heat caused thousands of soldiers to fall ill due to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and dysentery. Heavy rains followed soon after, turning roads into mud and slowing down Napoleon’s forces, further straining their supplies.

Supply Issues

The French troops suffered severe logistical problems. Supplies, stretched thin due to the rapid advance and the scorched-earth tactics used by the retreating Russians, became a primary concern. Vilnius offered limited resources, and its capture failed to resolve Napoleon's growing supply crisis, which would worsen as his army moved further east.

Aftermath

After occupying Vilnius, Napoleon regroup with the French army that continued to push deeper into Russia but suffered immense logistical challenges. Following the Battle of Borodino, and the occupation of Moscow, Napoleon's forces were decimated by harsh weather and Russian resistance during the retreat, culminating in the crossing of the Berezina River in November.

Following the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, many Lithuanian officers, soldiers, and Polish Hussars (1st Light Cavalry Lancers regiment) found themselves in exile in France. A volunteers squardon in Elba called Elba Squadron of Polish tasked to guard Napoleon while exiled.

After Napoleon's exile to Saint Helena by the Coalition following the Hundred Days' Campaign, they were released from exile.

Artifacts

In 2001, a mass grave containing at least 3,269 skeletons was uncovered in Vilnius, Lithuania. These remains were identified as soldiers from Napoleon's Grande Armée, based on artifacts such as:

• Uniform Buttons: Buttons bearing the insignias of various regiments helped identify which units were present, reflecting the diversity of Napoleon's multinational forces.

• Weaponry and Ammunition: Musket balls, fragments of firearms, and other military equipment demonstrate the types of arms used by the soldiers.

• Personal Items: Items like rings, coins, and small religious icons provide insight into the soldiers' personal lives and beliefs.

• Medical Equipment: The discovery of basic medical tools offers a glimpse into the limited medical care available to the soldiers, highlighting the challenges faced in the field.

• Footwear and Clothing Remnants: Fragments of boots, belts, and uniform cloth reveal the state of their clothing, which would have deteriorated quickly in harsh conditions.

• Bone Artifacts: Some soldiers used bones to craft small personal objects during periods of downtime, showing a resourceful use of available materials.