Battle of Jutas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Jutas
Part of the Finnish War
Döbeln och björneborgarna, by August Malmström
Date 13 September 1808 Location Jutas, Finland Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Georg Carl von Döbeln	Kosatchoffskij
Strength
1,500 2 guns	1,000–1,500 2 guns
Casualties and losses
43 killed or wounded	129 killed, wounded or captured

An illustration of the Battle of Jutas from a book published in the mid-1800s.

The Battle of Jutas was a fight between Swedish and Russian soldiers. It happened on September 13, 1808, near a place called Jutas in Finland. This battle was part of a bigger conflict known as the Finnish War.

At the time, the Swedish army was retreating. They were moving from Vaasa towards Nykarleby. The Russian forces tried to stop their retreat. To prevent this, the Swedes sent a special group of soldiers. This group was led by a brave commander named Georg Carl von Döbeln.

What Was the Battle of Jutas?

The Battle of Jutas was a small but important clash during the Finnish War. This war was fought between Sweden and Russia from 1808 to 1809. The war was mainly about who would control Finland.

The battle took place in a region of Finland called Ostrobothnia. It happened on a Tuesday, September 13, 1808.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

Before the Battle of Jutas, the Swedish army was in a tough spot. They had been fighting all summer and were now pulling back. They needed to retreat safely to regroup their forces.

The main Swedish army was moving from Vaasa to Nykarleby. The Russian army saw a chance to cut off their escape route. They sent a group of soldiers to block the Swedish retreat.

Who Fought in the Battle?

The Swedish forces were led by Georg Carl von Döbeln. He was a well-known Swedish general. His troops were trying to protect the main Swedish army's retreat.

The Russian forces were commanded by Kosatchoffskij. Both sides had a similar number of soldiers. The Swedes had about 1,500 men and two cannons. The Russians had between 1,000 and 1,500 men and two cannons.

How the Battle Unfolded

General von Döbeln's mission was to stop the Russian advance. He had to make sure the main Swedish army could get away safely. His soldiers fought bravely against the Russian troops.

The fighting was intense, but the Swedish soldiers held their ground. They managed to push back the Russian attack. This allowed the rest of the Swedish army to continue their retreat.

What Was the Result?

The Battle of Jutas ended in a victory for the Swedish side. They successfully stopped the Russian attempt to cut off their retreat. The Swedes had fewer casualties, with 43 soldiers killed or wounded. The Russians suffered more losses, with 129 killed, wounded, or captured.

However, this victory was short-lived for the Swedes. The very next day, the main Swedish army faced a much larger battle. This was the Battle of Oravais, where the Swedes were defeated.

Remembering the Battle

The Battle of Jutas became famous in Swedish and Finnish history. It is especially remembered for General von Döbeln's leadership.

The battle is even described in a famous epic poem. This poem is called Döbeln at Jutas. It was written by a well-known poet named Johan Ludvig Runeberg. The poem tells the story of the battle and von Döbeln's actions.