Battle of Loschniza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Loschniza
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Crossing of the Berezina by Felician Myrbach
Date 23 November 1812 Location Loschniza near Borisov, Russian Empire 54°13′40″N 28°30′17″E / 54.22778°N 28.50472°E / 54.22778; 28.50472 Result French victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Nicolas Oudinot	Pavel Chichagov
Strength
3,600	2,800
Casualties and losses
unknown	2,000

The Battle of Loschniza was a small but important fight that happened on November 23, 1812. It was part of Napoleon's big invasion of Russia. In this battle, a part of the French army, led by General Oudinot, fought against some Russian soldiers led by Admiral Chichagov. The French army won this battle.

Why This Battle Happened

This battle took place during a very difficult time for Napoleon's army. They were trying to retreat from Russia after a long and harsh winter campaign.

Napoleon's Army in Trouble

Just a week before Loschniza, the French army had lost a battle at Krasnoi. Napoleon's main army had shrunk to only about 20,000 soldiers. However, other French forces, led by generals like Victor, Oudinot, and Dombrowski, joined them. This brought their total strength to about 49,000 fighting soldiers. There were also about 40,000 other people, like injured soldiers or camp followers.

Russian Forces Block the Way

Meanwhile, a Russian army led by Admiral Chichagov had captured the city of Minsk on November 16, 1812. This meant they were blocking Napoleon's path to safety. Chichagov's army had about 31,500 soldiers.

On November 21, Russian troops under General Lambert took control of Borisov. This happened before General Oudinot's French forces could arrive. The Russian soldiers surprised the French guards. General Dombrowski's French troops had only about 2,000 men left. The Russians lost about 2,000 soldiers in this fight, and General Lambert was badly wounded.

The next day, November 22, General Oudinot reached Loschniza. Here, his troops joined up with another French group. But the Russians had already destroyed the main bridge in Borisov. They also held the other side of the river, making it hard for the French to cross.

The Battle of Loschniza

On November 23, Admiral Chichagov moved most of his army across the Berezina River at Borisov. His leading group of soldiers then reached Loschniza.

French Victory

This Russian advance guard attacked General Oudinot's French forces. They attacked without waiting for more of their own soldiers to arrive. The French, under Oudinot, fought back strongly and defeated the Russian advance guard. After this victory, Oudinot's troops marched to Borisov and pushed the remaining Russian soldiers out of the city.

What Happened Next

The Battle of Loschniza was important because it helped the French secure Borisov for a short time. However, the destroyed bridge at Borisov was still a huge problem.

A Dangerous Situation

Napoleon's remaining army was in great danger. They were surrounded by three different Russian armies. They were not strong enough to simply fight their way through. They desperately needed to build a new bridge quickly.

General Oudinot had already found a place to cross the Berezina River at a spot called Studienka on November 22. This crossing point would become the site of the much larger and more famous Battle of Berezina, which happened a few days later.

More to Explore

• List of battles of the French invasion of Russia