Battle of Nowo Schwerschen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Nowo Schwerschen
Part of the French invasion of Russia
Count Charles-Marie de Lambert
Date 13 November 1812 Location Nowo Schwerschen, Russian Empire (now Belarus) Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Lithuania Duchy of Warsaw
Strength
4,500	3,500
Casualties and losses
50	1,300

The Battle of Nowo Schwerschen took place on Friday, November 13, 1812. It happened near a town called Nowo Schwerschen, which was part of the Russian Empire at that time. Today, this area is in Belarus. In this battle, a group of less experienced Lithuanian soldiers, led by General Franciszek Ksawery Kossecki, fought against strong Russian forces. The Russian troops were led by Count Lambert, who was part of Admiral Chichagov's army.

General Kossecki's soldiers had an important job. They needed to protect the city of Minsk from attacks coming from the southeast. They also had to make sure Napoleon's Grande Armée (his big army) had a safe way to retreat. The battle ended with a clear victory for the Russian forces.

Why the Battle Happened

This battle was part of a much larger conflict: the French invasion of Russia. Napoleon's huge army had invaded Russia, and now they were trying to retreat. Protecting key locations and escape routes became very important.

Protecting the Niemen Crossing

A French official named Hugues-Bernard Maret sent General Kossecki to Nowo Schwerschen. Kossecki had about 3,000 foot soldiers (infantry) and 500 cavalry (soldiers on horseback). Their main goal was to protect a crossing point over the Niemen River. This crossing was vital for the retreating French and allied forces.

Who Fought in the Battle

General Kossecki's group was made up of several Lithuanian regiments. These included:

• The 18th Lithuanian Infantry Regiment
• The 19th Lithuanian Infantry Regiment
• The 20th Lithuanian Infantry Regiment
• The 21st Lithuanian Infantry Regiment
• A combined Cavalry regiment

On the other side, Count Lambert's Russian forces included experienced units. These were the 10th Jaeger Regiment and the 14th Jaeger Regiment. Jaegers were a type of light infantry, known for their skill in skirmishes.

The Battle Itself

On November 13, Count Lambert and his advanced Russian troops arrived at Nowo Schwerschen. General Kossecki's Lithuanian soldiers were new to fighting. They were not as experienced as the Russian forces.

The Russian cavalry quickly attacked the Lithuanian recruits. Because the Lithuanian soldiers were not prepared for such a strong attack, they were pushed back. They suffered many losses during this fight. The battle was short and decisive, with the Russian cavalry proving too strong for the less experienced Lithuanian troops.

What Happened Next

After their defeat at Nowo Schwerschen, the remaining Lithuanian soldiers faced another attack. This happened in the battle of Kaidanowo. The defeat at Nowo Schwerschen made it harder for Napoleon's army to retreat safely.

See also

• List of battles of the French invasion of Russia