Napoleon Marshals his Army for the Invasion and Subjugation of Russia

Napoleon’s invasion of Russia was the turning point in the Napoleonic wars.  In 1811, Tsar Alexander I, nominally allied with Napoleon, refused to be part of the continental blockade of British goods, as it was ruining the Russian economy.   On June 24, 1812, ignoring the advice of many advisors, Napoleon invaded Russia, de facto ending the Treaty of Vilsit, which had pitted Russia with France against England. He took with him as large an army as had yet been assembled – French, Italians, Poles, Germans – between 400,000-600,000 men from every corner of his empire. Napoleon prophesied the war would be over in twenty days.  “I know Alexander,” Napoleon reportedly said. “I once had influence over him; it will come back. If not, let destiny be accomplished and let Russia be crushed under my hatred of England.”

Slowly, Napoleon’s massive army headed east across Poland and through the vast Russian plains, aiming for Moscow. The Russian army, rather than engage him directly, retreated slowly, keeping the French forces at a safe distance.  On June 28, Napoleon took Vilna, and July 8 Minsk. The rough terrain and Russian opposition were beginning to inflict casualties on Napoleon (who lost nearly 10,000 horses in a little over a month), but he was determined to push forward nonetheless.  He paused at Minsk before proceeding to Vitebsk, where he arrived on July 29. Here he again paused, this time to seek reinforcements and more supplies, as well as plan for his push farther east. At this point, Napoleon was optimistic.  He had suffered no great defeat and the Russian army was under-equipped, disorganized and retreating. His plan was not just the subjugation of Moscow but all of Russia.  The first campaign would topple Moscow and the next, he confided to an aide, would target St. Petersburg. 

On July 29, the very day Napoleon entered Vitebsk, a town in what is today Belarus, he indicated that he was not merely planning for the defeat of the Russian army, but was already focusing on the occupation of the Russian capital of St. Petersburg, and with it the full destruction of the Russian government. After taking Moscow, his troops would converge again at Vitebsk and fight north to the Russian port city.

Letter Signed, Vitebsk, July 29, 1812, to the Duc de Feltre, his Secretary of War, instructing him to ready reinforcements that would join the army once in Russia. Mayence, today Mainz, is a town in Western Germany that was the jumping off point for Napoleon’s troops heading east. “There are in the depots of the interior many men who are available for battle.  It is important to unite them, and to form of them foot battalions and direct them to Mayence, for those men in departments on this side of the Alps, excepting those you deem deserters.  This move is necessary, since these battalions, in leaving at the end of the August, will arrive here only for the next campaign….”

Napoleon would defeat the Russians the next month at Smolensk with little loss to either army. His hope of a quick victory did not materialize and on September 7 he fought the Battle of Borodino, the bloodiest day of the entire conflict, with around 70,000 casualties.  The French technically won the battle but it was a phyrric victory, as they lost nearly 30,000 men, many general officers, and much of their momentum.  On arriving at Moscow, the French found the city empty and evacuated. Nonetheless, though he lacked the complete success he had envisioned, Napoleon optimistically considered the capture a victory.  He continued to receive reinforcements in Russia all through the fall to assist in his campaigns, and the troops requested here were likely among those reinforcements.  His plan to attack St. Petersburg never materialized. Of the vast army he left with, the brutal Russian winter and dogged Russian opposition ultimately caused the loss of more than 90 percent.