View source for Battle of Chashniki

{{Short description|1812 battle during the French invasion of Russia}}
{{For|the Livonian War battle|Battle of Ula}}
{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=     Battle of Chashniki
|partof=       the [[French invasion of Russia]]
|date=         31 October 1812
|place=        [[Chashniki]] (Czasniki), [[Russian Empire]]
|coordinates=  {{coord|54|45|N|29|15|E}}
|result=       Russian victory
|image=File:Napoleons retreat from moscow.jpg
|caption=Napoleon's withdrawal from Russia, painting by [[Adolph Northen]]
|combatant1=   {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Russian Empire]]
|combatant2=   {{Flagicon|First French Empire}} [[First French Empire|French Empire]]
|commander1=   {{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Peter Wittgenstein]]<br/>{{Flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Lev Mikhailovich Yashvil|Lev Yashvil]]
|commander2=   {{Flagicon|First French Empire}} [[Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno|Claude Victor]]
|strength1=    30,000, of whom '''11,000''' were involved
|strength2=    36,000, of whom '''10,000 to 18,000''' were involved 
|casualties1=  400
|casualties2=  1,200
}}
{{Campaignbox French invasion of Russia}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|54.6|29.5}}
|  zoom = 4
|   float = right
|    nolabels = 1
|     width = 304
|     height = 120
| title = [[French invasion of Russia]]
| caption = {{legend|black|current battle}}{{legend|olive|Prussian corps}}{{legend|maroon|Napoleon}}{{legend|navy|Austrian corps}}

| label16 = Chashniki
| mark-coord16 = {{coord|54.75|29.25}}
| mark-title16 = [[Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno|Claude Victor]] in Chashniki 31 October 1812
| shape16 = diamond
| shape-color16 = black
| label-color16 = black
| label-offset-x16 = -5
| label-offset-y16 = 8

| shapeD=n-circle
| shape-colorD=navy
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| shape-outlineD=white
| label-sizeD = 12
| label-posD = right
| mark-sizeD=12
| label-offset-xD = 0
| label-offset-yD = 0

| label1 = Kowno
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|54.90|23.90}}
| mark-title1 = Kowno 24 June 1812: Napoleon crossed the border
| label-pos1 = left
| label-offset-y1 = 7
| label-offset-x1 = 10
| shape-color1 = dark red
| label-color1 = dark red

| label2 = Vilna
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|54.69|25.28}}
| mark-title2 = Vilnius June 1812: Napoleon<br/> Retreat 5 December 1812: Napoleon
| label-pos2 = top
| label-offset-x2 = 10
| label-offset-y2 = 4
| shape-color2 = dark red
| label-color2 = dark red

| label3 = Vitebsk
| mark-coord3 = {{coord|55.19|30.17}}
| mark-title3 = [[Battle of Vitebsk (1812)|Battle of Vitebsk]] 26 July 1812: Napoleon
| label-pos3 = top
| label-offset-y3 = 3
| shape-color3 = dark red
| label-color3 = dark red

| label4 =
| mark-coord4 = {{coord|54.77|32.034}}
| mark-title4 = [[Battle of Smolensk (1812)|Battle of Smolensk]] 16 August 1812: Napoleon<br/>November 1812: : Napoleon's retreat
| label-offset-x4 = -10
| label-offset-y4 = 10
| shape-color4 = maroon
| label-color4 = maroon

| label5 = Borodino
| mark-coord5 = {{coord|55.52|35.82}}
| mark-title5 = [[Battle of Borodino]] 7 September 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon<br/>October 1812: Napoleon's Retreat
| label-pos5 = top
| label-offset-x5 = -10
| label-offset-y5 = 3
| shape-color5 = maroon
| label-color5 = maroon

| label6 = Moscow
| mark-coord6 = {{coord|55.75|37.63}}
| mark-title6 = [[French occupation of Moscow|Moscow]] 14 September to 19 October 1812: Napoleon
| shape-color6 = maroon
| label-color6 = maroon

| label7 = Maloyaro-
| labela7 = slavets
| mark-coord7 = {{coord|55.02|36.46}}
| mark-title7 = [[Battle of Maloyaroslavets]] 24 October 1812: Kutuzov, Napoleon
| shape-color7 = maroon
| label-color7 = maroon

| label8 = Berezina
| mark-coord8 = {{coord|54.32|28.35}}
| mark-title8 = [[Battle of Berezina]] 26–29 November 1812: Napoleon, Chichagov, Wittgenstein, Kutuzov only pursuit
| label-offset-x8 = -10
| label-offset-y8 = 10
| shape-color8 = maroon
| label-color8 = maroon

| label9 = Warsaw
| mark-coord9 = {{coord|52.24|21.01}}
| mark-title9 = Warsaw December 1812: Napoleon's retreat
| label-pos9 = bottom
| label-offset-y9 = -6
| shape-color9 = maroon
| label-color9 = maroon

| label10 = Tilsit
| label-pos10 = left
| mark-coord10 = {{coord|55.08|21.88}}
| mark-title10 = Tilsit 24 June 1812: Macdonald's Prussians crossed the border
| shape-color10 = olive
| label-color10 = olive
| shape-outline10 = white

| label11 = Riga
| mark-coord11 = {{coord|56.95|24.1}}
| mark-title11 = [[Siege of Riga (1812)|Siege of Riga]] 24 July – 18 December 1812: Macdonald's Prussians
| shape-color11 = olive
| label-color11 = olive
| shape-outline11 = white

| label12 = Tauroggen
| mark-coord12 = {{coord|55.25|22.29}}
| mark-title12 = Tauroggen 30 December 1812: [[Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg|Ludwig Yorck]]'s Prussians signed the [[Convention of Tauroggen]]
| shape-color12 = olive
| label-color12 = olive
| shape-outline12 = white
| label-pos12 = top
| label-offset-y12 = 3

| label13 = Drohiczyn
| mark-coord13 = {{coord|52.40|22.65}}
| mark-title13 = Drohiczyn June 1812: Schwarzenberg's Austrians crossed the border
| shape-color13 = navy
| label-color13 = navy

| label14 = Gorodeczno
| mark-coord14 = {{coord|53.62|25.87}}
| mark-title14 = [[Battle of Gorodechno]] 12 August 1812: Schwarzenberg's Austrians
| shape-color14 = navy
| label-color14 = navy
| label-pos14 = left
| label-offset-x14 = 5
| label-offset-y14 = -2

| label15 = Pultusk
| mark-coord15 = {{coord|52.70|21.08}}
| mark-title15 = Pultusk December 1812: Retreat of Schwarzenberg's Austrians
| shape-color15 = navy
| label-color15 = navy
| label-pos15 = left
| label-offset-x15 = 4
| label-offset-y15 = -2
}}
The '''Battle of Chashniki''' ({{langx|ru|Бой под Чашниками}}; {{langx|be|Бой пад Чашнікамі}}; {{langx|lt|Čašnikų mūšis}}), sometimes also called the '''Battle of Czasniki''' (from the Polish spelling - {{langx|pl| Czaśniki}}), was fought during [[Napoleon's invasion of Russia]], on 31 October 1812, between Russian forces under General [[Peter Wittgenstein|Wittgenstein]], and the [[Grande Armée|French Army]], commanded by Marshal [[Claude Victor-Perrin, Duc de Belluno|Victor]]. This battle was a failed effort by the French to reestablish their northern "Dvina Line", which had crumbled as a result of Wittgenstein's victory at the [[Second battle of Polotsk]] just two weeks earlier.

==Background==

Upon learning of the French defeat at [[Polotsk]], Victor, the commander of the French [[IX Corps (Grande Armée)|IX corps]] which Napoleon had kept in reserve at [[Smolensk]], marched northeast with 22,000 troops to restore the Dwina Line. At [[Chashniki]], on the Ulla River, he united with elements of the [[II Corps (Grande Armée)|II Corps]], which was retreating from Polotsk. The combined II and IX corps put 36,000 troops at Victor's disposal.<ref name="Riehn, page 360">Riehn, page 360</ref>  

Wittgenstein, after leaving 9,000 soldiers to garrison territory captured as a result of his victory at Polotsk, marched south to Chashniki with 30,000 troops to deal with Victor.<ref name="Riehn, page 360"/>

==Action==

The combat at Chashniki was conducted chiefly by Wittgenstein's advance guard, 11,000 troops led by General [[Lev Mikhailovich Yashvil|Yashvil]], and the II Corps on the French side.<ref>Smith (2004), page 175</ref> 

The battle began with the Russians attacking the II Corps, which occupied a position in advance of the rest of Victor's troops. In the ensuing combat the Russians drove the French back toward Victor's rearward line.<ref name="Riehn, page 361">Riehn, page 361</ref> Upon encountering Victor's main position, Wittgenstein ordered Yashvil to halt, and then commenced an artillery bombardment against the French.<ref name="Riehn, page 361"/> Victor, apparently unnerved by Yashvil's successful advance, decided against continuing the battle, and retreated to [[Syanno|Senno]], 25 miles to the east.<ref name="Riehn, page 361"/>  The Russians did not pursue.

French casualties in this battle were 1,200 troops, as opposed to 400 lost by the Russians.<ref>Smith (1998), page 398</ref>

==Consequences==

Although the Russian victory at Chashniki was indecisive, its outcome was highly unfavorable to [[Napoleon]] for several reasons. 

First, Victor's defeat amounted to a failure to reestablish the Dvina Line, which was his overriding objective. Second, Victor's new position at Senno was only 30 miles from Napoleon's intended line of retreat from Moscow, putting the {{lang|fr|[[Grande Armée]]}} within Wittgenstein's attacking range.<ref name="Riehn, page 343">Riehn, page 343</ref>  Further, Wittgenstein's success increased the possibility that he could unite his command with the armies of [[Pavel Chichagov]] and Kutuzov, trapping the {{lang|fr|Grande Armée}} between three separate Russian forces.

Also, as a result of his victories at Polotsk and Chashniki, Wittgenstein dispatched a force under General Harpe to capture the massive French supply depot at [[Vitebsk]]. On 7 November, after a short combat, the French garrison at Vitebsk surrendered to Harpe, and huge caches of foodstuffs and war material fell into Russian hands.<ref>Smith (1998), page 200</ref> 

The fall of Vitebsk was a severe blow to Napoleon because he had planned to quarter his battered {{lang|fr|Grande Armée}} there for the winter. Napoleon's plan to combine his main army with Victor's force at Vitebsk, where they would reequip themselves before beginning the campaign anew the following spring, was now broken.<ref>Cate, page 355</ref> 

Upon learning of the Russian victory at Chashniki, Napoleon ordered Victor to immediately attack Wittgenstein again and recapture Polotsk.<ref name="Riehn, page 343"/>  This led to yet another French defeat, the [[Battle of Smoliani]], on 14 November 1812.

==See also==
*[[List of battles of the French invasion of Russia]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*''The War of the Two Emperors'', Curtis Cate, Random House, New York, {{ISBN|0-394-53670-3}}
*''The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Source'', 1998, Digby Smith, Greenhill Books, {{ISBN|1-85367-276-9}}
*''1812 Napoleon's Russian Campaign'', Richard K. Riehn, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., {{ISBN|0-471-54302-0}}
*Smith, Digby. ''"Napoleon Against Russia: A Concise History of 1812", Pen & Sword Military, 2004''. {{ISBN|1-84415-089-5}}

==External links==
* {{commons-inline}}

{{Sequence
| prev = [[Battle of Maloyaroslavets]]
| list = Napoleonic Wars
| curr = Battle of Chashniki
| next = [[Battle of Vyazma]]
}}
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{{Napoleonic Wars}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chashniki}}
[[Category:Battles of the French invasion of Russia]]
[[Category:Battles involving France]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1812]]
[[Category:1812 in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:1812 in Belarus]]
[[Category:October 1812]]
[[Category:Vitebsk region]]
[[Category:Military history of Belarus]]