During the French invasion of Russia he was recalled to active duty. Initially a staff officer of General Peter Wittgenstein, on 4 June 1812 he managed to take French General Antoine-Louis Decrest de Saint-Germain captive, for which he was promoted to the rank of Colonel soon afterwards. He fought in the Battle of Klyastitsy and, as one of the commanding officers of Russian Front Guard, in the First and Second Battle of Polotsk. For his role in the early battles of the war he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, Order of St. Anna (2nd Class) and the Order of St. George (3rd Class).