Battle of Smoliani At the Battle of Smoliani ( November 13 - November 14 , 1812 ) , the Russians under General Peter Wittgenstein defeated the French forces of Marshal Claude Victor and Marshal Nicholas Oudinot . This battle was the last effort of the French to reestablish their northern flank in Russia , known as the " Dwina Line " . Previously , the French had been defeated in this sector at the Second battle of Polotsk ( Oct . 18 - 20 , 1812 ) and at the Battle of Czasniki ( Oct . 31 , 1812 ) Background . Upon learning of Victor ' s defeat at the Battle of Czasniki , Napoleon – who was already distressed about the situation in the north due to the earlier French defeat at Polotsk – ordered Victor to assume the offensive at once and drive Wittgenstein back . At the time of the Smoliani encounter , Napoleon was planning on leading his rapidly disintegrating Grande Armée to a safehaven in the west such as Minsk . In order to execute this plan , the Grande Armée ' s planned route of retreat had to be secured . Wittgenstein ' s position at Czasniki was just 40 miles north of Bobruisk , a town Napoleon needed to be secure in order for the main French army to reach Minsk . Victor , per Napoleon ' s orders , was to coordinate the actions of his IX corps with the VI corps and the II corps commanded by Marshal Oudinot . The initial French plan – ordered by Napoleon and endorsed by Victor , was not to attack Wittgenstein frontally , but for one corps to attack the Russians in the flank while the other conducted a frontal assault . This plan however was scuttled per the insistence of Oudinot , who thought it more advantageous to attack Wittgenstein head on . The Contrasting Moods In Russian and French Headquarters . Going into the action at Smoliani , the French commanders exhibited the hallmarks of leaders setting themselves up for failure : bad planning , indecision , and pessimism due to earlier reversals . Historians have criticized Oudinot and Victor for not attempting a flanking maneuver against Wittgenstein . Victor especially has been criticized for indecision in his planning and execution of the Smoliani attack . Previously , at Czasniki , Victor had proven himself over - inclined to retreat in the face of just minor reversals . The mood among the Russian leaders on the eve of the battle stood in stark contrast to that of the French . In Wittgenstein ' s headquarters at this time , there existed a " sense of self - confidence and proud accomplishment " , which had coalesced as a result of their repeated victories over the French in earlier battles . One notable work on 1812 describes the aura among Wittgenstein and his staff at this juncture as a sense of being " morally equal and often superior to the enemy . " It is no wonder , perhaps , that Victor was hesitant in executing the task assigned to him by Napoleon . Severe Attrition Among French Forces . The French cause at Smoliani was also undermined by mounting attrition within their ranks . In the two weeks following the action at Czasniki , Victor ' s force had suffered greatly from exposure to frost and disease . By November 10 , only 25 , 000 troops remained until Victor ' s command , a development that increased Wittgenstein ' s margin of superiority over the French in this sector . As a result of being better supplied , better quartered and more intelligently protected from the elements than their French foes , Wittgenstein ' s troops suffered less attrition from privation and the weather . The battle . The Battle of Smoliani commenced on November 13 , at the nearby village of Axenzi , and initially the French were successful . Here the 6 , 000 troops of General Partenoux attacked Wittgenstein ' s advance guard , 6 , 000 strong , led by General Alexiev . Each side lost roughly 500 troops in this encounter , and despite being reinforced , the Russians were forced to retreat to Smoliani . The next day , November 14 , the combat intensified as 5000 of Victor ' s troops attacked and captured Smoliani . After this however the French attacking force suffered a reversal , being repulsed on the Russian right wing and then losing Smoliani to Wittgenstein ' s counterattack . While this action was taking place , a small Russian detachment kept Oudinot ' s superior force in check at the village of Poczavizi , thereby preventing these troops from assisting Victor . Although the action died down with each side in their original position , and the losses suffered by both were equal – 3000 killed , wounded and taken prisoner – it was the French who very much had the worst of the scrap . The next day , November 15 , Victor retreated 20 miles south to Chereja . Consequences . Although Wittgenstein did not immediately pursue his defeated enemy , by winning this battle he retained the potential to attack the Grande Armée when it passed through Bobr , just 40 miles south of his position near Czasniki . That Victor and Oudinot retreated in the face of this big threat to the Grande Armée was another heavy blow to Napoleon . The Battle of Smoliani also ended , permanently , any hope the French had of reestablishing their northern " Dwina Line . "