First Battle of Krasnoi
battle between France & Russia
The First Battle of Krasnoi was fought on 14 August [O.S. 2 August] 1812 at Krasny between Ney and Murat's French troops and Neverovsky's Russian division, which consisted largely of fresh conscript soldiers. It was part of the French invasion of Russia.
It ended with a victory for the French, but the Russians retreated in good order to Smolensk, having managed to close the city gates before the upcoming battle, when reinforcements would arrive for Neverovsky and a decisive French success would be prevented.
Prelude
Bagration had reinforced Neverovsky's division with some cavalry and left it at an advance position around Krasnoi (Krasny) to cover westwards in the direction of Orsha.
Battle
Ney's infantry in cooperation with Murat's cavalry drove him out of Krasnoi and captured part of his artillery, the first trophies of the entire campaign. Neverovsky assembled his 5,500 to 6,000 infantrymen into a huge square Murat's cavalry could not break. The square moved across the field over a palisade fence and Murat's cavalry could not follow. Neverovsky's troops were able to get away in good order but left 1,500 men behind.
Aftermath
Neverovsky returned to Smolensk and reported. The battle of Smolensk started only two days later.
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