From the Diary...
"On the 11th the Enemy was found in a position that was secured by terrain features between Pobodna and Gorodeczna. On the other side of the town Gorodeczna the road formed a significant defile over a broad morass, enclosed on both sides with High Ground passing by the town in southwest direction. On this bejond the morass lying Heights the Russian Army of Tormassov awaited the Saxon-Austrian Korps in an almost unvulnerable position. The only secure passages through the Morass at Gorodeczna and Pobodna (a town on the road to Brzest) the Russians has covered with Artillery - the first with 12 guns and the second with 6 guns. Inexplicably was the woods, which was the anchor of the Russian left flank, in close proximity of a further passage over the forementioned morass completely ignored and unoccupied. By good fortune this passage was occupied by a unit of General Lecoq's Light Infantry on the evening of the 11th. General Reynier was able to tell that the left flank of the russian was their weakest spot and therefore agreed with Schwarzenberg that he, Reynier, would attack this point under cover of the pre-occupied woods by flanking the russian frontline. In the meantime Schwarzenberg should put pressure on the passages of Gorodeczna and Pobodna. Schwarzenberg detached the Horse Brigade Zechmeister and later the Austrian Division Bianchi to the Saxons."
The Battle of Pobodna, August 12th, 1812.
- Gorodetschna 1812.jpg (47.68 KiB) Viewed 8181 times
"At 9 O'Clock in the morning all Saxon Troops stood at Ready. General Reynier lead his troops to the Right, passing Pobodna, through the pre mentioned Wood arround the Russian Left Flank. This Movement surprised the Russian so they had to change considerably their position. The Saxons deployed their troops on a slight Rising in the rear of the Russian Position.
The Battle Order of the Saxons were as follow:
On the extreme right were the Austrian Cavalry Brigade Zechmeister, Regiment O'Reilly and Hohenzollern with it's Battery; followed to the left by the Saxon Cavalry Brigade, the Saxon Horse Battery and the Foot Battery v. Brause. The Center was formed by the first Saxon Infantry Division in one Line, to their left was part of the Austrian Division Bianchi formed in two Lines. The Left Wing was the Brigade v. Sahr with the 1. Light Infantry Regiment Lecoq.
To make the Enemy think about their Line of Retreat and force him to an early backward movement General Reynier intended to extend fast to the right to the road Pruczany-Kobryn but weakened his left wing so which was exposed to ongoing attacks by the Russians. The Brigade v. Sahr was under this circumstances hard pressed but managed to hold its ground together with the Regiment Lecoq and to repulse all attacks of the Enemy.
The Grenadier Battalions Anger and v.Spiegel formed Squares as strongpoints for those in open Order fighting Light Infantry men. The uneven battle on our left flank lasted until 7 O'Clock in the Evening at which time the Austrian Infantry Regiment Colloredo supported by Artillery had found a relative dry passage through the Morass and won with luck an attack against the defile at Pobodna. This attack led to the withdrawl of the enemy and ended with the growing darkness the fighting."
To be continued...
Günter
