22. Partisan Movement In The Campaign Of 1812. September,14 (September,2), 1812 (From P.A.Zhilin "The Patriotic War Of 1812", Moscow,1988; Beskrovny L.G. "Russian Military Art Of XIX Century", Moscow,1974)

Denis Davidov The portrait by Dow. The Partisan movement began with small separate peasant detachments and gradually grew to cover whole regions of Russia. Large detachments were formed, and there were thousands of people's heroes, and many talented commanders of the common people distinguished themselves in the war. The partisans were already under the control of the Russian army command and became most active during the period that the army stayed in Tarutino. They were in a wide fighting front in Smolensk, Moscow, Ryazan and Kaluga gubernias (provinces). Partisans made raids almost every day against moving French food transports, defeating the foraging troops. and they and made surprise attacks against the French soldiers and officers just as they were settling into villages. The first partisan detachment attached to a regular army unit was formed at the end of August before the Borodino battle. Lieutenant Porutchik M.Orlov was sent to Smolensk to determine the fate of captured General P.A.Tuchkov. On his return he reported a lot of disorder and carelessness in the French army. He said a hundred Cossacks would be enough to do serious damage to the French. Commander of the Akhtirsky Hussar regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Denis Davidov, liked this idea. He made a request to General Bagration to permit him to form a partisan detachment for actions against the enemy rear. Finally Kutuzov allowed him to take "On trial" 50 hussars and 80 cossacks and proceed to Medin and Yukhnovo villages. Where Davidov's partisans acted, many other peasant detachments were quickly formed by themselves. Many peasant partisan detachments formed around the army partisan troops of Denis Davidov, A.Seslavin, A.Figner and N.Kudashev - all acted in the enemy rear. The army partisan detachment commanders provided peasant-partisans with arms taken from the French, and taught them methods of partisan warfare. It was not long before these detachments were able to fight serious actions against large enemy forces. On September 20th. Cossacks and Hussars of Lambert defeated 13 squadrons of French cavalry at Nesvizh; On September 22nd, the partisan detachment of Colonel Efremov defeated a French column near the village of Vishnyakovka, capturing more than 500 men; On September 24th. partisans of Denis Davidov crushed a large French detachment at the town of Vyazma. On October 9th. the partisan detachment of Colonel Kudashov ascertained there were about 2500 French soldiers and officers in the village Nickolaevka and suddenly attacked them, killing more than 100 men and capturing about 200. (1) One of the first partisan military operations took place on October 10th. They assaulted and liberated the town of Verea. This demonstrated the increasing power of the partisan movement. The French had a strong garrison in this town, perhaps to protect their communications. Kutuzov ordered General Dorokhov to go to Verea and destroy the fortifications and defeat the French garrison. Partisans lieing in wait (the picture by Vereschagin) The troops of Dorokhov had already crossed the river Protva before daybreak and approached Verea noiselessly. The town was located on a hill and was surrounded by a stockade and ramparts. The Russian detachment attacked suddenly, without any shooting, and burst into the town. The Westfalian battalion was taken totally by surprise and their opening fire was disorderly. In a short time, seeing the uselessness of resistance, they laid down their arms. The combat had lasted no more than a hour. More than 300 French were killed, and 15 officers and 377 soldiers captured. (2) A short time later three French battalions and four cavalry squadrons came to Verea from Mozhaisk. Dorokhov's detachment met them with heavy fire. The French quickly understood the Verea garrison had been defeated and hurriedly retreated - chased by the Russian cavalry. The peasant partisan detachment (about a thousand men) under the command of local priest, Ivan Skobeev, distinguished itself in this battle. The four local inhabitants who risked their lives leading the Russian columns into the town and were the first men who rushed the ramparts, were rewarded by Kutuzov with decorations of War Orders. Dorokhov gave 500 rifles to the peasants and all the food that was in the town. He then moved his detachment to the village Kamenskoe. M.I.Kutuzov, Volume 4, Part 1, page 401 The Leaflets Of The Patriotic War Of 1812., p.53