Battle of Kaidanowo

Overview

The Battle of Kaidanowo (Koydanovo) was fought on Sunday, 15 November 1812, near the village of Kaidanowo or Koydanovo, part of the Russian Empire at the time (now Dzyarzhynsk in Belarus). A Polish-Lithuanian, Württembergian, and French force under Polish General Franciszek Ksawery Kossecki of 1,300-2,000 was defeated by seasoned Russian forces led by General Charles de Lambert of about 3,800-4,000.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Kaidanowo on 15 November 1812 was fought near the village of Kaidanowo, in what is now Dzyarzhynsk, Belarus. A combined Polish-Lithuanian, Württembergian, and French force under Polish General Franciszek Ksawery Kossecki, numbering between 1,300 and 2,000 troops, was defeated by Russian forces under General Charles de Lambert, who commanded roughly 3,800 to 4,000 seasoned soldiers. French Empire casualties ranged from 1,000 to 2,000, representing a substantial portion — potentially the entirety — of Kossecki's engaged strength. The engagement occurred during the broader French withdrawal from Moscow, a phase of the 1812 campaign in which Napoleon's forces were under sustained pressure across multiple axes. The defeat at Kaidanowo removed or severely degraded a combined allied contingent that could not readily be replaced, adding further attrition to a Grande Armée already in retreat.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)