CASUALTY RECORD // November 3, 1812
Battle of Vyazma
Estimated casualties — killed, wounded, captured, and missing — by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Casualties by side
2 sides catalogued · combined 5,800–6,500 estimated
Russian Empire
1,800–2,500
Medium-confidence figure
French Empire
4,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Vyazma was fought at an early stage of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, as the Grande Armée moved back along a road already stripped of supplies following the Battle of Maloyaroslavets. Miloradovich's force pressed the French rear guard hard, inflicting around 4,000 casualties against roughly 1,800–2,500 Russian losses, and capturing the town of Vyazma itself in heavy fighting. Although the Russian objective of encircling and destroying Davout's corps was thwarted, the engagement drove the French out of all their defensive positions and left the rear guard — comprising the corps of Davout, Eugène, Ney, and Poniatowski — withdrawing in partial disorder. The battle's primary significance lay in its cumulative effect on French cohesion: from Vyazma onward, the rearguard retreated in disarray, a condition that would compound the army's mounting logistical and morale crisis as the retreat continued westward.
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