Ostroleka 16 lutego 1807

Ostrołęka 16 lutego 1807 covers the battle of Ostrołęka, fought on Feb. 16, 1807 between the French 5th Corps commanded by Gen. Jean-Anne-Marie Savary and the Russian Corps commanded by Gen. Ivan N. Essen. The main goal of the French Corps was to secure the supply line of Napoleon’s main army fighting with Gen. Bennigsen. Just after the bloody battle of Preussisch Eylau (Feb. 7-8, 1807) both sides started to look for possibilities of taking advantage over the enemy and draw away some opposite forces from the main theater before the next expected battle. After set of back and forth operations in the north Mazovia, Russians decided to launch an offensive against units of the Frech 5th Corps situated near Ostrołęka. Russian commander, Gen. Essen, strengthened by the 6th Division of Gen. Sedmioradski, prepared a plan of attack. He decided to divide his forces into two wings. One of them (6th Division and a part of 9th Division), commanded by Gen. Wolkonski, had to attack the town Ostrołęka from the north, approaching along the west bank of Narew river. The other wing (10th Division and a part of 9th Division), commanded by Gen. Essen, approaching along the east bank of Narew river, had to attack the town Ostrołęka from the east. Russians had significant numerical advantage but their problem was that both operational groups were completely separated by the impassable river with marshy banks and in effect could not suport each other.

Before the battle started, Russians had made feign attacks near Myszyniec along the line of communication of the main French army, north-west of Ostrołęka, fooling the French command. Gen. Savary decided to send there whole 1st Infantry Division of Gen. Suchet. Before the battle started, two events had taken place that had great impact on the course of it. The first one caused that Russians completely lost surprise effect. French caught the Russian messanger with letter from Essen to Bennigsen, from which they got to know the plan of the offensive. However we do not know how many details of it. The second event was also disadvantageous for the Russian Corps command. Gen. Bennigsen, who was the commander-in-chief of all Russian forces operating against Napoleon, recalled 6th Division of Gen. Sedmioradski to the main Russian army, to the north. Gen. Wolkonski, supported by Gen. Essen, tried to convince Gen. Sedmioradski to postpone execution of this order and take part in the planned ofensive against French 5th Corps, but Sedmioradski decided to obey strictly order from the upper commander and had marched to the north just befeore the offensive started. The effect was that Wolkonski’s group which had to advance along the west bank of Narew river was reduced to 1/3 of its units.