"Groß-Eckau" Topic

For Oliver & HKW ….

From Napoleon-Series.org link

The number of Russian battalions present at Groß-Eckau for the battle on 7/19 July has been variously reported between 5 and 11. Buturlin is likely close when he says 8 battalions, and this would agree with the number for which I have found specific mention of actions or casualties. However many battalions were present, they were from the following list :

almost surely at Groß-Eckau:
– 2-й запасной батальон Ревельского пехотного полка : майор Скоробогатов Моисей Данилович
– 2-й запасной батальон Копорского пехотного полка : майор Кузнецов 1-й Никита Никифорович (ранен), капитан Толбузин (9/453)
- 2-й запасной батальон Минского пехотного полка : майор Лугвенев (12/545)
– 2-й запасной батальон Тобольского пехотного полка : майор Эмме 1-й Алексей Фёдорович (7/404)
– 2-й запасной батальон 4-го eгерского полка : майор Лаппа 1-й Пётр Павлович
– 2-й запасной батальон 20-го eгерского полка : майор Феонас Иван Димитриевич
– 2-й запасной батальон 21-го eгерского полка : майор Елистратов Василий Васильевич
– 2-й запасной батальон 34-го eгерского полка : майор Жиркевич Лев Тимофеевич

possibly at/near Groß-Eckau:
– 2-й запасной батальон Волынского пехотного полка : майор Гринкевич Марко Михайлович (7/391)
– 2-й запасной батальон Белозёрского пехотного полка : майор Любецкий Дмитрий Андреевич
– 2-й запасной батальон 30-го eгерского полка : майор Авенариус Александр Андреевич (~10/~400) **

** landed in the amphibious raid on Danzig on 9/21 August

These were all 2nd replacement battalions – depot battalions of 3 companies, lacking their grenadier companies. A side-note, the 2nd replacement battalion of the Revel'skiy infantry lost a flag at Groß-Eckau, the only flag lost by the Russians to the French in 1812.
Overall, the Russian jäger performed rather well on a day which showed the Prussians to far greater advantage. All four of the Russian jäger battalions listed as present at Groß-Eckau were mentioned for distinction by the commander on the field, general-lieutenant Levis, and/or by the overall commander at Riga, general-lieutenant Essen-1.

However, some errant shooting, as reported by Lieutenant v. Hartwich, might be expected from a handful of out-flanked depot battalions. It was overall a very fine action for the Prussians!

See
link
link
Морозов Олег Васильевич. Военные действия под Ригой в июле-августе 1812 года. – журнал «Baltfort» № 2 [19] июнь 2012 г.

Seconde-Lieutenant Julius v. Hartwich (1791-1856) was, I believe, in the "blue" battalion marked "II/4", just southwest of Eckau on the following map. More maps of the area are at link

The commander of the depot battalion of Revel'skiy infantry which lost their flag was not treated harshly:

Скоробогатов Моисей Данилович / Moisey Danilovich Skorobogatov
-- 1806 captain Revel'skiy musketeers
-- 29.V.1809 major Tenginskiy musketeers
-- 6.VI.1809 major Revel'skiy musketeers (infantry)
-- 22.V.1813 retired with pension in the rank of lieutenant-colonel
-- 10.XI.1816 awarded St.-Vladimir 4th class, with brilliants

The flag itself was exchanged in 1834 for a Prussian flag captured in the Seven Years' War!

Many thanks, good info, and great map !

Hartwich was in the Füsilier battalion of the Leib-Infanterie-Regiment (named Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 4 form the 1812 campaign).

His battalion did not take part in the combat at Eckau on 19 July, neither in the one of 15 or 16 August. His reports about the bad shooting of four Russian battalions at Eckau in August (10 Pussians dead and 10 wounded, 200 Russian dead) are from hearsay, however from officer comrades of his regiment who had been present.

The Russian flag of the Revel'skiy regiment was conquered by dragoon Beutner of the 1st squadron of the Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 2 (originally 1st squadron of the 1. Westpreußisches Dragoner-Regiment).

I couldn't find any more details.

Aigoo! as they say in Korea.
12. Komp. = fusiliers !!
I thought the numbers were starting with the fusiliers, and hence he would be in the second musketeer battalion. I wasn't sure, hence the "I believe" in my prior post. I should have checked more carefully!

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The Revel'skiy battalion is said to be surrounded/overrun by Prussian cavalry. Nearby, covering the Russian artillery, is the battalion of 34th Jägers. The jäger rush in to try to clear off the dragoons, but not before the Revel'skiy lose a flag.

Casualties for this battalion are not so bad (20 men killed and 5 missing in the whole action). The Koporskiy battalion had 5 times as many losses, the 4th Jäger twice as many. I could not find a quote for losses in the 34th Jäger.

Capture of the Russian flag is attributed to Wachtmeister Riboniczu and Gefreiter Beuthner.
Also worthy of note was Fähnrich (?) v. Oesfeld, the standrard bearer of the Prussian dragoons who, though unhorsed and heavily wounded by a musket ball, managed to wrap his flag around himself and crawl out of the melée, assisted by Dragoner Prasse, thus saving their flag.

The Russians seem to be quoting ….
Günther Voigt
Deutschlands Heere bis 1918. Unsprung und Entwicklung der einzelnen Formationen. Bd. 6. Kavallerie.
Biblio Verlag. Osnabrück, 1986. S. 190

Hartwich's denomination for his company seems to be anachronistic. According to Jany, vol. 4, p. 18, a Royal order of 9 January 1810 decided that the fusilier companies should be numbered for themselves (1st to 4th fusileer company), and they received the numbers 9 to 12 as late as 1815 (no exact date given).

Unfortunately, it seems there is not a single copy held in any German library of the only regimental history of the 1. Westpreußisches Dragoner-Regiment (later 4. Kürassier-Regiment):

v. Oesfeld, v. Jeetze. Historisches Tagebuch des Königlich Preussischen 4. Kürassier-Regiments. Verfaßt nach dem vom Jahre 1811 bis 1847 selbstgeführten Tagebuch und versehen mit einer aus historischen bis zum Errichtungsjahr reichenden zusammengestellten Einleitung von Oberst-Lieutenant v. Oesfeld. Fortgesetzt durch v. Jeetze von 1848-1853.

There is also a 1901 booklet on the regiment by Praschke, but it has only 47 pages.

"the one of 15 or 16 August" near Groß-Eckau, I am not sure I can identfy.

3/15 August – found nothing

4/16 August – the Russians record very little, but Levis' detachment was in action near Санкт-Олай (St. Olai, modern Olaine) and major Feonas of 20th Jäger, 2nd replacement battalion commander, was killed there. But this is +/- 25 km northeast of Eckau, about halfway along the Riga-Mitau road.

15/27 August – a patrol of the replacement squadron of the Yamburgskiy dragoons under praporshckik Martynov-1 meets a similar force near Groß-Eckau and has a brief skirmish.

16/28 August – found nothing

link

You are right, Hartwich writes in his diary about Eckau on 16th August (28th August Russian style), this mislead me to think he was talking about a recent combat.

On 15th August (Napoleon's birthday) there was a huge ball in Mitau, there he may have met fellow officers to talk about the combat.

I can't even find the "Historisches Tagebuch …." in WorldCat.

Was it published at all? Or perhaps it was a manuscript document kept first by v. Oesfeld (the standard-bearer from 1812 ?) and then by v. Jeetze?

"Erst am 18. August 1919 konnte das Regiment nach Münster zurückkehren. Es waren mehr als fünf Jahre seit dem umjubelten Ausmarsch vergangen. Das Regiment wurde noch im selben Jahr, mit 202 Jahren Geschichte voller Ruhmestaten, aufgelöst. Seine Tradition wurde von der 6. Eskadron des Reiterregiments 15 in der alten Kürassierkaserne zu Münster fortgesetzt."

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The Kürassierkaserne zu Münster is now an art school.

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It's a shame I am banned on napoleon-series.org and Steven H. "Sensei" Smith is banned on TMP. But I suppose our sins are great enough to merit our punishments.

Banning is silly ;-)

By the way, the army lists give for the 1. Westpreußisches Dragoner-Regiment:

October 1810: nil
December 1812: Porte-Epée-Fähnrich Oelsfeld (sic, and it is a facsimile of the handwritten manuscript)
1 January 1813: Porte-Epée-Fähnrich Oesfeld
11 September 1813: Porte-Epée-Fähnrich Oesfeld
14 June 1815: Seconde-Lieutenant Oesfeld (Iron Cross 2nd class)
1817: Seconde-Lieutenant v. Oesfeld (Iron Cross 2nd class)
1829: Premier-Lieutenant v. Oesfeld (Iron Cross 2nd class, Militair-Ehrenzeichen 2nd class)

So it is beyond doubt that he is the author of the lost regimental history.

Up to 1829, there were only two Oesfeld's in the Prussian army, the other one held the rank of a major in the general staff in 1829 (captain in 1813), but had no particular relation to the 1st West Prussian (1816: Westphalian) dragoons, later 4th cuirassiers.

The order list of 1817 gives:

Militair-Ehrenzeichen jetziger Art, 2. Klasse 1301. v. Oesfeld, [in 1817:] Sec. Lt., 2. Drag. Reg. (Westph.), [award for:] Riga.
Eisernes Kreuz, 2. Klasse: 5167. v. Oesfeldt [sic], Sec. Lt., 2. Drag. Reg. (Westph.), Laon & Paris

The Dragoner Beutner seems to have not been awarded any decoration for Eckau, but a "Gefreiter Friedrich Beuthner" of the West Prussian dragoons received the Iron Cross 2nd Class for Bautzen (Nr. 874). He may be the same person, or not.

Wachtmeister Friedrich Ribonitz also got no decoration for Eckau, but the Iron Cross 2nd Class for Bautzen (Nr. 872).

Very cool info!
Thank you !
:-)

According to Lehmann, Trophäen, p. 14, the Russian flag (given to the Reval regiment on 25 September 1798 – green withe rose red corners, orange shield) was exchanged in 1838 against the flag which allegedly was carried by field marshal Schwerin in his hands, when he fell in the battle of Prague on 6 May 1757.

Lehmann gives the rank and name of the Eckau hero as "Dragoner Beutner".

1) is this the OOB for the Prussians minus the Leib Fusileer Bat. for the most part? Searched Nafzingers site and is the only one that comes up for Prussians for 1812.
Royal Prussian Army Corps
l3 May l8l2
Advanced Guard: Generallieutenant von Massenbach (in Goldbach)
Right Wing: Colonel von Czarnowsky (in Tapiau)
lst Combined Hussar Regiment (4)
2nd Combined Hussar Regiment (2)
East Prussian Jager Battalion (2 coys)
Fusilier Battalion lst Infantry Regiment
Horse Battery #3
Left Wing: Oberstlieutenant von Jurgass (in Labiau)
2nd Combined Dragoon Regiment (2)
East Prussian Jager Battalion (2 coys)
Fusilier Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment
Fusilier Battaion 3rd Infantry Regiment
Foot Battery #l
Corps of Battle: General of Infantry von Grawert (in Kongisberg)
Right Wing: Oberst von Below
2/lst, l/3rd Infantry Regiment
l/4th, l/5th Infantry Regiment
Left Wing: Oberstlieutenant von Horn (in Caymen)
2/2nd, l/l0th Infantry Regiment
l/, 2/Leib Infantry Regiment
Fus/Leib Infantry
l/6th Infantry Regiment
lst Combined Dragoon Regiment (4)(l/4th, 2/4th,
l/5th, 3/5th)
Artillery: Major von Schmidt (in Koenigsberg)
2nd Prussian Foot Battery (6-6pdrs & 2 How)
3rd Prussian Foot Battery (6-6pdrs & 2 How)
4th Brandenburg Foot Battery (6-6pdrs & 2 How)
Horse Battery #l
Horse Battery #2
Pioneers: Major Markoff (in Koenigsberg)
lst Pioneer Company
2nd Pioneer Company
Train: Major von Herzberg (in Koenigsberg)
Prussian Park Columns #l, #2, #3, & #4
2 Bridging Trains

And 2) is Eckau now Lecara Latvia? I like to find battle sites on Google maps if only to get a feel of the terrain.

Eckau is now ‪Iecava‬, it's name in Latvian
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iecava

The OOB from Mr. Naziger looks to be on the right track.

I would have the Prussian OOB from French or Russian sources. It should, rightfully, be in German, from German sources, with commanders' names.
But you might prefer it in English?

There was a formal divsion/brigade structure, but the Prussians operated in task-specific wings and columns and commands (as did the Russians facing them).

The breakdown you have into 4 sub-unit "wings" is likely right for May, but the breakdown varied. Also, some of the "regimental" units were created from other units, with a combined or provisional or field organization for the campaign. The Prussian OOB is rather unique in this way. The underlying pieces of the "field" regiments have more permanent, historical identity.

Hopefully Oliver or another colleague can just copy/paste something a little more complete and more transparent as to the component elements of the field formations. You might also search the napoleon-series.org site to see if "Sensei" Smith posted somehting along these lines.

If not, I will have to start working up the OOB. I really should get some of the Prussians for gaming I have French and Russians now), as they are very interesting to me in a number of ways, so maybe its a project I should work on. But to be honest, my German is not as good as my French, Russian or English.

14bore, in the OdB you posted, the Leib-Füsilier-Bataillon does appear:, as "Fus/Leib Infantry"

As for the combined regiments:

For the 1812 campaign, the king ordered that from the two regiments in every brigade, two musketeer and one fusileer battalion were to be selected by lot, in order to form a provisional regiment which was to take the field. These regiments were simply designated by numbers. The reason for this unusal organisation was to give parts of every regiment the chance to gain some campaign experience. Only in the Brandenburg brigade the complete Life infantry regiment (without its grenadiers) was selected, as the king prefered the guard infantry to stay with him.

As in the infantry, for the 1812 campaign combined cavalry regiments were formed: 1 lancer, 2 dragoon and 3 hussar regiments, each from 2 squadrons selected by lot from two different regiments. The cuirassiers stayed put.

A good and detailed OdB (except some typos) here:

link

The same (I hope – I didn't compare them in detail) in German:

link

So very, very nice!
Thank you Oliver!
:-)