The Raevsky Redoubt

The Raevsky Redoubt stood on the hill where the Principal Monument to Russian Forces now stands. From the earthworks outpost there was an excellent view of the Russian positions to the North – as far as the New Smolensk Road – and to the South to the Bagration Flèches. The Raevsky Redoubt was thus of vast strategic value to the French, and explains why Napoleon threw such great forces into its capture. Defence of the earthworks on the heights was entrusted to General Nikolai Raevsky. History books record the location as the Raevsky Redoubt.

French shelling of the Raevsky Redoubt began at 6am on the morning of the Battle of Borodino, followed by successive French attacks. The battle for the Redoubt lasted more than 15 hours. The French launched three separate sorties against the Raevsky Redoubt. The first was successfully repulsed. The second caused the Russian troops to retreat in disorder, but the retreat was quelled by General Yermolov and turned into a bayonet counterattack which once again repulsed the French. The second attack also cost the Russian army dear, as it claimed the life of the chief of Russian artillery, General Kutáisov.

It was only on their third sortie that the French managed to gain control of the Raevsky Redoubt. They attacked from all sides, but scaled the hill from the South, which was defended by the 24th Infantry regiment under General Likhachiov. Not wishing to surrender Likhachiev threw himself on the French bayonets, but instead they took him prisoner.