Admiral Paul Andreyevich Kolzakov
"The Capture of General Vandamme 18 August
1813"
Source: Russkaya Starina 1(1870): 208-217
Biography
Paul Andreyevich Kolzakov was born to a noble
family in Tula in 1779. He studied at the Naval Cadet Corps and
began service as garde marine in 1794. In 1797, he was
assigned to the ship-of-the-line Azia and participated in the
blockade of the Texel Islands and the fighting in the Mediterranean
at Malta, Naples, and the Ionian Islands in 1797-1799. In 1808-1809,
he participated in the Russo-Swedish War and distinguished himself
at Kuonio in 1809. The following year, he supervised the formation
of the Guard Ekipazh and later took charge of the Imperial
yacht. In 1811, Kolzakov became captain of Grand Duke
Constantine’s personal yacht and was promoted to
captain-lieutenant. In early 1812, he was appointed adjutant to the
Grand Duke and followed him throughout the 1812-1814 Campaigns.
After the war, he served under Grand Duke Constantine in Poland from
1815-1831. He became general-adjutant to Emperor Nicholas in 1831,
rose to the rank of vice-admiral and later served as duty general at
the Naval General Staff. He became admiral in 1843 and died in St.
Petersburg in 1864.
Memoir on the Battle of Kulm and the
Capture of General Dominique Vandamme
The Battle of Dresden proved to the Allies
the indisputable truth that when there is no unity of command, it is
impossible to gain any success. Prince Schwarzenberg, who commanded
the combined armies of the Allies, was limited in his actions. Three
monarchs were present in the army and each had his own entourage of
confidants who sought any opportunity to distinguish themselves in
front of their sovereigns, and thus paralyzed the actions of the
commander-in-chief. The rivalry between the nations, the differences
of ideas and personal ambition all led to intrigues and constant
conflicts. Much of the time was wasted in useless arguments and,
when a decisive moment was finally at hand, it was often discovered
that the adopted plan was completely worthless under new
circumstances.
This is exactly what happened before the
battle at Dresden. The Allies could have occupied the city without a
shot since they had concentrated some 200,000 men strong army in the
vicinity of Dresden, while only a small defended the city itself --
the 14,000 men strong corps of St. Cyr. Yet, while the Allies
negotiated, Napoleon managed to enter the city with 100,000 men
strong army and reinforce the garrison, so the battle could not have
been as successful anymore. Although the battle at Dresden cannot be
considered as a [decisive] defeat as the French bulletins rushed to
proclaim, it still was an unsuccessful attack and had an appearance
of defeat because the Allied forces retreated with numerous wounded
on the soaked roads that autumn night and this picture had a tragic
effect. Troops became demoralized and lost trust in their
commanders, everyone felt some sort of embitterment and the rivalry
between the nations became even more evident as the Russians blamed
the Germans for everything; in short, disheartenment and disorder
became widespread. The situation turned critical. Emperor Alexander
understood that he had to make something decisive and courageous to
inspire his troops and take revenge, or as the French say, une éclatante
revange. So, with this purpose in mind, he assumed the position
of the commander-in-chief of the Allied forces and began acting
independently. The armies were ordered to retreat southward to
prevent the French from Bohemia, where Napoleon wanted to advance.
Our army advanced southward in three columns
and, having crossed the mountains, it was involved in the glorious
battle at Zehist [Berggieshubel] on 15-16 [27-28] August, where
Count Osterman broke through General Vandamme’s corps and reached
the Teplitz road; our troops were, in the meantime, attacked by the
superior French forces near Kulm on 17 [29] August and a battle so
celebrated in our military chronicles took place there for a day and
a half and ended to the glory of our arms – I said “our”
because the Russian troops fought here more than anyone else.
I will not describe all the events of the
battle which are described in detail in several other studies, but I
will recall one episode that I witnessed and had an honor to
participate.
The night of 17-18 [29-30] August ended a
fierce but still undecided battle in which Count Osterman earned his
immortal fame, but lost his hand in the process. Our troops prepared
for the new fighting and the dawn of 18 [30] August found them
deployed in battle order on the both sides of the main road; left
flank was anchored on the mountains and comprised, together with the
center, of the Russian troops while the Austrians were on the right
flank near the village of Karwitz. Reserves consisted of the troops
under command of Grand Duke Contantine Pavlovich and I served as his
adjutant.
Early in the morning Emperor Alexander left
with the Prussian King [Frederick William] and was accompanied by a
numerous and dazzling entourage towards the mountain Schlosberg,
which provided a beautiful panorama of the Kulm Valley and its
vicinities. The picturesque ruins of an ancient castle loomed on the
mountaintop. It was a delightful morning and the rising haze, as if
a stage curtain, revealed a magnificent panorama of the vicinity
with its wooded hills, valleys, streams, scattered villages and a
gorge of high mountains disappearing in the azure distance. In the
middle of this striking decoration, there was a winding road leading
from Kulm to Teplitz and, on the both sides of it, dark spots on
light green backdrop indicated the two armies facing each other at a
short distance and waiting for one signal to dash into a fierce and
bloody combat. The sight was indeed breathtaking and the minute
celebratory. Following the Grand Duke and the Imperial suite, I
witnessed this moment and it never faded away in my memory. Looking
at this fascinating scenery, glowing in the light of the rising Sun,
so many different ideas flashed in my mind. It seemed that if Heaven
existed on the earth, it certainly would be here. Houses, with
orchards, beautifully scattered in the valley looked so cozy in this
green scenery; some fields were still unharvested and everything
breathed with the freshness of life and peace. But seeing troops in
these fields, my heart bled and palpitated as it awaited the fateful
minute! And how many other hearts trembled awaiting it as well! As
so the signal was made around six o’clock in the morning and white
clouds of smoke arouse on the hills, and a few moments later, we
heard the thunder that was echoed several times in the mountains.
The battle has begun. Adjutants and ordinaries galloped with orders
in all directions and the fighting intensified along the entire
line. Occasional shouts of ‘hurrah,’ moans of the wounded, yells
of command, cavalry clatter, sounds of weapons and finally
thundering noise of the artillery all blended into one chaotic and
continuous roar. Cloud of smoke darkened the air and filled it with
the smell of gunpowder. Regiments fiercely attacked each other,
cavalry charged and the field was soon covered with corpses of men
and horses. Our reserves were soon committed and our courageous
soldiers, forgetting the exhaustion of the three days battle, rushed
into the fight with a revived enthusiasm and courage and with the
yells of ‘hurrah.’ Our Guard performed feats of courage.
Everyone was involved in the hand-to-hand combat. Around 11 a.m.,
the forces of [General] Kleist appeared in the French rear and
General Vandamme initially thought they were his reinforcements.
However, confusion soon spread among the French ranks. Seeing
themselves surrounded, the French thought only about personal escape
and began fighting through the enemy lines and became so
intermingled with them in the narrow defiles that soldiers on both
sides thought themselves vanquished, threw down their arms and
surrendered to each other. The battle became disorganized, the
soldiers climbed the rocks, fell down and scattered in the nearby
mountains, leaving their commanders in confusion. General Kleist
himself, seeing the enemy soldiers around him, thought that he was
captured and sought escape in the nearby woods, where he
accidentally encountered General Diebitsch, who explained him his
misunderstanding and congratulated him with a victory.
Meantime, returning from my fourth mission, I
was moving with great difficulty through the jammed roads in the
defiles. My exhausted horse, covered in foam, barely moved his feet
and stumbled upon each step. I barely escaped being thrown down on
several occasions and, having dismounted, I walked holding his
reigns in my hand along a relatively steep path. As I approached the
open field, I encountered more and more killed and wounded. It was
appalling to see these unfortunate; the moans of the wounded were
particularly heart wrenching to hear. Many of them begged for help
or water, yelled and cursed. But their shouts were eclipsed by other
noises and the roar of the battle that was still underway, though it
moved beyond the settlement. The Cossacks and ordinaries galloped in
every direction. Lightly wounded soldiers helped transport more
seriously injured. Everyone was moving, shouting, cursing and making
other noises. Two horsemen rode by shouting “Victory! Victory!”
Several soldiers crossed themselves while others yelled ‘hurrah’
I looked around and saw that a group of horsemen appeared from the
edge of the forest. A few shots were fired and I made out their
French uniforms. I hastily mounted my horse and, removing my saber
from scabbard, I spurred my horse to get away from the attackers.
But in vain did I force my exhausted steed as it dug into ground and
refused to move. As the enemy group approached me, I saw that the
Cossacks were galloping behind them in pursuit. In front of the
French, there were a stout figure of a French general with an
unbuttoned uniform on a heavy horse; several officers followed him.
Two Cossacks that were behind me, dashed with their pikes. I
suddenly heard a coarse voice shouting out to me, “Général russe,
sauvez moi!” My horse, seeing other galloping horses,
instinctively began to follow them. I yelled, “Cossacks stop, do
not kill!” and barely managed to thwart a Cossack pike as the
French were surrounded and surrendered.
The French general halted and dismounted the
horse. His plump face was red of anxiety and heavy sweat run down on
his cheeks mixing with dirt. His uniform was covered in dust.
Breathing heavily, he approached me and, still thinking I was a
general, probably because of my navy hat, he told me, “Je vous
rends, general, mon épée qui m’a servi pendant de longues années
pour la gloire de mon pays.” But I refused to take his sword
telling him that he would surrender it personally to our Emperor
and, asking his name, I learned that it was French
commander-in-chief Vandamme himself. He seemed drunk and barely
stood on his feet so, unable to travel, he asked for some time to
rest. Several officers, who were captured with him, also dismounted
and surrounded him. He shook their hands telling them “Mes braves
amis! On n’est pas toujours hereux,” and then inquired about two
other officers, who were probably wounded and fell down along the
road. I assured him that they would be picked up and taken to the
medical point. Seeing Guard cavalrymen moving on the field in a
distance, I sent a Cossack to meet them with orders to join us and
escort the captured. The Guard cavalrymen were under command of
rotmistr Stahl (later commandant of Moscow). I left Vandamme and his
suite under Stahl’s orders and instructed him to take them to the
Emperor, while I changed horses and dashed forward to inform His
Majesty about the capture of the French commander-in-chief. The
distance proved to be substantial and it took me quite some time to
find new location of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. Seeing him on the
top of the hill, surrounded by his entourage, I rode directly to him
and announced in a loud voice the capture of the French
commander-in-chief Vandamme. The Austrian Emperor, who was standing
beside our Sovereign, took off his hat and yelled “Vivat!” Grand
Duke Constantine Pavlovich then approached me and, asking “Where
is Vandamme,” he ordered me to lead him to the captured. “Spur,
sir, add some spur” he shouted to me, forcing me to accelerate.
It took us more than half an hour to cross
the valley and hills looking for the road that I lost and could not
find. Grand Duke became very impatient, “Kolzakov, do you want to
give me Vandamme or not?” He repeated constantly as his anger
intensified. ”Are you playing with me? But in vain did I ask
passers-by if they have seen a captured French general – nobody
gave me positive answers. Finally, climbing on some hill, we noticed
the convoy in a distance and quickly rode to meet it. Vandamme
confused Grand Duke for the Emperor, addressed him “sire” giving
him his sword and repeating his earlier speech. The Grand Duke
identified himself and did not accept the sword telling Vandamme
that he would surrender it personally to Emperor Alexander. When we
finally approached the Tsar, Vandamme was helped from the horse
since he was in such bad shape that barely could dismount. Breathing
heavily, the [French] marshal first embraced his horse and kissed
him. He then slowly moved with heavy steps towards the Emperor, who
stood in front of his entourage, and repeated the same phrase for
the third time with the same theatrical gesture. The Emperor
responded, “Général, j’en suin bien faché, mais c’est le
sort de la guerre!” He then called Pruince Volkonsky and gave him
Vndamme’s sword and ordered to escort the captured. “Sire, un
mot encore,” Vandammed addressed him, “Je prie votre majesté
comme grace de ne pas me render aux mains des Austrichiens. Emperor
[Alexander] smiled and, having exchanged glances with the Austrian
emperor, he agreed to Vandamme’s request, instructing Prince
Volkonsky to take due care of him.
Thus ended the celebrated Battle of Kulm,
where our tropheies included some 12,000 captured, numerous guns,
flags and the [French] commander-in-chief himself. The battle ended
around one o’clock in the noon.
Vandamme was escorted to Teplitz and,
entering the city the same time as the troops of the Allied armies,
his carriage was stopped by the gate guards. Vandamme was infuriated
since he though that he was put out for display for our troops,
especially after the Austrian regiments pointed fingers at him,
laughed loudly and teased him. Emperor Francis happened to be
passing by with his staff at that moment. Looking out of his
carriage, Vandamme told him sternly, “Sire, c’est ainsi que vous
traitez un general au service de l’empereur Napoléon, votre
proche parent? Je lui ferai connaitre vos procédés, prenez garde
qu’il ne s’en venge.” The Austrian emperor wiped his hands and
rode by, murmuring “Ce n’est pas ma faute.”
Vandamme was initially taken to Prague, where
the resident, despising him for his previous severity and heavy
contributions, gave him a rather hostile reception. They started
throwing stones at him, the poor rushed to the carriage and our
Cossack convoy barely protected him; eight Cossacks were wounded by
the stones. Vandamme was later taken to Russia, where he lived in
Vyatka until the end of the war.
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