Smolensk, Russia. By now, Barclay’s 30,000 Russians were well-positioned and organized in the city. Napoleon could have advanced further and threatened the lines of communication to Moscow, thus forcing the Russians to retreat, but instead he launched a frontal attack that would cost him heavy losses. He likely intended to destroy the entire enemy army in a single battle, as he had done on other occasions. The Russians lost 11,000 men and then retreated. Barclay’s frequent retreats (not of Russian blood like other tsarist commanders) caused considerable discontent among the proud Russian aristocrats.
