According to Minard, about 6,000 men returned to Poland, according to Clausewitz 5,000 men, but Yorck's resolution had enormous consequences. After five days he was urged by his officers (and in the presence of Clausewitz) at least to neutralization of his troops and an armistice. On 25 December Yorck (von Wartenburg) found himself isolated when the Russian army blocked the road during the retreat. A few days after the French left Lithuania, he drew back to Königsberg, followed by Pyotr Wittgenstein. Early August he occupied Dunaburg early September he returned to Riga with his entire force. He moved north in Courland but did not succeed in occupying Riga. They crossed the Niemen at Tilsit, now Sovetsk on the 24th. X Corps (30,000) commanded by Marshal Jacques MacDonald.Ĭommander-in-Chief: Napoleon Bonaparte Chief of Staff: Marshal Louis-Alexandre Berthier Northern flank The numbers mentioned below are based on estimates made by Clausewitz, in his book ' On War' and not on the estimates in 'History of the Consulate and the Empire' by Adolphe Thiers, who wrote that 600,000 men in total were moved but not all of them crossed the Neman. Within a few days, almost half a million men from this multinational army - split up into five columns - crossed the river Neman and entered the Russian Empire. Half of them were foreigners Polish legions formed the largest foreign contingent) 120,000 were conscripts.

After a whole day of preparation by Morand and Eblé, the invasion commenced on Midsummer, 24 June 1812 with Napoleon's army crossing the river. Napoleon organized the Grande Armée the largest army assembled up to that point in European history. Oil and gouache on paper by Albrecht Adam. Italian corps of Eugene de Beauharnais crossing the Niemen on 30 June 1812.

Markham napoleon