The Battle of Baruth 4 Sept 1813

 Just south of the village of Baruth, the Russian army finally enters the campaign, clashing with a French corps commanded by General Bertrand.  Both commanders know that they have reinforcements arriving through the course of the day but they are not sure when.  The Russians take up a defensive posture and invite the French to "come and get them".

Not the best photo from our intrepid reporter (hey it's 1813!) but an overview of the battlefield with the Russians on the left.  They are dangerously strung out and will pay the price for their folly.  In the distance, the heavy French right wing can be seen beyond the village, eagerly awaiting their orders to pounce on the exposed Russian left.  The advantage of larger armies attacking - this whole wing was only deployed after the Russian army was already on the table).

A close up of the French right wing - 2 brigades of cavalry and 2 brigades of infantry

The Russian left starts to fall back to delay the impact - "Where are the Grenadiers?!" their commander is heard to cry.  Those intrepid warriors are still marching up to the battlefield and only likely to arrive after noon.  Can the Russians in their extended position hold out this long?

The French close like wolverines on an Arctic Hare.  With the support of artillery and 3 more infantry brigades the French are looking unstoppable.

And as it turns out they are unstoppable.  The first Russian brigade breaks and routs under the weight of French close range fire.  The other Russian brigade stands to face the onslaught, but not for long.

It's all over before midday.  The Russian left has disappeared, followed swifltly by the centre.  Any thoughts of fighting on in anticipation of the arrival of the Grenadiers is disspelled as the Russian commander realises he needs to save something from the disaster or risk losing his whole army.  The Russians are last seen fleeing east and the French pursuit is only tempered by the presence of the Russian Grenadiers just behind the battlefield.  A convicing win for the French, one that they need as the Allied armies are starting to combine and threaten to overwhlem them with numbers.