Battle of Vitebsk
7 November (October 26 OS) 1812 marks the Battle of Vitebsk in Napoleon Bonaparte’s Russian Invasion when Major General Vasily Harpe’s 2,000 Russians, 100 Cossacks & 6 guns defeated Brigadier General François Pouget’s 1,500-2,000 French infantry & 2 guns. Despite the battle’s small scale, the loss of the Vitebsk Supply Depot had consequences that cannot be overstated. It doomed Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armée to death by starvation & cold. On 31 October (19 OS), Cavalry General Count Peter zu Wittgenstein breached Napoleon’s northern “Dvina Line.” Vengeful Russians poured into Napoleon’s rear. Wittgenstein sent detachments of several thousand each to seize or harass important targets. Chief among these was Vitebsk on the Dvina River. It was jammed with food & fodder, including 4,312 bushels (157 tons) of rye & flour, 1,437 bushels (53 tons) of oats, 230 bushels (8 tons) of cereals, 64 tons of hay & a great deal of salt. Its buildings would keep Napoleo