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Battle of Koljonvirta

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1808 battle of the Finnish War
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Battle of Koljonvirta
Part of the Finnish War

Sandels at Koljonvirta, by August Malmström
Date27 October 1808
Locationnear Idensalmi, northern Savonia, Finland
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden Russian Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Johan August Sandels Russian Empire Nikolay Alekseyevich Tuchkov
Russian Empire Mikhail Petrovich Dolgorukov  †
Strength
Swedish accounts:
1,200–1,800

Russian accounts:
4,000		 Russian accounts:
5,000–6,000

Swedish accounts:
7,000–8,000
Casualties and losses
Swedish accounts:
312–316		 Russian accounts:
764–773

Swedish accounts:
1,106
Finnish War
Finland

Sweden

The Battle of Koljonvirta (Finnish: Koljonvirran taistelu, Swedish: Slaget vid Virta bro) i.e. the Battle of the Virta Bridge, also known as the battle of Idensalmi, was fought between Swedish and Russian troops on October 27, 1808. The Swedish force consisted of troops from Savolax and Östergötland. After the main Swedish army had been defeated at the Battle of Oravais the army under Johan August Sandels in Savonia had to retreat in order not to be outflanked by the Russians. Sandels found a good defensive position north of Idensalmi (now Iisalmi) and decided to resist the Russian advance there.

Between September 29 and October 27 a cease-fire was in effect. Sandels was heavily outnumbered but had a good defensive position between two lakes connected by the Koljonvirta river and he had prepared his position well during the cease-fire. On October 27 the cease-fire was to end at 1 PM, but Russians started their attack a little earlier, perhaps because of the time difference between Sweden and Russia. Sandels pulled back the forces on the south side of the river and the Russians attacked over the partially demolished bridge. The Swedes counter-attacked and literally pushed the Russian troops into the river. The Russians pulled up fresh troops on the south side of the river, but did not try to attack again. The battle was the last Swedish victory on Finnish soil.

The Swedes had between 1,200 and 1,800 men present with 12 guns; or 4,000 men according to Russian accounts. The Russians attacked with between 5,000 and 6,000 men; taking in consideration the Russian muster roll of 1 November, above 5,800 men were present at the battle if its losses are applied. According to Swedish sources, the Russians had between 7,000 and 8,000 men with 17 guns. The Swedes suffered 34 killed and 282 wounded, compared to 221 killed, 479 wounded and 73 captured Russians, or 764 killed and missing. Swedish sources estimate their losses to over 1,000 NCOs and privates, and 32 officers killed or wounded, as well as 72 NCOs and privates and two officers captured.

Positions at the battle

See also

Citations and sources

Citations

  1. ^ Schulman, Hugo (1909). Striden om Finland 1808-1809 (in Swedish). Borgå: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö. pp. 304–308.
  2. ^ Hornborg 1955, pp. 198–201.
  3. ^ Иденсальми // Sytin Military Encyclopedia. Vol. 10: "Елисавета Петровна — Инициатива", p. 568
  4. ^ Generalstaben 1910, p. 413.
  5. ^ Montgomery, Gustaf (1842). Historia öfver kriget emellan Sverige och Ryssland: åren 1808 och 1809 (in Swedish). Örebro: Lindh. p. 109.
  6. ^ "Koljonvirran taistelu 27.10.1808". Koljonvirta. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. "Koljonvirran taistelu". Koljonvirran Kartano. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. Honkakoski, Pekka (27 January 2009). "Koljonvirran taistelun sillan paikka paljastui". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. Kemppainen, Pekka. "Koljonvirran taistelu (27.10.1808)". pkemppainen. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

Sources

63°35′19″N 27°09′51″E / 63.58861°N 27.16417°E / 63.58861; 27.16417

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