Platov set a tactical ambush for the enemy – a “fyke”. On the river Don, fishermen used fyke hoop net to trap the fish in. Later on Matvey Platov became known as “whirlwind ataman” for such ambushments. Painter Mazurovsky depicts one of the episodes of the first day of the combat. The painting commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War.

On the 27th of June (9th of July) at dawn the Polish brigade of the Great Army led by General Kazimierz Turno advanced on Mir with the 3rd Uhlans Regiment of Alexander Radziminskij leading the way. In front of Mir the Poles saw Cossack’s advance posts. But the Cossacks retreated without engaging in the combat. One of the Uhlans regiments traversed the village at a gallop – and was suddenly counterattacked by Cossacks who got reinforcement.
The Poles galloped back through the village. Colonel Radziminskij was determined not to lose ground and brought up other squadrons of his regiment. The Polish Uhlans were winning: they threw back the Cossacks and followed them.

Suddenly reserve Cossack regiments emerged from the woods (on the right side of the picture). Platov had deployed the bulk of his force there for the fell stroke. The Cossacks who seemed to have been retreating, suddenly reversed and counterattacked the Uhlans who had lost battle order in hot pursuit.

The Cossacks from the ambush on the both sides of the road had struck bewildered Poles' front, flanks and rear. The outcome was a foregone conclusion: the 3rd Uhlans Regiment was nearly annihilated and Colonel Radziminskij wounded and taken prisoner.

The forefront of the picture depicts the Cossacks of the elite Ataman Regiment. Waistbands, trouser stripes and cap-bands in the regiment were light blue. Other Don regiments wore red color.

The combat at Mir raged for two days. In ‘the battle of Platov’s Cossacks’ the Russian Army scored the first victory over the French in the Patriotic War of 1812. Platov’s success gave the army of Bagration possibility to recover and resume the march.