The dark green frock coat with a red collar, cuffs and lining once belonged to Lieutenant General Count Alexander Ivanovich Ostermann-Tolstoy. The exhibit’s left sleeve and the upper part of the left side were almost completely torn off, because the general was seriously wounded in the battle of Kulm which took place on August 16 to 18 (according to the new style, 28 to 30), 1813.
The day before the start of this battle, Napoleon’s troops inflicted a serious defeat on the Bohemian army of the anti-French coalition near Dresden. The allies lost about 25 thousand people (more than 10% of the manpower) and 40 guns. Prince Metternich, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, was already considering the option of the country leaving the coalition and holding negotiations with Bonaparte.
Via mountain roads, Bohemian army retreated to the Czechia. Seeking to consolidate his success, the French Emperor sent General Vandamme’s corps to the city of Teplice, blocking the way to the coalition units. Bonaparte intended to surround and finally defeat the Bohemian army. According to various sources, the strength of Vandamme’s corps ranged from 35 to 40 thousand people.
However, on August 16, 1813, near the town of Kulm (now the city of Chlumec in the Czech Republic), the French collided with the Russian units that were in reserve during the Battle of Dresden, that is, the corps of General Eugene Württemberg and the 1st Guards Division. According to historians, 14 to 16 thousand people participated in the battle from the Russian side. The combined detachment was commanded by Lieutenant General Ostermann-Tolstoy.
At first, only small skirmishes occurred between the opponents, but on August 17 a fierce battle broke out. The Russian troops chose a good position and defended the exit from the gorge. Due to its tightness, the French were unable to properly expand their orders and to take advantage of their numerical superiority.
In the middle of the day, Russian cavalry units arrived to help Ostermann-Tolstoy’s detachment. The Count was seriously wounded in the left shoulder by a fragment of an artillery shell, and his broken arm had to be amputated on the spot. Command was taken by General Ermolov. The next day, the 30,000 strong Prussian corps circumvented the French from the rear.
Once surrounded, General Vandamme decided to break through, but only part of the cavalry succeeded. The French commander, along with the headquarters, was captured by the Cossacks. More than 10 thousand French soldiers abandoned themselves to the winner’s mercy; all the wagons and artillery went to the allies as trophies.
In 1813, Count Alexander Ostermann-Tolstoy was 43 years old. From the age of 18 he fought with the Turks. Under the command of Field Marshal Suvorov, he participated in the capture of Ishmael. In 1807, under Preussisch-Eylau, General Ostermann-Tolstoy commanded the flank and actually saved the Russian army, skillfully repelling the attack of Marshal Davout. For the feat near Kulm, the Count was awarded the Order of St. George of the 2nd grade.
Ostermann-Tolstoy was the only Russian general in the campaign of 1813-1815 who received the Iron Cross of the highest grade from the hands of the Prussian king. At the end of the war, Alexander Ivanovich devoted several more years to military service, and in 1817, he was awarded the rank of infantry general. However, soon he was forced to go on indefinite leave for medical reasons. Ostermann-Tolstoy died in 1857 in Geneva at the age of 86.
The day before the start of this battle, Napoleon’s troops inflicted a serious defeat on the Bohemian army of the anti-French coalition near Dresden. The allies lost about 25 thousand people (more than 10% of the manpower) and 40 guns. Prince Metternich, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, was already considering the option of the country leaving the coalition and holding negotiations with Bonaparte.
Via mountain roads, Bohemian army retreated to the Czechia. Seeking to consolidate his success, the French Emperor sent General Vandamme’s corps to the city of Teplice, blocking the way to the coalition units. Bonaparte intended to surround and finally defeat the Bohemian army. According to various sources, the strength of Vandamme’s corps ranged from 35 to 40 thousand people.
However, on August 16, 1813, near the town of Kulm (now the city of Chlumec in the Czech Republic), the French collided with the Russian units that were in reserve during the Battle of Dresden, that is, the corps of General Eugene Württemberg and the 1st Guards Division. According to historians, 14 to 16 thousand people participated in the battle from the Russian side. The combined detachment was commanded by Lieutenant General Ostermann-Tolstoy.
At first, only small skirmishes occurred between the opponents, but on August 17 a fierce battle broke out. The Russian troops chose a good position and defended the exit from the gorge. Due to its tightness, the French were unable to properly expand their orders and to take advantage of their numerical superiority.
In the middle of the day, Russian cavalry units arrived to help Ostermann-Tolstoy’s detachment. The Count was seriously wounded in the left shoulder by a fragment of an artillery shell, and his broken arm had to be amputated on the spot. Command was taken by General Ermolov. The next day, the 30,000 strong Prussian corps circumvented the French from the rear.
Once surrounded, General Vandamme decided to break through, but only part of the cavalry succeeded. The French commander, along with the headquarters, was captured by the Cossacks. More than 10 thousand French soldiers abandoned themselves to the winner’s mercy; all the wagons and artillery went to the allies as trophies.
In 1813, Count Alexander Ostermann-Tolstoy was 43 years old. From the age of 18 he fought with the Turks. Under the command of Field Marshal Suvorov, he participated in the capture of Ishmael. In 1807, under Preussisch-Eylau, General Ostermann-Tolstoy commanded the flank and actually saved the Russian army, skillfully repelling the attack of Marshal Davout. For the feat near Kulm, the Count was awarded the Order of St. George of the 2nd grade.
Ostermann-Tolstoy was the only Russian general in the campaign of 1813-1815 who received the Iron Cross of the highest grade from the hands of the Prussian king. At the end of the war, Alexander Ivanovich devoted several more years to military service, and in 1817, he was awarded the rank of infantry general. However, soon he was forced to go on indefinite leave for medical reasons. Ostermann-Tolstoy died in 1857 in Geneva at the age of 86.
