Talk:Battle of Smoliani

WP:MILHIST Assessment
Another very solid start. And you've even got a picture. Napoleon (or the Napoleonic Wars) should be mentioned in the intro, to give this context. LordAmeth 09:30, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Dubious
The article states: "Wittgenstein's position at Czasniki was just 40 miles north of Bobruisk, a town Napoleon needed to be secure in order for the main French army to reach Minsk."

This doesn't seem right -- Czasniki is about 120 miles from Bobruisk.

Although Bobruisk was important for protecting the southern flank of the French Grande Armée, Victor and Oudinot were tasked with protecting the northern flank, which was in peril following the defeats at Polotsk and Czasniki.

I believe the intended location is Bobr, which is in fact 40 miles south of Czasniki, and on the road between Orsha and Minsk, i.e. its capture would cut off the French path of retreat. This location is named in Minard's famous graph and is also seen on a map of the Battle of Berezina that occurred later.

— 108.185.100.231 (talk) 01:09, 21 January 2014 (UTC)

Coordinate change
The previous coordinates for this article, given at 52.55°N, 24.58333°W, correspond to a "Smolyany", in the Brest region. This is implausibly far beyond the area of operations of the units involved at the time. Consider the following facts that can be used to bound the locations of the forces involved:


 * In the preceding Battle of Czasniki, the Russians under Wittgenstein defeated the French under Victor, after which the French forces retreated to Senno.
 * Since this Battle of Smoliani was "the last effort of the French to reestablish their northern flank", it would have taken place in the same vicinity as the above.
 * Wittgenstein's forces were threatening the path of retreat of the Grande Armée (which was trying to reach Minsk from Smolensk via Krasny, Orsha and Borisov).
 * Subsequently, at the Battle of Berezina, Victor's forces served as the rearguard of the Grande Armée, holding off Wittgenstein's forces that were arriving from the northeast.

Thus, the location "Smoliani" referred to here is most likely Smolany, in the Vitebsk region (also Smaĺjany or Smolyany) at 54.6°N, 30.06667°W. While this remains an approximate location, it satisfies the bounds described above, and is therefore consistent with (and supported by) well-sourced facts established within this and related articles.

— 108.185.100.231 (talk) 01:10, 21 January 2014 (UTC)
 * I concur, and since the coordinates in the article have already been changed, there's nothing more to do here. Deor (talk) 11:17, 21 January 2014 (UTC)