Battle of Alavus

Battle of Alavus
	Part of the Swedish Finland
Result	Swedish victory

Belligerents

Sweden

Russian EmpireCommanders and leaders

Carl Johan Adlercreutz

Ivan Matveyevich Erikson

Ivan Vasilyevich SabaneevStrength 3,850
12 guns^[1] 2,400
8 guns^[1]Casualties and losses 212 killed, wounded or captured^[1] 367 killed, wounded or captured^[1]

The Battle of Alavus took place on 17 August 1808 in the vicinity of the town of

General Carl Johan Adlercreutz

defeated a smaller Russian force and drove it southwards. It was the last in a string of Swedish successes during the summer of 1808, and marked the turning point in the war.

Prelude

With his

supply lines harassed by Swedish forces and retreating southward, the newly appointed general major Nikolay Kamensky decided to retake the initiative. The logistical situation precluded this however, and he was forced to march to Jämsä. Not until 7 August was he able to regain control of the situation, as Swedish raiding activities ebbed and reinforcements and fresh supplies started arriving. Kamenskiy then decided to renew his offensive. He sent a detachment under colonel Erikson toward Alavus and marched towards Jyväskylä

.

Probably encouraged by the victory at Kauhajoki, marshal Wilhelm Mauritz Klingspor ordered general Adlercreutz to attack the Russian position at Alavus. The army, much worn by the ordeals of the summer, was moved south on 16 August in pouring rain. The following day the weather cleared.

The battle

In bright sunshine, Adlercreutz attacked the Russian positions south of the Alavus

bayonet charge

and threw back the Russians. The Russian left flank was also under pressure and started yielding; by 19.00 the entire Russian force had retired with casualties tallying 370 men, compared to 200 on the Swedish side.

Aftermath

Despite the success, Klingspor never capitalized on it or the outcome of Lapua and the difficult Russian supply situation in the summer of 1808. After the defeat at Alavus, Russian fortune turned and Kamensky was successful in his counteroffensive, which drove the Swedes ever further north.

Citations and sources

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hornborg 1955, pp. 133–134.

Sources

Finska kriget 1808–1809,
ISBN 91-518-4101-0
).

Hornborg, Eirik (1955). När riket sprängdes: fälttågen i Finland och Västerbotten, 1808–1809 (in Swedish). Stockholm: P. A. Norstedts och Söners Förlag.

62°35′11″N 23°36′57″E / 62.58639°N 23.61583°E / 62.58639; 23.61583

[FOOTNOTEHornborg1955133–134-1] Hornborg 1955, pp. 133–134.

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