Battle of Koljonvirta

Battle of Koljonvirta
Part of the Finnish War

Sandels at Koljonvirta, by August Malmström
Date27 October 1808
Location
near Idensalmi, northern Savonia, Finland
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden Russian Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Johan August Sandels Russian Empire Nikolai Alexejvitsch Tutschkoff
Russian Empire Mikhail Petrovich Dolgorukov  †
Strength
Swedish source:
1,800
12 guns[1]

Russian source:
4,000[2]		 Swedish source:
6,000
17 guns[1]

Russian source:
5,000[2]
Casualties and losses
Swedish source:
316:[3]
  • 34 killed
  • 282 wounded
 Swedish source:
773:[3]
  • 221 killed
  • 479 wounded
  • 73 captured


Russian source:
764 killed and missing[2]

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,[2] 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.[4]

Positions at the battle

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 they didn't try to attack again.[4][5][6][7] The battle was the last Swedish victory on Finnish soil.

See also

Citations and sources

Citations

  1. ^ a b Hornborg 1955, pp. 198–201.
  2. ^ a b c d Иденсальми // Sytin Military Encyclopedia. Vol. 10: "Елисавета Петровна — Инициатива", p. 568
  3. ^ a b Generalstaben 1910, pp. 250–251.
  4. ^ a b "Koljonvirran taistelu 27.10.1808". Koljonvirta. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Koljonvirran taistelu". Koljonvirran Kartano. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. ^ Honkakoski, Pekka (27 January 2009). "Koljonvirran taistelun sillan paikka paljastui". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. ^ 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