When all inconveniences of Drissa camp became clear it was left . The corps of Russian army under the command of Count Petr Khrisianovich Wittgenstein was placed on Dvina to protect the road to Petersburg. The situation was difficult. From the West Macdonald who was sent by Napoleon against Riga was threatening to Russians and from the East Oudinot had the order to contact Macdonald and to develop mutual activity against Count Wittgenstein.

Macdonald detached the part of his troops to besiege Riga and himself stayed in Yakobstat to built the bridges to across Western Dvina to its right bank where Wittgenstein was located. Both French marshals were intending to gain the rear of Russian corps and to cut it of Pskov that was its base. But Wittgenstein forestalled French marshals. After the successful reconnaissance and combats of the advance-guard under the command of General Kulnev cleared Oudinot's intentions Wittgenstein decided to attack to prevent the joining of Oudinot and Macdonald. With that end in view he had moved his forces to occupy Klyastitsy village on the road from Polotzk to Pskov aiming to be there earlier then the enemies. Wittgenstein did not manage to do it, the French were already there. In spite of it Wittgenstein continued his march going to give the decisive battle. The combat started on the 18th (30th) of July at 2 p.m. near Yakubuvo village 3km from Klyastitsy between Russian advance-guard end Legrand division. Stubborn fighting stopped just late in the evening. At night Count Wittgenstein united all his troops by Yakubovo and at 3 in the morning July 19 (31) resumed the attack. The actions from his side having changeable success were finalized by retreat of French that could not resist our stubborn impact to their second position on the sandy hights of the right bank of Nischa river. Count Wittgenstein reported to Emperor Alexander "The swift motion of division of Berg, encouraged by the example of officers, the courageous attack of all regiments, savage action of artillery controlled by Prince Yashvil, had decided the outcome of the battle in a moment. The enemy took to flight to the sandy hights of Nischa". And there the enemies could not make a stand for a long as the successive Wittgenstein attack made them to retreat to the other bank of the river where they took cover in Klyastitsy. It was at 8 a.m. And then the final act of the battle represented on the canvas commenced . Wittgenstein was aggressively pressing French. Their artillery and skirmishers sheltering in the buildings were energetically firing preventing Russians to cross the river. Wittgenstein sent his cavalry to the left up-stream the river to build the bridge and to attack the right wing of Oudinot. The French marshal opened the Vitgeinstein intentions and started to retreat to prevent the attack and ordered to burn the only bridge in the village.

By Wittgenstein order Pavlovskiy grenadiers, later Life-Guard Pavlovskiy regiment, in a dense column threw themself to the bridge. The ford was found not far from the bridge and Yamburgskiy uhlan regiment and artillery company crossed the river. At the same time Russian infantry was coming and coming. Oudinot was to start the retreat to Polotzk pursued by General Kulnev. Klyastitsy was seized. 17.000 Russians gained the victory over 20.000 French in spite of all their courage. The success of Count Wittgenstein prevented the further movement of enemy army to Polotsk and Petersburg.

Unfortunately in this battle General-Major Yakov Petrovich Kulnev was killed. He was the commander of Wittgenstein advance-guard and performed several brilliant exploits before the battle. In Klyastitsy Kulnev was pursuing the retreating French and captured almost all their transports and 900 soldies. But on the next day July 20 (August 1) Kulnev was too far pursuing the enemy and came upon Oudinot main forces, attacked them in spite of their outnumber and was defeated. During his retreat the cannon ball tore his both legs over the knees.