Malo-Yaroslavets is a town in Kaluga province 118 versts from Moscow. The battle there had a great influence at the entire campaign and if the concurrence of circumstances had not been extremely favorable for us it could be highly possible that the retreating of the French army would occur in a full order and Napoleon could bring considerable forces out of Russia.

Having left Moscow Napoleon had intention to move along such an area where he could easily supply the army with provision and was aiming to avoid the Smolensk road where everything was ravaged. He had chosen the direction through Malo-Yaroslavets to Kaluga where the big warehouses of provision were located and undertook a skilful flanking movement to deceive the vigilance of Kutuzov that was staying with the army in Taroutino camp. But we weren't uncertain for long about the direction taken by the French army. On the 7th (19th) of October General Dorokhov, been near the line of enemy march, had discovered the French advance-guard in number of 10.000 with artillery and immediately informed Kutuzov about it. The Commander-in-Chief had first reinforced Dorokhov by two jaeger regiments and then sent General Dokhturov to the aid providing him enough forces and attaching General Ermolov to him. Partisan detachments of Seslavin and Figner joined Dokhturov and it played a very fortunate role. Covered in the forest with his detachment Seslavin was observing at night the movement of French troops in big number and at last had discovered Napoleon with all his suite. One of the guardsmen that Seslavin had captured informed about the march of French army to Malo-Yaroslavets. He immediately rushed to Dokhturov and was in time to prevent the seizure of the town, that enemy was going to undertake at the sunrise not expecting a strong resistance. The result could be very sad. If Dokhturov would be defeated the French could occupy Malo-Yaroslavets and we would be unable to prevent them to reach Kaluga.

Early in the morning on the 11th (23rd) of October Dokhturov reported the Napoleon's movement and himself with all the entrusted forces advanced to Malo-Yaroslavets and at the sunrise of the 12th (24th) took the position at both sides along Kaluga road and blocked the way for the French. They had already occupied the town but with the insignificant forces only as Napoleon advancing from Borovsk was always expecting the attack on his left flank and ordered to his advance troops to be ready to retreat from Malo-Yaroslavets after the first alarm. To fulfill this plan Delzone been allotted with his division to corps of Vice-King arrived to Malo-Yaroslavets on the 11th (23rd) of October and brought two battalions into the town. The rest of the division was placed out of the town at the left bank of Luzha river. In the morning of the 12th (24th) of October when it was yet dark Dokhturov ordered the Jaegers to knock the French out of town. This was the beginning of the famous battle. Vice-King decided that there was no any danger from the side of Kutuzov and engaged the rest his divisions: Broussier, Pinaud and the Guard. But till they arrived at 11 a.m. the town already five times changed the hands and in one of the fightings Delson had been killed. When the division of Broussier had entered the battle the extremely stubborn combat developed. At midday Napoleon himself arrived to Malo-Yaroslavets. The Dokhturov's state became critical but gradually all Russian army was coming from Taroutino under the command of Kutuzov who was hurrying to block the way to Kaluga. All our army had been formed behind the town on Kaluga road and the new phase of the battle began. From our sides the outrageous efforts were spent to knock the enemy out of the town but the French were showing a heroic resistance. The artillery was roaring from both sides. The enemy shells were raining on our troops and Kutuzov himself was exposed to mortal danger this day but did not agree to leave the dangerous place before he would by confident of Napoleon's intentions. Thus the fighting continued till the evening and was not over even when it became dark. After the Kutuzov's order Konovnitzin entered the town with the fresh forces and between the burnt houses lighted by fire, on the streets filled by killed and wounded, Russians and the French were continuing the heroic rivalry that was over only at 11 p.m. The part of the town was in our hands, the other part had been seized by the French. At both sides the fresh forces were ready to renew the bloody battle the next day. But after the several days of hesitations and considerations Napoleon decided to retreat. The results of the battle were extremely important: the Napoleon's movement to Kaluga with its resources had been stopped and he was deprived of ability to reach provinces that were not touched by war and were able to supply the provision for the French army.