2,813 3,600 Result Russian defensive victory | Dates 19 Jun 1808 – 20 Jun 1808 Combatants Sweden, Russia | |
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217 killed, wounded and captured 298 killed, wounded and captured Similar Battle of Alavus, Battle of Siikajoki, Battle of Lapua, Finnish War, Battle of Revolax | ||
The Battle of Lemo was fought during the Finnish War, between Sweden and Russia on 19–20 June 1808 (Julian calendar 7–8 June) .
Contents
On 19 June some 2,500 Swedes landed at Lemu in Kaarina and at the nearby strategic island, Southwest Finland, aided by the Swedish Navy. There, the Swedes intended to liberate the Turku from the Russians. The Swedish landing forces commanded by Major General Eberhard von Vegesack. The Russian had troops about 3 600 men under the military commander Lieutenant General Karl Gustav von Baggovut in Turku area.
Overview
Major General von Vegesack started immediately to entrench the landing site. The main defense line was set along the terrain facing the open field. The guns deployed to the front of Ala-Lemu Manor house. The gunboats, who escorted the landing fleet, were in the positions at the strait. They close the straits and they had the visibility to the battlefield.
The Russian troops were deployed in small units along the Turku - Vyborg main road.
Phase 1 (Sunday 19 June (J 7th)
The initial phases of the operation were quite successful for the Swedes, who managed to advance several kilometers, eventually having Turku in sight. The units of the Libau Infantry Regiment with one gun launched the first Russian counterattack and they pulled the advanced Swedish troops back to the main defense line. von Vegesack attacked immediately to Russian center. The Russian commander Baggovut received reinforcements and he attacked with divided forces; 2 companies attacked on the right and 2 companies on the left and 2 companies with the gun in the center. Lieutenant von Vegesack (the son the general) found the Russian left flank open and attacked immediately. The Russians had to withdraw a few kilometers to the defense. The Swedish troops followed.
Phase 2 (Monday 20 June (J 8th)
Major General Nikolay Borozdin had collected more reinforcements, 300 men from the Brest Infantry Regiment, 2 more guns and one squadron of the Finland Dragoon Regiment. In the small hours in the morning the Libau Infantry Regiment make the Swedish troops a retreatagain back to the main defense line. Von Vegesack ordered all the men from the nearby islands to the Lemo battlefield and strengthened the defense line.
Baggovut received Pernov (Pärnu) Musketeer Regiment as the additional reinforces. The Russian launched the whole front attack with bayonets; Pernov Regiment on the right, Libau Regiment in the center and Brest Regiment on the left. The Russian artillery set fire the Ala-Lemo Manor house. The Swedes were forced to pull back and eventually evacuate to their ships. The fortifications at the shore and later the gunboats defended the fleeing Swedes. The Russian artillery moved to the shore and fired the landing fleet. Von Vegesack pulled his land and sea forces back to the Åland Islands.
After the battle the Russian reserve forces at the Yli-Lemo were 2 companies from the Nevski Regiment and ½ squadron Finland Dragoon Regiment.
Others
Summer2008 near the Yli-Lemo Manor house was erected the monument "Kuoleva Soturi" (A dying soldier) by the sculptor Heidi Limnell in the memory of the all the killed soldiers in the battle of Lemo. The monument was inspired by The Tales of Ensign Stål (Part: Den döende krigaren).