The First Battle of Smolensk took place on August 17 1812, between 175,000 French under Napoleon Bonaparte and 130,000 Russians under Prince Bagration, of whom about 50,000 and 60,000 respectively were actually engaged. Bagration's corps occupied the town of Smolensk, which Napoleon attacked, carrying two of the suburbs. During the night the Russians set fire to the place and evacuated it, having lost in the action about 10,000 killed and wounded. The French lost 9,000.

See also: Napoleon's invasion of Russia, Battle of Smolensk (1941)