Battle of Lemo

Part of Finnish War

Date	19–20 June 1808 (J:7-8)
Location	Lemu manor in Kaarina, south of Turku
Result	Russian defensive victory

Belligerents

Sweden

Russia

Commanders and leaders

Eberhard von Vegesack

Karl Gustav von Baggovut

Strength

2,813

3,600

Casualties and losses

217 killed, wounded and captured

298 killed, wounded and captured

The Battle of Lemo was fought during the Finnish War, between Sweden and Russia on 19–20 June 1808 (Julian calendar 7–8 June) .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Wikipedia