Battle of Vaasa
The Battle of Vaasa was fought between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Russian Empire during the Finnish War (1808-1809).
Battle of Vaasa | |||||||
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Part of the Finnish War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
1,100 infantry 200–300 peasants 4 guns[1] |
1,488 infantry 200 cossacks 4 guns[2] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
68 killed, |
37 killed,[2][3] 82–113 wounded,[2][3] 53 captured[3] In total: 150–172.[2][3] | ||||||
![]() ![]() Location within Finland ![]() ![]() Battle of Vaasa (Europe) |
While the Swedish army was celebrating its victory at Nykarleby, another Swedish force, led by Johan Bergenstråhle, landed at Vaasa. Adlercreutz had forgot about this landing and didn't send any troops to help Bergenstråhle. The Swedes, numbering 1,300–1,400 men, landed just outside Vaasa, but the Russians, strengthened by the arrival of the Russian main army turned out to be too strong. After some harsh street battles, the Russians lost 37 killed, 82–113 wounded (five officers) and, according to certain sources, 53 captured; in total 150–172 men. The Swedes had lost 68 men killed and 204 captured (including the commander); of these, 101 men were wounded. The remaining forces retreated northwards, to the Swedish main army at Nykarleby, and created the Sixth [Swedish] brigade.
Swedish forces
- Västerbotten Infantry Regiment (1 battalion)
- Västerbotten auxiliary reserve and Jämtland Infantry Regiment (1 battalion; including 2 Jämtland companies)
- Peasants (200–300)
- Guns (4)
In total: 1,300–1,400 men and 4 guns[4]
References
- Hornborg 1955, p. 114.
- Leer 1885, p. 21.
- Hornborg 1955, p. 115.
- Hornborg 1955, pp. 111–112.
Sources
- Leer, Heinrich (1885). Encyclopedia of Military and Marine Sciences (1885) (in Russian). Saint Petersburg: Bezobrazov Printing House.
- Hornborg, Eirik (1955). När riket sprängdes: fälttågen i Finland och Västerbotten, 1808-1809 (in Swedish). Stockholm: P. A. Norstedts och Söners Förlag.