For this marshal was afraid of having his right turned by Wittgenstein and his left by Steingell, who was advancing at the head of two divisions of the army of Finland, which had recently arrived at Riga.  Saint Cyr had sent a very pressing letter to Macdonald, requesting him to use his efforts to stop the march of these Russians, who would have to pass his army, and to send him a reinforcement of fifteen thousand men; or if he would not do that, to come himself with succours to that amount, and take the command.  In the same letter he also submitted to Macdonald all his plans of attack and defence.  But Macdonald did not feel himself authorized to operate so important a movement without orders.  He distrusted Yorck, whom he perhaps suspected of an intention of allowing the Russians to get possession of his park of besieging artillery.  His reply was that he must first of all think of defending that, and he remained stationary.

In this state of affairs, the Russians became daily more and more emboldened; and finally, on the 17th of October, the out-posts of Saint Cyr were driven into his camp, and Wittgenstein possessed himself of all the outlets of the woods which surround Polotsk.  He threatened us with a battle, which he did not believe we would venture to accept.

The French marshal, without orders from his Emperor, had been too late in his determination to entrench himself.  His works were only marked out as much as was necessary, (not to cover their defenders), but to point out the place where their efforts would be principally required.  Their left, resting on the Duena, and defended by batteries placed on the left bank of the river, was the strongest.  Their right was weak.  The Polota, a stream which flows into the Duena, separated them.

Wittgenstein sent Yatchwil to threaten the least accessible side, and on the 18th he himself advanced against the other; at first with some rashness, for two French squadrons, the only ones which Saint Cyr had retained, overthrew his column in advance, took its artillery, and made himself prisoner, it is said, without being aware of it; so that they abandoned this general-in-chief, as an insignificant prize, when they were forced by numbers to retreat.

Rushing from their woods, the Russians then exhibited their whole force, and attacked Saint Cyr in the most furious manner.  In one of the first discharges of their musketry, the marshal was wounded by a ball.  He remained, however, in the midst of the troops, but being unable to support himself, was obliged to be carried about.  Wittgenstein’s determination to carry this point lasted as long as it was daylight.  The redoubts, which were defended by Maison, were taken and retaken seven times.  Seven times did Wittgenstein believe himself the conqueror; Saint Cyr finally wore him out.  Legrand and Maison remained in possession of their entrenchments, which were bathed with the blood of the Russians.