Barclay de Tolly

The most obvious was the catastrophic invasion of Russia in 1812, when he underestimated not just the skill of such generals as Barclay de Tolly and the fighting quality of Russian troops, but also the determination of the tsar.

He served successively under Colonel von Dolffs and General von Kleist, and as commissioner at the headquarters of the Russian general Barclay de Tolly.

At daylight the camp of Barclay de Tolly was deserted; not a weapon, not a single valuable left behind; and a Russian soldier asleep under a bush was the sole result of the day expected to be so decisive.

He was on horseback, but was soon obliged to return to his travelling carriage in rear of the army, and to give up the command to Barclay de Tolly.

Napoleon defeats Barclay de Tolly; Russians lose 12,000, French less than half.