The Ripper
07-16-2011, 10:00 AM
This is the translation of an article by Finnish military man, academic and author, colonel Wolf H. Halsti, first published in 1955 by Suomen Kuvalehti.
Many signs indicated that at the end of year 1554 the people of Novgorod would attack Finland. Gustav I of Sweden ordered preparations for the upcoming attack, but it was certain that no help was to be expected from Sweden.
Jöns Månsson Ulfsparre (Juho Maununpoika Ulfsparre in Finland) was the commander of the Kivinebb (Kivennapa) castle. He had c. 60 horsemen, c. 100 infantry and c. 400 armed and trained peasants available. Most of his men we equipped with skis. He also had light calibre cannons at the castle, five of them were placed on sleighs for easy transportation.
On 11th of March the main Novgorod forces crossed the Swedish-Russian border at Jäppilä and headed to Joutselkä. The main force consisted of Prince Bibikoff and his 6000 horsemen, infantry and supply wagons. One can assume that many of the Novgorodians were untrained peasants. After they crossed the border the attackers robbed and burned the villages of Jäppilä and Joutselkä. Villagers were killed on sight.
Ulfsparre was notified about the crossing. He was determined to face his enemy on the battlefield and not in his castle. So he marched to the north of Joutselkä and placed his cannons, part of the infantry and horsemen at the centre and the ski troops at the flanks. If Bibikoff would try to attack the Finnish troops he would have to advance uphill along a narrow road or on a crust of snow outside the road.
After robbing and burning Joutselkä Bibikoff and part of his army marched towards Finnish lines and halted outside of arrow range. The main force was left at the village. This was the moment when Finnish cannons opened fire. Bibikoff was killed and the troops were in chaos. At the same time the ski troops flanked the enemy from both sides. The hunters became the hunted.
The Novgorodians couldn't make a stand on the battleground and after losing c. 300 men they retreated to the burned village pursued by the Finns.
Simultaneously Ulfsparre sent his ski troops to encircle the enemy. Troops advanced quickly towards village of Jäppilä and the Novgorodians were surrounded, but managed to break loose losing c. 600 men. Finns looted 29 flags, 2,000 swords and 500 horses from the enemy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/wilpuri/kartta.gif
Map of the battle by Wolf H. Halsti.
http://www.terijoki.info/images/kuva3.jpg
Monument commemorating the battle.
Many signs indicated that at the end of year 1554 the people of Novgorod would attack Finland. Gustav I of Sweden ordered preparations for the upcoming attack, but it was certain that no help was to be expected from Sweden.
Jöns Månsson Ulfsparre (Juho Maununpoika Ulfsparre in Finland) was the commander of the Kivinebb (Kivennapa) castle. He had c. 60 horsemen, c. 100 infantry and c. 400 armed and trained peasants available. Most of his men we equipped with skis. He also had light calibre cannons at the castle, five of them were placed on sleighs for easy transportation.
On 11th of March the main Novgorod forces crossed the Swedish-Russian border at Jäppilä and headed to Joutselkä. The main force consisted of Prince Bibikoff and his 6000 horsemen, infantry and supply wagons. One can assume that many of the Novgorodians were untrained peasants. After they crossed the border the attackers robbed and burned the villages of Jäppilä and Joutselkä. Villagers were killed on sight.
Ulfsparre was notified about the crossing. He was determined to face his enemy on the battlefield and not in his castle. So he marched to the north of Joutselkä and placed his cannons, part of the infantry and horsemen at the centre and the ski troops at the flanks. If Bibikoff would try to attack the Finnish troops he would have to advance uphill along a narrow road or on a crust of snow outside the road.
After robbing and burning Joutselkä Bibikoff and part of his army marched towards Finnish lines and halted outside of arrow range. The main force was left at the village. This was the moment when Finnish cannons opened fire. Bibikoff was killed and the troops were in chaos. At the same time the ski troops flanked the enemy from both sides. The hunters became the hunted.
The Novgorodians couldn't make a stand on the battleground and after losing c. 300 men they retreated to the burned village pursued by the Finns.
Simultaneously Ulfsparre sent his ski troops to encircle the enemy. Troops advanced quickly towards village of Jäppilä and the Novgorodians were surrounded, but managed to break loose losing c. 600 men. Finns looted 29 flags, 2,000 swords and 500 horses from the enemy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v103/wilpuri/kartta.gif
Map of the battle by Wolf H. Halsti.
http://www.terijoki.info/images/kuva3.jpg
Monument commemorating the battle.