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This map from the Beskrovni Atlas depicts the
main French assault on Smolensk on 16-17 August. Marshal Ney is leading the
attack against the large redoubt (King's bastion marked KB) at the southwest
corner of the city. Much of this redoubt still exists. The French field
artillery (their siege guns were far to the rear) had little effect on the
massive medieval brick fortress walls. But Davout finally broke into the city
by the southern Malokhovski gate (marked MB), once the Russians had withdrawn
across the Dniper.
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