Efim Chaplits Lieutenant General. Date of Birth: . Country: Russia

1. Early Life and Military Career
2. Service during the Polish Revolution and in Persia
3. Military Service under Paul I and Alexander I
4. Command during the Napoleonic Wars
5. Later Career
6. Role in the Battle of Berezina and Later Campaigns

Early Life and Military Career

Lieutenant General Kazimierz Piotr Józef Aleksander Michał Franciszek Stanisław Hipolit Franciszek Ksawery Kasper Jan Nepomucen Józef Tadeusz Sylwester Antoni Gonzaga Feliks Józef Atanazy Onufry Franciszek Ksawery Jan Witalis Michał Franciszek Ksawery Józef Paweł Łukasz Franciszek Ksawery Chaplitz was born into an ancient Polish aristocratic family. He initially served in the Polish army before joining the Russian military as a Second Major in 1783. In 1788, he was transferred to the staff of Prince Potemkin and participated in the siege of Ochakov, the capture of Bender, and the storming of Izmail. For his bravery in the latter battle, he received the Order of Saint Vladimir, 4th Class with a bow.

Service during the Polish Revolution and in Persia

In 1792, Chaplitz was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Smolensk Dragoon Regiment and served under General Mikhail Vasil'yevich Kakhovsky in Poland. During the Warsaw Revolution of 1794, he was sent to negotiate with the Poles but was attacked and wounded in the left arm. He was later held captive. In 1796, he was sent to Persia, where he commanded the Grebensky and Semeyny Cossack regiments during the siege of Derbent and the capture of Baku.

Military Service under Paul I and Alexander I

Upon the accession of Paul I, Chaplitz was dismissed from service in 1798. He was reinstated under Alexander I in 1801, promoted to Major General, and appointed to his retinue in 1803. During the 1805 campaign, he commanded an advance detachment in Bagration's corps and distinguished himself in several battles, including Lambagh, Schengraben, and Znaim. At Austerlitz, he rescued the surrounded Pskov Infantry Regiment and covered the army's retreat.

Command during the Napoleonic Wars

In 1806, Chaplitz was appointed commander of the Pavlograd Regiment and later a brigade commander in the wars against France in Prussia. At the Battle of Golymin, he attacked the enemy and facilitated the retreat of other troops. In recognition of his valor, he was awarded the Order of Saint George, 3rd Class in 1807. In 1807, he broke through the French-occupied town of Allenstein and rescued Prince Dolgoruky's besieged detachment. He later served as commandant of Königsberg for two weeks.

Later Career

From 1809 to 1810, Chaplitz commanded the 7th Division, and in 1810, he became commander of the Reserve Cavalry Corps. In 1811, he commanded the 4th and 8th Cavalry Divisions. During the 1812 campaign, he led a detachment of hussars that defeated a Saxon force near Kobrin. He then joined the 3rd Army and commanded a light infantry corps, participating in numerous engagements and skirmishes.

Role in the Battle of Berezina and Later Campaigns

In November 1812, Chaplitz commanded the advance guard of the 3rd Army during the crossing of the Berezina River. He engaged in intense fighting with the enemy, sustaining a head wound but continuing to lead his troops. He captured Vilnius on November 28th, taking many prisoners and cannons. He later participated in the blockade of Thorn.

Chaplitz continued his military career in the campaigns of 1813-1815, serving as commander of the cavalry of the Polish army and commanding the 3rd Cavalry Division from 1817 to 1823. He wrote a memoir justifying the actions of Admiral Chichagou at the Berezina crossing, which was published in the journal "Russian Antiquities" in 1886.