The initial Russian disposition, which stretched south of the new Smolensk Highway (Napoleon's expected route of advance), was anchored on its left by a pentagonal earthwork redoubt erected on a mound near the village of Shevardino. The construction of the redoubt and its purpose is still disputed by historians. Kutuzov stated that the fortification was simply to delay the advance of the French forces. Historian Dmitry Buturlin reports that it was used as an observation point to determine the course of advance of the French forces. Historians Witner and Ratch, and many others, reported it was used as a fortification to threaten the French right flank, despite the fact that the fortification was beyond effective reach of the guns of the period. The Chief of Staff of the Russian 1st Army, Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov, related in his memoirs that the Russian left was shifting position when the French Army showed up sooner than expected, thus the Battle of Shevardino became a delaying effort to shield the redeployment of the Russian left.
General Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov at BorodinoThe struggle opened on September 5 when Prince Joachim Murat's French forces met Konovnitzyn's Russians in a massive cavalry clash; the Russians eventually retreated to the Kolorzkoi Cloister when their flank was threatened. Fighting reopened the next day, but Konovnitzyn again retreated when Prince Eugène de Beauharnais' Fourth Corps arrived, threatening his flank. The Russians retreated to the Shevardino Redoubt, where a pitched battle occurred. Murat led Nansouty's First Cavalry Corps and Montbrun's Second Cavalry Corps, supported by Compans's Division of Louis Nicolas Davout's First Infantry Corps against the redoubt; simultaneously, Prince Josef Poniatowski's infantry attacked the position from the south. The French captured the redoubt, with the cost of 4,000–5,000 French and 6,000 Russian casualties. The small redoubt was destroyed and covered the dead and dying of both sides.
The unexpected French advance from the west and the fall of the Shevardino redoubt threw the Russian formation into disarray. Since the left flank of their defensive position had collapsed, Russian forces withdrew to the east, constructing a makeshift position centered around the village of Utitza. The left flank of the Russian position was therefore hanging in the air and ripe for a flanking attack.
For this scenari im used Borodino Satellite map with some correction, and creat new OOB with reinforcements for French army in 17.00 (Friant and Morand) and in 20.00(Murat's cuirassier divisions). All units detachet and you can play with historical orders during the battle.
You can download this scenari in depot.
