Battle of Nykarleby

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Battle of Nykarleby (June 24, 1808)

The Battle of Nykarleby happened in Nykarleby, Ostrobothnia, Finland, during the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia. Swedish forces led by Carl Johan Adlercreutz aimed to surround the Russian main army. The Russians, commanded by Ivan Fedorovich Yankovich de Mirievo, had already pulled back to Vaasa, where another Swedish force under Johan Bergenstråhle landed.

Adlercreutz engaged several smaller Russian units guarding the retreat. The Russians pulled back over a bridge in the town center and then burned the bridge. On the road toward Vaasa, a smaller Swedish unit under Major Carl von Otter fought a brief skirmish.

The Swedes stopped in Nykarleby to celebrate Midsummer, and the locals fed and provided drinks for them. Georg Carl von Döbeln, marching with the Pori Regiment, is said to have almost drowned after the Russians burned the bridge, but his troops saved him. The battle was relatively bloodless. Sweden won a small victory, but the festive delay prevented the Swedish march from supporting the landing force at Vaasa.

Casualties were light for Sweden (about 1 killed and 3 wounded) and heavier for Russia (about 70 killed, wounded and captured).