The battle at Oravainen

The Battle of Oravais was a decisive turning point in the Finnish War of 1808. The Swedish army, which had been on the offensive for most of the summer, was forced to retreat after suffering a series of defeats at Karstula, Ruona, and Salmi. The Swedes were outnumbered and lacked supplies, and their morale was low.

The Battle of Oravais took place on September 14, 1808, near the village of Oravais in Ostrobothnia. The Russian army, under the command of General Major Nikolay Kamenskiy, attacked the Swedish position at dawn. The Swedes fought bravely, but they were eventually overwhelmed by the superior Russian numbers in the end of this battle. The Swedish army suffered heavy casualties and was forced to retreat further north.

The defeat at Oravais marked the end of Swedish hopes fore defending Finland. The Swedish army was demoralized and disorganized, and the Russians were in control of the battlefield. The war ended a few months later, with the signing of the Treaty of Frederikshamn. Finland was ceded to Russia, and Sweden remained a neutral country for the rest of the Napoleonic Wars.