[1][2] Ivan Adamovich fought the Ottoman Turks and Napoleonic France as a seasoned and highly experienced warrior who long ago earned his stripes under fire.

After graduating from the Cadet Corps in Saint Petersburg, he joined the Imperial Russian Army as a young, career soldier.

Three years later, he retired for the second time, but on 5 September 1812, he returned to the army once again, joining his comrade-at-arms in the Battle of Borodino.

[citation needed] In the autumn of 1812 Field Marshall Mikhail Kutuzov determined to create a proper reserve from the Narodnoe Opolchenie or people's militia.

This done, in 1813 Adamovich was named to serve as commander of one of four brigades making up to 20,000- men Reserve Army that backed the main Russian force as it crossed the Niemen river.