THE BRIDGES THAT ÉBLÉ BUILT
THE 1812 CROSSING OF THE BEREZINA

Berezina Battle Map #2 Eventually, General Wittgenstein realized that the French were north of Borisov. He then crushed Partouneaux's division as it tried to rejoin Victor's Corps, and attacked the Eastern side of the crossing. Chichagov eventually marched back up the west bank and attacked, but only after the French had crossed the newly built bridges in strength. As he moved against the new bridgehead, the remaining French Cuirassiers conducted a desperate heavy cavalry charge, which stampeded the Russians to a safe distance for a time. The French Army's bridgehead continued to be threatened from two sides, but was maintained by a vigorous defense personally lead by Generals Ney, Oudinot, Davout and Victor to name a few. Return to Article