This excerpt is from the third and final book of Paul Britten Austin's study of Napoleon's 1812 campaign in Russia. The earlier volumes, published by Greenhill Books of London, have been described as "powerful and unique." We concur that Austin's series is one of the most dramatic narratives ever published on this disastrous campaign, weaving together eye-witness accounts by more than 100 participants. We present our readers with a "sneak preview" of Austin's third volume.--editor

On 24 June 1812, Napoleon led nearly 650,000 men across the Niemen River and into Russia. The Emperor's Grande Armee was not a purely French army, however. A large proportion of the troops came from Italy, Poland, Saxony and other German states. There were even two large contingents of Austrians and Prussians -- former enemies that were somewhat reluctant allies in this campaign. A little more than six months later less than 17% of that gigantic force, or about 110,000 soldiers, returned to Poland. Some had been captured, but most had perished in what scholars and writers describe as one of the most disastrous campaigns in history.

Fighting and winning several pitched battles, including Borodino, Napoleon's columns reached Moscow in 84 days. As yet undefeated in this campaign, Napoleon ultimately found only frustration, not victory. The Russians destroyed the city and Tsar Alexander refused to yield.

On 19 October, the French Emperor ordered his first retreat since his unsuccessful attack at Aspern-Essling in 1809. As the weather turned colder, Napoleon's army began to disintegrate. Sensing an opportunity to destroy the steadily weakening Grande Armee, and perhaps even capture the "usurper" of the French throne, in late November Russian forces converged for the kill.

The prospects for the surviving elements of the retreating Grande Armee as it approached the Berezina River were grim. On the far side of the river, the 34,000-man army of Admiral Tchitchagov awaited them at Studianka, intent on sealing off the Grande Armee from its retreat route to Poland. Closing from behind to finish the trap came Field Marshal Wittgenstein and his 30,000 Russians. Against them the French Emperor had less than 50,000 effectives, and an equal horde of stragglers. Never had Napoleon been in more dire straits.

Desperate, with time running out as Wittgenstein closed in, Napoleon ordered Marshal Oudinot to make a feint to the south. Admiral Tchitchagov took the bait, moving south and leaving the crossings at Studianka unguarded. General Eble and his engineers then swiftly moved to span the Berezina, tearing down nearby villages for lumber. Working waist deep in freezing water, Eble and his men completed two makeshift bridges 100 yards long on 26 November, 1812. Quickly, Napoleon recalled Oudinot and began crossing.

On 27 November, Tchitchagov, deducing the situation, returned and launched an attack. Oudinot's men held firm while others, including the Imperial Guard, crossed and reinforced the bridgehead on the western bank. By nightfall the columns under Prince Eugene (Napoleon's stepson) and Marshal Davout were safely across. Thus on 28 November only Marshal Victor and his men remained as the rear-guard on the eastern bank, along with a mob of 40,000 to 50,000 stragglers that remained with the army.

Early in the morning, Wittgenstein began his attack on Victor's force, while Tchitchagov tried once again to drive in the main body of Napoleon's army on the west bank (an effort that would fail). What follows is abridged from Paul Britten Austin's 1812: The Great Retreat, a book of eye-witness accounts described by the author as a "word film" on the ill-fated 1812 campaign in Russia. This article is a harrowing and sometimes graphic account of a tragedy that is beyond even the powerful words of its participants to fully render. Austin's book marks the best effort yet to do justice to this incredible story.

More 1812 Berezina Crossing

Back to Introduction
Overall Russia Campaign Map (slow--137K)
1812 Excerpt (part 1)
1812 Excerpt (part 2)
Rear Guard Action at the Berezina Crossing
Statistical Graph
Berezina Crossing Order of Battle (text--fast)
Berezina Crossing Order of Battle (graphics--very, very slow)
Berezina Diorama

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