Beresina

Beresina, or BEREZINA, a river of Russia, having its rise in the north of the government of Minsk in Lithuania. It flows in a southward direction for about 350 miles (over 200 of which are navigable) to the Dnieper. Its shores are flat, and the stream is of importance as a means of floating the timber of the country to the sea in rafts. It is connected with the Duna, or Dwina, by a canal, a communica- tion between the Black and Baltic Seas being thus established. The Beresina is memorable on account of the disastrous passage of the French army, November 1812, during the retreat from Moscow. Two bridges over the river were hastily constructed amid terrible hardships, and, on the 27th, the passage of the French commenced, and went on throughout the whole day. Marshal Victor's rear-guard of 7000 men, under Partonieux, were, however, intercepted by the Russians, and had to capitulate. On the 28th a vigorous attack was made by the Russians upon the French on both sides of the river; and they established a battery of twelve pieces to command the bridge. The panic and confusion of the French became dreadful. One bridge broke, and all rushing to the other, it was soon choked; multitudes were forced into the stream, while the Russian cannon played on the struggling mass. On the 29th a considerable number of sick and wounded soldiers, women, children, and sutlers still remained behind, until preparations were completed for burning the bridges. Then a fearful rush took place; and as the fire seized the timbers, men, women, and children threw themselves in desperation into the flames or the river. The 12,000 dead bodies found on the shores of the river, when the ice thawed, attested the magnitude of the French disaster. The Russians took 16,000 prisoners and 25 pieces of cannon.