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This map from the West Point Atlas depicts
the situation at 1100 on 28 November. On 26 November Napoleon had placed
Oudinot's artillery behind Studenka to cover a river crossing, then sent Polish
cavalry and infantry to take the far bank. Immediately Eble began construction
of two tressle bridges in the freezing water. Oudinot and Dombrovski then
crossed their infantry and cavalry to widen the bridgehead. The pushed
Chichagov's skirmishers back south and also took the bridges across the swamp
and stream toward Zembik that the Russians had failed to destroy. Ney then
crossed at Studenka on the 26th while Chichagov was still milling around on a
wild goose chase at Usha off map to the south. The vehicular bridge broke
numerous times but was repaired each time by Eble's engineers. Victor arrived
early on the 27th to take over the rear guard, but left one division
(Partouneaux) at Borisov. It was later captured by Wittgenstein's troops after
a hard fight. The Guard, Junot, Eugene and Davout all crossed on the 27th.
Chichagov and Wittgenstein finally came together, they met in Borisov on the
27th, but too late, as most of the remanant of the Grand Army had crossed the
Berezhina. Kutuzov was way behind and so was Platov with the cossacks that
ought to be far in advance. On the 28th Wittgenstein and Chichagov finally
attacked up both banks of the river but were handily driven off by Victor and
Ney. This enabled Junot, Eugene and Davout to escape toward Zembik. That
evening Victor withdrew across the bridges in good order, leaving at least
10,000 stragglers to fend for themselves. Eble burned the bridges at 0830 on
the 29th. He then burned the bridges along the road to Zembik as fast as Ney
shifted the French rear guard across them.
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