This was on the 28th of November.  The grand army had had two days and two nights to effect its passage; it ought to have been too late for the Russians.  But the French were in a state of complete disorder, and materials were deficient for two bridges.  Twice during the night of the 26th, the one for the carriages had broke down, and the passage had been retarded by it for seven hours:  it broke a third time on the 27th, about four in the afternoon.  On the other hand, the stragglers, who had been dispersed in the woods and surrounding villages, had not taken advantage of the first night, and on the 27th, when daylight appeared, they all presented themselves at once in order to cross the bridges.

This was particularly the case when the guard, by whose movements they regulated themselves, began its march.  Its departure was like a signal; they rushed in from all parts, and crowded upon the bank.  Instantly there was seen a deep, broad, and confused mass of men, horses, and chariots, besieging the narrow entrance of the bridge, and overwhelming it.  The first, pushed forward by those behind them, and driven back by the guards and pontonniers, or stopped by the river, were crushed, trod underfoot, or precipitated among the floating ices of the Berezina.  From this immense and horrible rabble-rout there arose at times a confused buzzing noise, at others a loud clamour, mingled with groans and fearful imprecations.

The efforts of Napoleon and his lieutenants to save these desperate men by restoring order among them, were for a long time completely fruitless.  The disorder was so great, that, about two o’clock, when the Emperor presented himself in his turn, it was necessary to employ force to open a passage for him.  A corps of grenadiers of the guard, and Latour-Maubourg, out of pure compassion, declined clearing themselves a way through these poor wretches.

The imperial head-quarters were established at the hamlet of Zaniwki, which is situated in the midst of the woods, within a league of Studzianka.  Eble had just then made a survey of the baggage with which the bank was covered; he apprised the Emperor that six days would not be sufficient to enable so many carriages to pass over.  Ney, who was present, immediately called out, “that in that case they had better be burnt immediately.”  But Berthier, instigated by the demon of courts, opposed this; he assured the Emperor that the army was far from being reduced to that extremity, and the Emperor was led to believe him, from a preference for the opinion which flattered him the most, and from a wish to spare so many men, whose misfortunes he reproached himself as the cause of, and whose provisions and little all these carriages contained.

In the night of the 27th the disorder ceased by the effect of an opposite disorder.  The bridges were abandoned, and the village of Studzianka attracted all these stragglers; in an instant, it was pulled to pieces, disappeared, and was converted into an infinite number of bivouacs.  Cold and hunger kept these wretched people fixed around them; it was found impossible to tear them from them.  The whole of that night was again lost for their passage.