Beresina

Beresina, or Berezina, a tributary of the Dnieper, rising in the north of the Russian province of Minsk, Lithuania. As a stream it is an important artery for floating timber from the country to the open sea. It is memorable in history as the scene of the fatal crossing by Napoleon's army in its retreat from Moscow in November, 1812. On that occasion 12,000 dead bodies were found on the banks of the river, and the Russians captured 16,000 prisoners and 25 pieces of ordnance.