After taking it on the chin twice the French begin to turn things around. Eugene and Oudinot decide they are going to each battle their respective Russian opponents: Bennigsen (Russian left facing Eugene) and Dokhturov (Russian right facing Oudinot).
Bennigsen begins his movement cautiously, advancing towards Eugene’s river crossing but initially keeping his distance, halting approximately a mile from Eugene’s developing position. This allows Eugene to successfully get his first division across the stream as well as bring his second division through a narrow defile. The French light cavalry cover Eugene’s flank and ensure the Russian cossacks aren’t a significant threat to the vulnerable infantry column. Both sides begin to deploy – Bennigsen once he reaches his designated staging area a mile out, and Eugene as quickly as battalions exit the bridge and defile respectively.
Meanwhile Oudinot is slower to reach the stream dividing him from his opponent than Dokhturov is. Oudinot begins deploying earlier than the Russians, anticipating their meeting but Dokhturov gambles and keeps his infantry in columns slightly longer to gain precious moments in ensuring that the French will need to fight across the stream. Oudinot deploys his chasseurs à cheval and Dokhturov his Donskoy Kazachiy each to watch each other on the far right of the Russian advance.
Despite not beginning his deployment until later than the French, Dokhturov’s columns manage to deploy rapidly and the Russians appear to have an initial advantage over Oudinot. On the other end of the field Eugene is closely monitoring his own deployments successfully staging his two divisions one behind the other with his lead division covering the deployment of his second. Opposite him, Bennigsen is struggling to concentrate each of his divisions as they face a much more prepared host.
And the French seize the moment, almost simultaneously sending forward their chasseurs à cheval against the Russian Donskoy Kazachiy on each of the extreme flanks. In both cases the cossacks are driven backwards fleeing the field. Both French commanders allow their cavalry to rally up and pause before being committed again in coordination with a general advance of French infantry. The Russians are more than contained and Bennigsen is compelled to withdraw both of his divisions with Dokhturov soon to follow.
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