Battle of Berdychevsk

The Battle of Berdychevsk occured on March 19, 1773. The battle was led by Frederich Szaltsa against General Linvert Orion near the city of Berdychevsk in Rictuvia.

The battle was the first defeat of Szaltsa in the war and his only defeat against the Verdictine army in the north.

The Rictuvian army fought only defensively against the Verdicts in the recent battles. This opted Szaltsa to attack the Verdictine army directly.

In Berdychevsk, the resupplied Verdictine troops were being prepared to march back to Szczecizierzyn to eventually retake it. General Linvert Orion planned to take Szczecizierzyn, hold the position and wait for reinforcements coming from Yrvaincais.

Szaltsa began his march to Berdychevsk on March 17, reaching the outskirts of the city on the morning of March 18. Szaltsa's army prepared outside.

The next morning, Orion received reports from his scouts that a Rictuvian army has arrived near Berdychevsk, ready to attack the city. The Verdictine Army, led by Orion, marched to the Rictuvian encampment and began the battle.

The Rictuvian army was not fully prepared when the Verdictine army deployed and began to fight the enemy in a disordered manner. Orion ordered a charge on the enemy and effectively broke the center of the loose formation.

The Rictuvian army continued fighting after retreating back further from Berdychevsk. A cavalry force led by Brigadier General Lewis Harrinewitt charged at the retreating army wiping out a major part of the army. Amidst the melee in the retreat, Harrinewitt's horse was shot and had to continue fighting in foot, before eventually being surrounded by Rictuvian troops and killed him in close combat.

As the Rictuvian troops retreated from Berdychevsk, Orion opposed the idea of pursuing the retreating army further and instead prepared to attack Szczecizierzyn. The battle ended with a Verdictine Major Victory.