Rivers in detailed combat

[moose1999]

Don't think I've ever been able to figure this out:
What good/bad does it do to fight across rivers in detailed combat.
I assume a river will give you protection against charges, but what other modifiers are there?

[GShock]

Riverine terrain helps defense a lot and it also helps offense if you are attacking and have the pontoneers. Generally i choose this terrain when i am overwhelmed in defense or when i have worse firearms. It's a good choice if you have cavalry too, easier to pick off routing troopers.

[moose1999]

Hi GShock, - how exactly do you mean it helps defence?
By positive modifiers to counter-fire, for example?
For if riverines just give a general bonus to defence - I assume that the bonus will benefit both parties if they stand right next to each other with a riverine between them... If this is the case, one would have to initiate fire combat with enemy units before they reached the other shore and gained the defense bonus too...

[Randomizer]

River penalties in DC is limited to movement costs are they not?
 
I have never seen a unit cross a river in line and if you set up one hex back you can slaughter the attackers when they try to cross in column.  Digging in parallel to a river is a formidable defensive technique provided your flanks are taken care of.
 
To breach a river line, take the time required to go around while using artillery to fix and attrit the defenders on your desired axis of advance.