During the Patriotic War of 1812, Driesen served as an officer in the Third Infantry Corps, under Nikolay Tuchkov. However, Driesen's service on the battlefield would come to an end in September of that same year. He was wounded at the Battle of Borodino, losing a significant portion of his left leg. Driesen was, in turn, replaced by Major Andrey von Fitinhoff, and was from then on considered to have been a hero of the battle.