battle of Eylau

Eylau, battle of (1807). French victory over the Prussians at Jena/Auerstadt in 1805 left Russia in the Napoleonic wars. Napoleon advanced into Poland to meet Marshal Kamenskoi's armies, but failed to catch them in ‘the manoeuvre of the Narew’ in December 1806. The following month he was again unsuccessful in trapping them, now under Benningsen, on the river Alle, and followed them north to Preussiche-Eylau. Each army eventually totalled some 75, 000 men, but was smaller for the opening moves. Napoleon awaited the corps of Davout from his right and Ney from his left, while Benningsen would be reinforced by Lestocq's Prussian corps.

On 8 February a bombardment began in snow which fell intermittently all day. Napoleon hoped to turn Benningsen's left flank when Davout arrived, but attempts to pin Benningsen by attacking his centre misfired: the corps under Augereau was appallingly mauled by Russian cannon and forced back by infantry. Only a desperate massed cavalry charge by Murat checked the Russians. Davout came up on the Russian left and pushed it steadily backwards: it was close to breaking when Lestocq appeared and checked the attack. Ney now arrived, but night had fallen.

Benningsen's generals urged him to hold his ground. But he had spent the day in the saddle, and Ney's arrival depressed him. He ordered a retreat, and Napoleon was in no condition to pursue. The French may have lost 25, 000 men, the Russians and Prussians perhaps 15, 000; many wounded froze to death. Ney, crossing the field on the 9th, said: ‘What a massacre! And without a result!’

— Richard Holmes