Eylau

Context

After Prussia's collapse at Jena, the Grande Armée pursued the Russians into Poland and then East Prussia. The winter campaign unfolded first in mud, then in frost, with stretched communications and failing supply. Bennigsen, having failed to surprise Ney, turned about and accepted battle at Eylau.

Forces

France: about 75,000 men by the end of the day, the corps of Soult, Augereau, Ney and Davout arriving in succession.

Coalition: about 76,000 Russians under Bennigsen, joined late in the day by L'Estocq's Prussian corps, with very numerous artillery.

Course of the battle

On the morning of 8 February a snowstorm blinded both armies. Augereau's corps, marching by compass, drifted towards the great Russian battery and was destroyed at point-blank range: the division lost two thirds of its strength in minutes and Augereau was wounded.

The French centre lay open. Napoleon launched Murat with eighty squadrons — the largest cavalry charge of the century — which rode through the Russian lines, rode back through them, and saved the day. Davout then attacked the Russian left, but L'Estocq's arrival restored the balance by nightfall.

Consequences

Bennigsen withdrew in order; the exhausted French army did not pursue. No bulletin could present this as a victory: it was the Empire's first great carnage without result, and the army understood as much. The answer came from painting: in 1807 the government held a competition to depict the day, won by Gros with an immense canvas in which Napoleon raises his hand among the wounded.