Soldiers and officers alike were astonished by the savagery of the engagement. As darkness fell temperatures dropped dramatically. Many of the wounded froze to death where they had fallen. The french ransacked Eylau for food and firewood. Many Russian soldiers had to sleep in open field, wrapped only in their greatcoats, forbidden to light fires. That night, Napoleon's greatest concern was the Russians slipping away under the cover of darkness, robbing him of the decisive battle he craved. He need not have worried. Bennigsen was done running. Here at Eylau, the Russians would make their stand. Before dawn, Napoleon was on Eylau's cementery knoll, trying to make out the Russian lines throught his telescope. He was surprised by what he saw : 67 000 Russians packed into 2 great lines along a 3 mile front with well defended willages anchoring both flanks. Open groud lay between the 2 armies, providing a clear field of fire for Bennigsen's 400 guns, a huge amout of artillery for an army of the age. Napoleon had Soult and Augereau's depleted corps. Plus the Imperial Guard and Murat's reserves cavalry, just 45 000 mens and 137 guns. But Napoleon was expecting Davout's Third Corp, 15 000 mens, to arrive at any moment in perfect position to fall on the Russian flank. At dawn, as french troops were still getting into positions, hundred of Russian guns opened a massive bombardment. In Eylau, there was chaos, as roudshot crashed throught buildings and tore throught men. French guns soon answered the Russians, in kind. It was the largest combined artillery bombardment the world has ever seen yet. It lasted nearly 3 hours. While Bennigsen had quantity, french crews were more expericed and against the densily packed Russian lines, they couldn't miss. Meanwhile, Davout's 2 leading divisions arrived on the battlefield, dangerously placed on the Russian left flank.
But before they could attack, Prince Golitsyn struck first, with the cavalry brigade. Davout's veterans threw back the horsemen with disciplined fire. Golitsyn's charge however, bought time for General Baggovut to organize his defensive line to face the new threat. When the Iron marshall attacked around 8 pm, he foud the enemy entrenched on a bridge with formidable artillery support. Davout's lead division was mauled suffering 1 500 casualties, as it was thrown back. This check on Davout alarmed Napoleon. He feared the Russians might withdraw before the trap could close. It was, he decided, the battle's critical moment. Orders flew out to Marshall Augereau's seventh corps and General Saint Hiliaire's Division. They were to launch a frontal attack against the enemy. At all costs, the Russian escape must be prevented. The 49 years old Marshall Augereau had been with Napoleon since his first command in Italy and the brilliant campaign of 1796 in the Battle of Castiglione. But he was deeply unwell that morning. He led forward the 12 000 troops of seventh corp.s just as heavy snow began to fall. With visibility down to a few feet, Augereau's division drifted of course straight into the murderous artillery duel. French and Russian canonballs tore throught their ranks. Augereau's mens pushed on doggedly. But as they neared the Russian line, the blizzard suddently lifted. One division found himself facing 70 Russian gun at a range of 30 yards. Seconds later, its forward ranks were obliterated by Russian canister. Another french division broke throught the enemy line, only to be surrounded by 2 sides of Russian bayonets and be annihilated. Augereau's horse was killed under him, leaving him badly injured.
As the survivors of his corps stumbled back the way they had come. Russian cavalry and infantry surged forward. Units were overrun, entire regiments swallowed up, order and discipline collapsed. One of the few units to maintain order was the 14th infantry, nicknamed " the brave " for his heroic role at Rivoli 10 years before. But now they were outnumbered and surrounded. The regiment resisted bravely, but was cut to pieces, suffering 75% casualties. And the loss of its eagle standard. In just thirty minutes, the Russians inflicted 5 000 casualties on Augereau's Seventh Corps. Effectively it had ceased to exist, It was one of the most battlefield disastrous of the Napoleonic wars. For the french, Eylau was no longer a fight for victory but a struggle for survival.
Soldiers and officers alike were astonished by the savagery of the engagement. As darkness fell temperatures dropped dramatically. Many of the wounded froze to death where they had fallen. The french ransacked Eylau for food and firewood. Many Russian soldiers had to sleep in open field, wrapped only in their greatcoats, forbidden to light fires. That night, Napoleon's greatest concern was the Russians slipping away under the cover of darkness, robbing him of the decisive battle he craved. He need not have worried. Bennigsen was done running. Here at Eylau, the Russians would make their stand. Before dawn, Napoleon was on Eylau's cementery knoll, trying to make out the Russian lines throught his telescope. He was surprised by what he saw : 67 000 Russians packed into 2 great lines along a 3 mile front with well defended willages anchoring both flanks. Open groud lay between the 2 armies, providing a clear field of fire for Bennigsen's 400 guns, a huge amout of artillery for an army of the age. Napoleon had Soult and Augereau's depleted corps. Plus the Imperial Guard and Murat's reserves cavalry, just 45 000 mens and 137 guns. But Napoleon was expecting Davout's Third Corp, 15 000 mens, to arrive at any moment in perfect position to fall on the Russian flank. At dawn, as french troops were still getting into positions, hundred of Russian guns opened a massive bombardment. In Eylau, there was chaos, as roudshot crashed throught buildings and tore throught men. French guns soon answered the Russians, in kind. It was the largest combined artillery bombardment the world has ever seen yet. It lasted nearly 3 hours. While Bennigsen had quantity, french crews were more expericed and against the densily packed Russian lines, they couldn't miss. Meanwhile, Davout's 2 leading divisions arrived on the battlefield, dangerously placed on the Russian left flank.
But before they could attack, Prince Golitsyn struck first, with the cavalry brigade. Davout's veterans threw back the horsemen with disciplined fire. Golitsyn's charge however, bought time for General Baggovut to organize his defensive line to face the new threat. When the Iron marshall attacked around 8 pm, he foud the enemy entrenched on a bridge with formidable artillery support. Davout's lead division was mauled suffering 1 500 casualties, as it was thrown back. This check on Davout alarmed Napoleon. He feared the Russians might withdraw before the trap could close. It was, he decided, the battle's critical moment. Orders flew out to Marshall Augereau's seventh corps and General Saint Hiliaire's Division. They were to launch a frontal attack against the enemy. At all costs, the Russian escape must be prevented. The 49 years old Marshall Augereau had been with Napoleon since his first command in Italy and the brilliant campaign of 1796 in the Battle of Castiglione. But he was deeply unwell that morning. He led forward the 12 000 troops of seventh corp.s just as heavy snow began to fall. With visibility down to a few feet, Augereau's division drifted of course straight into the murderous artillery duel. French and Russian canonballs tore throught their ranks. Augereau's mens pushed on doggedly. But as they neared the Russian line, the blizzard suddently lifted. One division found himself facing 70 Russian gun at a range of 30 yards. Seconds later, its forward ranks were obliterated by Russian canister. Another french division broke throught the enemy line, only to be surrounded by 2 sides of Russian bayonets and be annihilated. Augereau's horse was killed under him, leaving him badly injured. As the survivors of his corps stumbled back the way they had come. Russian cavalry and infantry surged forward.
Units were overrun, entire regiments swallowed up, order and discipline collapsed. One of the few units to maintain order was the 14th infantry, nicknamed " the brave " for his heroic role at Rivoli 10 years before. But now they were outnumbered and surrounded.
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