EYLAU, Preussisch, or Prussian, a small town in East Prussia, south-east of Koningsberg, of little note till it became the scene of a most sanguinary engage ment between the French and Russians, on the 8th Fe bruary 1307. The Russian army having retreated du ring six days, reached on the 7th February the position behind the town of Eylau, where general Beningsen bad promised to his impatient followers to give battle to Bonaparte. The ground was chosen, less from a consideration of its being favourable to the Russians, than with a view to the preservation of the city of Ko ningsberg. The length of the position was two miles; it was partly flanked by woods, but, on the whole, the ground was elevated and exposed. The French took post on ground nearly parallel, but higher, so as to command with their artillery the Russian position.
The French had likewise the superiority in numbers, the Russians not exceeding 60,000 men. On the even ing before the battle, there was a most sanguinary strug gle for the town of Eylau, which finally remained in possession of the French. The armies passed the night in the immediate neighbourhood of each other, and ea ger for the approaching conflict. The cannonade be gan at clay break, and was conducted at first with great er effect on the part of the French, in consequence of the Russian line standing more exposed. The space between the armies, though marshy in open weather, was easily passable at this season of ice and snow. Bo naparte accordingly made two large columns move for ward, the one against the centre, the other against the right of the Russians; but after advancing 300 yards, the havoc of the Russian artillery was so great as to break their order, and they returned in confusion. A subsequent effort directed against the Russian left, was equally unavailing, the Russians advancing and driving back their opponents with the bayonet.
These operations, however, were merely preparatory to Bonaparte's general attack. Calculating that Da voust, whom he had detached to take the Russians in the rear, would arrive at his station towards noon, Bo naparte directed a general movement of his army, in cluding the guards, in six separate columns, against the Russian line. A heavy fall of snow concealed his ar
rangement, and favoured the approach of the columns, so that they were not discovered till they had come very near to the Russian line, upon which general Beningsen, aware of the importance of the moment, made his re serve advance, join themselves to the main body, and rush forward, with united strength, to charge the ene my. The French were shaken, gave way, and all the efforts of their officers to rally them were ineffectu al. Their cavalry attempting to turn the fortune of the day by desperate charges, were cut up in great numbers; but the Russians had hardly effected this re pulse, when they were ordered to face about, a nume rous corps appearing on their left, and threatening their rear. This was the corps of Davoust, who had fortu nately been retarded by the wretched state of the roads.
The Russian main body was drawn back from the field of battle to meet him; and a Prussian corps under ge neral having, after. a most difficult march, reached the scene of action, advanced to attack Davoust. Their number did not exceed 6000 ; but they were ad mirably commanded by Lestocq, and the Russian left wing affording them support, the French were repulsed with very heavy loss. Night now came on, and Bona parte recalled Davoust. Had the Russians been in a condition to make an attack the next day, their success would have been certain; but their ammunition was expended, and their men were fainting for want of food. By an irregularity unfortunately too common in. the Russian commissariat, there had been no supply of provisions that day; and Beningsen, apprehensive the eventual safety of Koningsberg, took the determi nation of retreating, contrary to the concurrent wish of his generals. The Russians, acknowledged a loss of nearly 20,000 men in killed and wounded, and main tained that that of the French exceeded 30,000. Bo naparte remained for some time at Eylau, but ending that the Russian cavalry were. competent to the protec tion of the surrounding country, and that he could make no-effectual progress against so resolute an enemy, he retired in the direction of Dantzic. ((,)