The Battle of Eylau (Bagrationovsk, formerly Preußisch Eylau) took place on February 8, 1807.
Prelude
The Prussians having been crushed at Jena and Auerstaedt, Bennigsen, whom the Tsar had sent with 60,000 men to support them, found himself forced to temporize while waiting for Russian reinforcements under the orders of Buxhovden. Without linking up with the surviving Prussian army corps of General Lestocq, he retreated to the town of Ostrołęka in Poland.
Napoleon I, irritated by the resumption of hostilities by Russia, which he believed to have been relatively spared during the peace of Presburg, crossed the Vistula and then attempted to envelop the retreat of the Russians by a movement from his left, which due to the fact atmospheric conditions fails, causing only rearguard fights in Pułtusk and Golymin (December 26, 1806).
The Russian reinforcements, 50,000 men with Buxhovden and 30,000 from the Russian Imperial Guard, having arrived, Bennigsen then had 140,000 men in Poland and resolved to go on the offensive by attacking the corps of Marshal Bernadotte, located to the north of the French device and after having defeated it, engage in the rear of the French. However, Bernadotte reacted promptly by taking the offensive at Mohrungen on January 25, 1807, which enabled his army corps to be freed from forces twice as numerous.
Napoleon, warned, ordered him and Ney to fall back further, thinking to attract Bennigsen, to take him from the flank and back him against the Baltic. But the capture of a French courier informs him of the trap set and again pushes him into retirement. Napoleon, then decides to force him to the general battle by marching directly towards Königsberg where he knows to find the majority of Russian supplies. Bennigsen, after two rearguard battles at Hof and Heilsberg on February 6, cornered chose the village of Preussisch-Eylau to try to stop him.
Procedure
February 7
Arriving around 2 p.m., Soult and Joachim Murat attacked the Russian vanguard commanded by Bagration, located to the west on the Lansberg road and in the village itself. The first attacks led by the Schiner and Vivies brigades, on the right through the woods, and the Levasseur and Essards brigades, in the center across the frozen lake, were sharply repelled. But the arrival of the Leval division and Augereau's corps, which threatened to envelop from the left, forced the Russians to fall back on the village and at the start of the evening, the Legrand division, supported by those of Saint-Hilaire and Leval snatched the village from the Russians during a hand-to-hand fight in which the Essards brigade distinguished itself. Bagration, beaten, retreated to the left of the positions occupied by his general-in-chief on the heights to the east of the village. Napoleon, who arrived at 11 p.m. in Eylau, had only 46,000 men and 300 guns, Davout's corps and Ney's being still 18 km to the south and 30 km to the north, respectively, while Bernadotte's still further away. Facing him, Bennigsen has 80,000 men supported by 400 guns, he nevertheless decides to fight the next day to avoid a new Russian evasion.
February 8
From seven o'clock, the Russian artillery divided into three large batteries pounded the positions of Soult and the village. Quickly the French artillery responds causing a gigantic duel that the troops of the two camps having not eaten and slept without fire, undergo for two hours. At nine o'clock Davout arrived, and immediately attacked from the south, but his numerical inferiority, despite initial successes, put him in difficulty, the Emperor, therefore pushed Augerau's corps and Saint-Hilaire's division for the to lean on. But blinded by the snow, the columns of these present themselves on the flank against the central Russian battery and are decimated, the generals of division Desjardins and Heudelet are killed and the marshal of Augerau is wounded. The encircled 14th line infantry regiment was annihilated, under the very eyes of Napoleon (who ordered Augereau to attempt a rescue operation and which would leave a famous passage in the Memoirs of General Marbot with his mare Lisette), by the general counter-attack launched with the Russian Imperial Guard, the cavalry and General Somov's division which aims to cut the French in two at the level of the village by taking advantage of the breach created. Napoleon, then in the cemetery of Eylau, does not back down and gives the Guard. Electrified by the presence of their Emperor, the grenadiers of Dorsenne and the chasseurs à cheval of Dahlman, stop dead the Russian column of grenadiers which aims at the cemetery in a titanic hand-to-hand combat with bladed weapons, it is one of the rare battles where the infantry of the Imperial Guard intervenes. He then provokes Murat:“Will you let us be devoured by these people? which takes a huge charge of all available cavalry, 12,000 men, the largest charge ever. The latter sabered, on the way there and back, the two divisions that Bennigsen had engaged in exploiting the annihilation of Augerau's troops, restoring the situation.
The fight remained undecided all afternoon, despite the appearance of the Prussian Lestocq and his 10,000 men attacking Davout's right, which was counterbalanced by the arrival of Ney and his 8,000 men. When night fell, Bennigsen, running out of ammunition, without reserves, against the advice of Knorring, Osterman and Lestocq, decided to fall back towards Königsberg.
Epilogue
The victory is French, but it was very expensive:
* Augerau's corps is almost destroyed, the other corps are badly damaged.
* Several generals of great value are lost:
o Marshal Augereau is seriously injured .
o Division General Desjardins
o Division General Heudelet
o Division General Hautpoul (despite a broken thigh and the opinion of Larrey, he refuses amputation and dies on February 14)
o Major General Dahlmann
o Lochet
o Varé
o D'Hommières
o Napoleon's aide-de-camp, Claude Corbineau...
Napoleon, very affected by the losses suffered, contrary to his habit, will remain eight days on the battlefield to activate the assistance to the wounded. Moreover, it is not decisive because Bennigsen, although very much involved, withdrew in good order and was not really prosecuted because of the state of exhaustion of the French army. It will take another great battle to force the Russians to peace, decisive this one, it will be Friedland.
Miscellaneous:Colonel Chabert (hero of Balzac's novel) reputed to have died at the Battle of Eylau during Murat's great charge, reappears in Paris under the Restoration, to the chagrin of his wife who inherited his fortune and is remarried.
Battle orders
French
The French army is 75,000 strong under the direct command of Napoleon.
* III Army Corps, under Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout. He arrives on the battlefield around 10 a.m.
*
o Infantry
+ Morand Division composed of the following units:
# Debilly Brigade:13th light infantry regiment under the orders of Colonel Guyardet
# Brouard Brigade:17th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Lanusse) and 30th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Valterre)
# Bonney d'Honières Brigade:51st Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Baille) and 61st Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Nicolas)
+ Friant Division, composed of the following units:
# Lochet Brigade:33rd Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Raymond) and 48th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Barbanègre)
# Grandeau Brigade:108th Infantry Regiment of line (Colonel Higonet) and 111th Reg Line Infantry Unit (Colonel Gay)
+ Gudin Division:
# Small Brigade:12th Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Vergès) and 21st Infantry Regiment 'line infantry (colonel Decouz)
# Gautier Brigade:25th line infantry regiment (colonel Ccassagne) and 85th line infantry regiment (colonel Vialla)
*
o Light Cavalry
+ Marulaz Division:1st Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (under Excelmans), 2nd Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (under orders of Bousson)
* IV Army Corps commanded by Marshal Nicolas-Jean-de-Dieu Soult
*
o Infantry
+ Saint-Hilaire Division:
# Candras Brigade:10th Light Infantry Regiment
# Waré Brigade:36th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Berlier), 43rd Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Lemarois) and 55th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Silbermann)
+ Leval Division:
# Schiner Brigade:24th Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Pourailly)
# Fery Brigade:4th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Boeldieu) and 28th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Edighoffen)
# Vivies Brigade:46th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Latrille) and 57th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Rey)
+ Legrand Division:
# Brigade Essards:26th light infantry regiment (Colonel Pouget) as well as the regiment of Corsican Tirailleurs of Colonel Ornano and the regiment of Tirailleurs du Pô of Colonel Hulot
# Levasseur Brigade:18th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Ravier) and 75th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel L'Huillier)
*
o Light Cavalry
+ Guyot Brigade:8th hussar regiment (Colonel Laborde), 16th mounted chasseurs regiment (Colonel Bonvalet) and 22nd chasseurs regiment on horseback (Colonel Bordessoulle)
* VI Army Corps commanded by Marshal Michel Ney which arrives on the battlefield at the end of the afternoon.
*
o Infantry
+ Merchant Division:
# Vilatte Brigade:6th Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Laplane)
# Brigade roguet:39th line infantry regiment (Colonel MUne), 69th line infantry regiment (Colonel Brun) and the 76th line infantry regiment (Colonel Lajonquière)
+ Gardanne Division:
# Marcognet Brigade:25th Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Morel) and 27th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Bardet)
# Delabassee Brigade:50th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Lamartinière) and 59th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Dalton)
o Cavalry
+ Brigade Colbert:3rd regiment of hussars (under the command of Laferriè re) and 10th mounted chasseurs regiment (under the command of Subervie) as well as the 15th mounted chasseurs regiment (Colonel Mouriez)
+ Lassalle Division:
# La Tour-Maubourg Brigade:5th hussar regiment (under the command of Déry) and 7th hussar regiment (under the command of E. de Colbert)
# Watier Brigade:3 squadrons of 11th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment (450 cavalry) and Colonel Pappenheim's Bavarian Light Horse Regiment
# ColonelDelorme's Dragoon Brigade:20th Dragoon Regiment (Colonel Reynaud) and 26th Dragoon Regiment (Colonel Delorme)
* VII Army Corps commanded by Marshal Augereau
*
o Infantry
+ Desjardins Division:
# Albert Brigade:16th Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Harispe) and 14th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Henriod)
# Binot Brigade:44th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Sandeur) and 105th Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Habert)
+ Heudelet Division:
# Amey Brigade:7th Light Infantry Regiment (Colonel Boyet)
# Sarrut Brigade:24th Infantry Regiment (Colonel Semellé) and 63rd Line Infantry Regiment (Colonel Lacuée)
o Light Cavalry
+ Durosnel Brigade:7th Mounted Chasseurs Regiment ( colonel Lagrange) and 20th mounted chasseurs regiment (colonel Castex)
* Reserve Cavalry under King-Marshal Joachim Murat
o Light Cavalry
+ Lasalle Division:
# Milhaud Brigade :1st hussar regiment (colonel De Juniac), 3rd hussar regiment, 5th hussar regiment and 13th mounted chasseurs regiment (colonel Domangeot)
# Wathier Brigade:11th mounted chasseurs regiment and the 1st Bavarian Lancer Chasseur Regiment.
o Cuirrassiers
+ Nansouty Division:
# La Houssaye Brigade:9th Regiment of cuirassiers and 11th cuirassier regiment
+ Hautpoul division, composed of the Verdière and Saint-Sulpice brigades with the following units:
# 1st cuirassier regiment
# 5th Cuirassier Regiments
# 10th Cuirassier Regiment
* Dragoons
o Grouchy Division, composed of the Roget, Millet and Broussard brigades with the following units:
+ 3rd Dragoon Regiment
+ 4th Dragoon Regiment
+ 6th Dragoon Regiment
+ 10th Dragoon Regiment
+ 11th Dragoon Regiment (Colonel Bourbier)
o Beaumont Division, composed of the Boyé, Marizy and La Tour-Maubourg brigades with the following units:
+ 5th dragoon regiment
+ 8th Dragoon Regiment
+ 12th Dragoon Regiment
+ 16th Dragoon Regiment
+ 19th Dragoon Regiment dragoons
+ 21st dragoon regiment
o Di Sahuc vision, composed of the Margaron, Laplanche and Anon brigades with the following units:
+ 17th Dragoon Regiment
+ 18th Dragoon Regiment
+ 19th Dragoon Regiment
+ 27th Dragoon Regiment
* Imperial Guard commanded by Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bessières
*
o Infantry
+ Soules Brigade:1st Imperial Guard Foot Chasseurs Regiment and 2nd Imperial Guard Foot Chasseurs Regiment
+ Dorsenne Brigade:1st Foot Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial Guard
o Cavalry
+ Walther Brigade:Mounted Grenadier Regiment of the Imperial Guard
+ Dahlman Brigade:Mounted Chasseurs Regiment of the Imperial Guard and Mamluks
+ Jacquin Brigade:Elite Gendarmes of the Imperial Guard
Prussians
The Prussian army is 5,500 strong, united under the command of General Lestocq. The Prussian general staff is made up of divisional generals:Von Dierecke, Rembow and Auer. It should be noted that the Prussian army includes Russian elements.
* Vanguard
o Auer's 6th Dragoon Regiment
o Towarczys Cavalry Regiment
* Division von Dierecke
o 2nd Infantry Regiment of Rüchel
o 7th Dragoon Regiment of Baczko
o 4th Regiment of Wagenfeld Cuirassiers
* Rembow Division
o 11th Schöning Infantry Regiment
o Schlieffen Grenadier Regiment
* Auer Division
o Towarczys Cavalry Regiment
o Wyburg Infantry Regiment (Russians)
o Rifle Regiment
o 21st (Russian) Chasseur Regiment
Russians
The Russian army is 63,500 strong under the command of General Bennigsen. The Chief of Staff is Count Steinheil. The artillery commander is Rezvoi. Prince Pierre de Bagration is aide-de-camp.
French regiments that distinguished themselves at Eylau
* line infantry:
o the 28th line infantry regiment,
o the 44th line infantry regiment,
o the 51st line infantry regiment,
o the 55th line infantry regiment,
o the 91st line infantry regiment,
o the 105th line infantry regiment.
* cuirassiers:
o the 1st cuirassier regiment.
* dragoons:
o the 4th Dragoon Regiment,
o the 5th Dragoon Regiment,
o the 9th Dragoon Regiment,
o the 10th Dragoon Regiment,
o the 14th Dragoon Regiment,
o the 21st Dragoon Regiment,
o the 22nd Dragoon Regiment ragons,
o the 25th Dragoon Regiment,
o the 26th Dragoon Regiment.
* mounted hunters:
o the 2nd Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment,
o the 7th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment,
o the 16th Chasseurs à Cheval Regiment, horse.
* hussars:
o the 1st hussar regiment,
o the 3rd hussar regiment.