The battle of Eylau, fought on the 8th of February, 1807, was a scene of carnage which lasted from morning until night, and the field of battle presented a most horrible scene. Let any one imagine upon a square league of ground nine or ten thousand dead bodies, four or five thousand horses killed, whole lines of Russian knapsacks, broken muskets and sabres, cannon balls, howitzer shells, and ammunition, twenty-four pieces of cannon, near which were lying the bodies of their drivers, killed as they were trying to carry them off!—and all this on a field covered with snow.
About noon on the 9th, Napoleon rode over the field, stopping continually to question the wounded, to console and succor as many as possible. The Russians, instead of the death they expected, found a generous conqueror, and prostrating themselves before him, held up their hands in token of their gratitude.
The Emperor, mounted upon a light bay horse, was accompanied by Princes Murat and Berthier, Marshals Soult, Davoust, Bessieres, and General Caulaincourt, Mouton, Gardaune, and Le Brun.
The original painting of this subject, by M. Gros, is now in the Luxembourg.
THE FIELD OF BATTLE AT EYLAU.
THE BATTLE OF FRIEDLAND.
On the 14th of June, 1807, the Russian General was compelled to accept battle. “This is a day of good fortune,” said the French Emperor; “it is the anniversary of the battle of Marengo!” Napoleon reconnoitred the enemy’s position, and detailed to raze the city of Friedland. Ney commenced operations under cover of a battery of thirty pieces, placed in the centre, causing severe loss to the Russians. The imperial Russian guard lying in ambush in a ravine, intrepidly advanced, and charged the left wing of Ney’s division, which was for a moment broken; but Dupont’s division marched to their support and brought most horrible carnage with them. The field of battle at the conclusion of the day was dreadful to behold; the Russians lost 18,000 men, while the French loss was only from 4000 to 5000. Cannon, to the number of 120 pieces, 20,000 prisoners, and an immense number of flags remained in the hands of the French.
