BATTLE OF EYLAU

PREUSSISCH EYLAU, EAST PRUSSIA (NOW BAGRATIONOVSK, KALININGRAD OBLAST, RUSSIA) 7-8 FEBRUARY 1807

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The campaign of 1806 began with the French victories of Jena and Auerstedt against the Prussians. Napoleon Bonaparte, having captured most major cities of Germany, marched east to crush remaining enemy forces. In December of the same year the Russian army came to the rescue of Frederick William III and his men who were retreating toward western Prussia. The first battles against the French, such as Czarnowo, Pultusk and Golymin, resulted in more Napoleonic victories but failed to bring a decisive result. In January 1807 General von Bennigsen, a German officer commanding the Russian army, went on the offensive in east Prussia but was also forced to retreat after a French counteroffensive. If Napoleon managed to push back his foe, he failed to turn the enemy. After being pursued for days Bennigsen decided to make a stand with his Prussian allies at Eylau on 7 February 1807.

Having chased the enemy for 11 days in the bitter cold the French army was exhausted. Napoleon's forces were made up of 54,000 soldiers and 200 guns: the III Corps (15,000 men led by Davout), the IV Corps (16,500 men led by Soult), the VII Corps (6,500 men led by Augereau), the imperial guard (6,000 men) and the cavalry reserve (10,000 men under Murat). Ney's VI Corps (9,000 to 10,000 men) was pursuing a Prussian Corps but was expected to arrive on the battlefield. On paper, the Russian army was stronger with 67,000 men.

Bennigsen was also hoping to be reinforced by the Prussian Corps of Lestoc (10,000 men).