The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-09-04
RaH&CELLANE as.
From BiackaooOd' s M0gazine.
TERRIRIE RATTLE OLE EYLAI

Never in the history of war did two armies pass
night under more awful and impressive circum-
stances than the rival hosts who now lay with
outtent or covering on the snowy expanse of the
field Of Eylau. The close cinity of the two
armies, the vast multitude assembled in so mar
row space, intent only on mutual destruction,
the vital interests to the lives and fortunes
ofall which were at stake, the WINERY wdness
of the scene, cheered only by the watchfres,
which threw only partial g ow on the snowy
clad heights around; the shivering groups, who in
either army lay around the blazing fires, chilled
by the grdles OF impenetrable ice; the stern res
olution of the soldiers in one army, andthe ehu-
siastic ardor of those in the other; the liberty of
Europe now brought to the issue of one dread
combat; the glory Of Russia and France depend
ent on the efforts of the mightiest armament that
either had yet sent forth, all contributed to inn
press a feeling of solemnity, which reached the
most inconsiderate breast, oppressed the mind
with feeling of anxious thought and kept I'm.
closed many weary eycd in both camps, not
withstanding the extraordinary tatgues Of the
proceeding days.
The battle began at daylight Jon the 9th Of
February in the midst of il storm. AT an early
hour of the day, Augureau's column in 10000
men, cnvelOpcd by the Russian muses.,
and with the exception of 1900 men was en-
trey destroyed. Napoleon himself was in the
most eminent hazard of being taken prisoner.
He had slept mt Eylau OH The night before; and
was now in the church yard, when the crash of
danger was approaching. Presently one
Of the Russian divisions following rapidly after
the fugitves, entered Eylau by the western
street, and charged with loud hurras, to the foot
OF the mount where the Emperor was placed
with Il battery Of the imperial guard and per-
sonui escort offs hundred men. Had n regiment
of horses been OF hand TO support the attack, !
Napoleon must have been made prisoner; for
though the old guard, were at a short distance, !
he igbt have been enVel0ped before they could |
H..
hung upon thread but in that terrible moment,
the EmperOr's presence of mind did not 1orsake |
him; he Instantly erAeran this ttlai-4-lss, ,e.-~-L
hardly more than company, To form line, IN .
order to check the enCmys advance, and des- |
patch orders to the old guard to attack the col
titnn on flank, while brigade OF Mnrats
horse charged it on the other.
The Russians, disorIered 10y success ana ig-
nornnt of the nesmable PRIZE which was almost
within their grasp, were arrested by The firm
counlenance Of the lille band of heroes who
formed Napoleon's last resourse; and before they
could reform heirranks for IA regular conflict,
the enemy wa2,upon them on either flank, and
almost the whole division was cut 10 pieces.
This dreadful slaughter continued through the
day. the Russians and the French alternately re-
pulsing each other, both sides fighting with the
most desperate interpidity, and every charge
leaving the ground covered with carnage. 10
wards evening the Prtssiaus, under Lesloeq adj
yanced against the division OF Frent. The
French were driven before them. Marshal Da-
voust in vain attempted to withstand the torrent
Here he cried, lis the place where the brave
should find II glorious 9leolh, the towards viii
perish in the desert of Siberia Still the French
were driven on with the loss of 500 men, ana
the whole Russian 'line were pressing on the vic
tory, when the rapid night of the north fell, and
the battle at an end.
This was the first heavy blow which Napoleon
had received in European war. He had once
before been on the point OF rum, but 1t was at
H. hnI IA ms
king the conqnerer ofItaly reco. 1t is now un-
questionable that al Eylau he was defeated. AT
10 o'clock at night he gave orders for the artille-
nv and baggage 10 ,defle to the rear, and the adj
vanced post to retreat. He was on the point OF
being disgraced in the eyes of Europe, when he
was saved that disgrace by the indecision of the
Russian General. A council of held
by the Russian leaders on horseback, to decide
iheir future course. Count Oserman Tolstoy
the second in command, with Generals Knorng
and Lestocq, urged strongly that retreat was not
to he thought of-that Napoleon was beaten in a
pitched battle--that whichever army gained
ground would be reputed victor, and that the
true policy was to throw the whole force upon
him without delay. But Bennington, unlnckiy
satisfied with his triumph, pms. the vigor of YOUTH
unacVuainted with the enormous losses OF the
French army, and exhausted by 36 hours on
horse back directed the march to Koningsberg
Such the terrible battle of Eylau, fought in
the depth of winter amidst ice and snow, under
circumstances OF uneXamped horrori the most
bloody and obstinately contested that had yet
occurred during the war-and in which, if Ma
poleon did not sustain positive defeat, he I'M
derwent disaster which had well nigh proved
his ruin. The loss on both sides was immense
and never in modern times, has field of battle
been strewed with such multitude of slain
On the side of the Russians $4,000 had fallen,
of whom about 1000 were already no more: on
that of the French upwards of 10000 were kill
ed or wounded, and nearly ten thousand had left
their colors under preence of attending to the
wounded, and did not make their appearance for
several days. The other trophies of victory
were nearly equally baanced-the Russians had
to boast Of the unusual spectacle OF twelve eagles
taken from their tagonsts-while they had
made spoil of sixteen of the Russians guns and
fourteen standards. Hardly any prisoners were