Southern telegraph., 1838-06-13
TERRIBLE BATTLE OF EYLAU,
EeIuaru 6. leOO.

i mics pasSa night uBUer more awful ana I'M
cressiye circumstances, than the rival hosts
who now lay without tent or covering OF
the snowy cxpanse Of the field Of Eylau.-
The close vicinity Of the two armies, the
4 space, intent only on mutual destruction,
The vital interests to the lives and fortunes
of all which were at Stake. The wintry
wilderness Of the scene cbeered only by
the watch-6res, which threw onty partial
glow on the snow clad heights around the
blazing fires, chilled by the girdles Of inn
penetraIie ice; the stern resolution Of the
soldiers in one army, and the enthusiastic
ardor of those in the o.her; the liberty Of
Europe now brought TO the issue Of one
dread combat; the glory Of Russia and
France dependent on the highest arma-
ment that either had yet sent forth, all con-
tributed TO impress feeling Of soletnnity,
which reached the MIST inconsidcFate
breast, oppressed the mind with feeling
Of anxious thought and kept Enclosed many
wearied eyeiid in both camps, notwith-
standing the extraordinary fatigues Of the
preceding days.
The battle began at daylight on the 9th
Of February in The midst of snow storm.
AT an early hour of the day, Angerau's col.
umn Of 10000 men, was enveloped by the
Russian masses, and with the exception Of
800 men, was entirely destroyed. Ma
poleon himself was in the most imminent
hazard Of being taken prisoner. He had
slept at Eyanon the night before, and was
now in the church yard when the crash Of
the enemy's balls on tho etceple showed
how nearly night was approaching. Pre-
sently one Of The Russian divisions follow
ing rapidly after the fugitiyes, entered Ey-
lau by the western street, and charged with
loud huras, to the foot of the mount where
the Emperor was placed with battery Of
the imperial guard and personal escor. of
hundred men. Had regiment Of horse
been at hand to support the attack, Napole-
on must have been made prisoner; for
though the last reserve consisting of SIX
battalions of The old guard, were at short
distance, he might have been enveloped be-
fore they could gel to bis rescue. The fate
{ Europe then hung upon thread, but in
hat terrible moment, the Emperor's pre-.
sence of mind did not forsalSe him; he 10.
sIantly ordered this little body guard, hard
ly more than a company, to form line, in
order to check the enemy's advance, anc
despatched orders to the old guard to attach
the column on one flank, while brigade o
Murat's horse charged it on The other.
The Russians, dsordered by success, ant
ignorant Of the inestimable prize which wal
almost within their grasp were arrested BY
the firm conntenance of the little band o
heroes who formed Napoleon's last resource
and before they could reform their ranks fol
a regular conflict, The enemy was upon them
on either flank, and almost the whole diyIs.
ion was cut 10 pieces. This dreadful slaugh
ter continued throughout the day, the Rus
slams and French alternately requesting eacl
other, both sides fighting with the most des
,, perate intrepidiiy, aid every charge leay
ing the ground covered with carnage. 10
wards evening the Prussians, under Les
tocq, advanced against the division Of Fri
ant. The French were driven before thonl
Marshall DlyouSt in vain attempted to with
stand the torreat. Here he cried, SIS III,
place where thesbrave should find glorious
death, the towards will perish in the des
: erts of liberia Still the French wer,
driven on with the loss Of 5000 men, ant
|. the whole Russian line were pressing or
; the victory, when the rapid night Of ths
north fell and the battle was at an end.
J This was the FIRST heavy blow which Ma
0 poleon had received in European war Hi
! had but once before been on the point o
: ruin, but it was at Syria and British osii
: Ger had the honor of making the conquero
: of Italy recoil. 1t is now unqueslionabIs
f that at EyIau be was defeated At 10 a
night be gave orders for his artillery AM
baggage TO dcfile TO The rear, and the ad
vancod post to retreat. He was on thu
i point Of being disgraced in the eyes Of Eu
rope, when he was saved that disgrace b.
the indecision of tho Russian General.
council Of war was held by the Russian
leaders on horse back, to decide on thei
future course. Count Osterman Tolstoy
. the second in command with Generals Kno
ring and Lestocq, urged strongly that 70
treat was not to be thought of--that Napo
leon was beaten in pitched batlle-tha
which ever army gained ground would be
reputed victor, and that their true policy
was to throw their whole force upon hin
without delay. But Bennington, unIuckilj
satisfied with his triumph, past the yigOr o
youth, unacquainted with the enormous
losses of the French army and exhaustet
by SO hours on horseback directed the
march on Koningsberg. Such was the ter
rible battle Of Eylau, fought in the depth 0
winter amidst ice and snow, under circum
stances Of unexampled horror; the ms
bloody and obsiinately contested that hat
yet occurred daring the war--and IA which
Lie Napoleon did not sustain positive dc
feat, he underwent a disaster which hal
well Righ proved his ruin. The loss o.
both sides was immense, and never in mo
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