Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-14
The Charge of Murat at Eylau.

1t is at Eylau that Murat always appears
in his most terrible aspect. This battle fought
in mid winter, in 1907, was the most impor-
tant and bloody one that had then occurred.
France and Russia had never before opposed
such strength to each other, and complete
victory on either side would have settled the
fate of Europe. Bonaparte remained in pos
session OF the field, and that was all no vic
tory was ever so like q defeat. The field of
Eylau was covered with snow, and the little
ponds that lay scattered over it were frozen
sufficiently hard to bear the artillery. Seven
ty.one thousand men on one side and eighty
one thousand on the other, arose from the fro
zen field on which they, had slept the
night of February without tent or covering,
to battle for continent. AGgereau, on the
left, was utterly routed in the morning. Ad-
vancing through a snow storm so thick he
conld not see the enemy, the Russian canon
moved down his ranks, with their destructive
fire, while the CoSsack cavalry, who were Or
dered to charge, came laundering on, almost
hitting the French infantry with their long
lances before they were visible through the
storm.
Hemmed in and overthrown, the whole di-
ception of 500, were captured or slain.
Just then the snow storm clearing up, re-
vealed to Napoleon the peril to which he was
brought, and he Immediately ordered grand
charge by the Imperial Guard and the whole
cavalry. Nothing was farther from Bona
parties wishes or expectations than the bring
ing of his reserve into the engagement at this
early stage of the battle, but there was no
other resource left him. Mnrat sustained his
high reputation on this occasion, and proved
himself for tae hundredth time, worthy of the
great confidence Napoleon placed in him.
Nothing could be more imposing than the
battle field at this moment. Bonaparte and
the empire trembled in the balance, while Mu.
rat prepared to lead dowd his cavalry to save
them. Seventy squadrons, making in all. a.
000 we'll mounted men, began TO move over
the slope, with the Old Guard marching stern
y on ehind
Bonaparte, it is said, was more agitated at
this crisis than when, moment before, he was
so near being captured by the Russians.
But as he saw those seventy squadronS
come down ou plunging trot pressing hard
after the white plume of Murat, that Streamed
through the snow storm far in front, smile
passed over his countenance.
The earth groaned and trembled as they
passed, and the sabres, above the dark and an.
gry mass below, looked like the foam of a sea
wave as it crestS on the deep The ratings of
their armor, and the mufied thunder Of their
tread, drowned all the roar of battle, as with
the firm set array, and swift, steady motion
they bore down with terrible front on the foe
The snock of that immense host was like a
falling mountain, aud the front line of the Rus
sian army went down like frost work before it,
Then commenced protraCted fight of hand 10
hand, and sword to sword, as in the cavalry
action at Eckmuhl The cashing of steel was
like the ringing of countless hammers and
horses and riders were blended in wild con,u-
sion together ; the Russian reserves were or
dered up, and on these Murat fell with his
fierce horsemeH, crushing and trampliDg them
down bv thousands. But the obstinate Rus
slams disdained to fly, and rallied again, so
that it was no longer cavalry charging on in
fantry, but squadronS of horses gaoping
through broken hosts that, gathering into
knots, still disputed with unparalleled bravery,
the red and rent field. ...
1t was during this strange fight that Murat
was seen to perform oue of those desperate
deedS LOT Wnlch lie was 50 Teno"ueu. EAcit-
ed TO the highest pitch of passion, blythe ob
stacles that opposed him, be seemed endowed
with tenfold strength, and looked more like a
superhumau being treading down helpless NOR
tails, than an ordinary man. Amid the roar
of artillery ard the rattle of musketry, and
falling of sabre strokes like lightning about
him, that lofty white plume never once went
down, while ever and anon it was seen glar
ing through the smoke of battle, and the star
of hope to Napoleon, and showing that his
" right arm" was still uplfted and striking for
victory. .--
He ragged like an unlocsed lion amid the
foe and bis eyes, always terrible in battle,
burned With increased lustre, while his clear