the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

ordered Barclay de Tolly, whose troops were exhausted by the action at Hof, to take up
positions at Eylau. 114
Around 2:00 p.m. on 7 February, Murat's cavalry, followed by Soult's corps,
appeared at the edge of the woods around Grunhofchen. 115 The French advanced in three
columns with the light cavalry in front. The central column was comprised of the 46 th
Line under Colonel Joseph-Pierre Richard. Second French column of the 18th Line under
Colonel Jean-Baptiste-Ambroise Ravier was marching along the Landsberg road against
Bagration’s right flank. 116 Finally, the third French column of the 24 th Line under Colonel
Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Semelle proceeded against the Russian left flank. Two French
brigades were moved to the right, through the wood to Grunberg farm, to turn
Bagration’s left flank. 117 Marshal Augereau dispatched his cavalry and 57 th Line around
the Tenknitten Lake to envelop Bagration from the extreme right. Claude Just Alexander
Legrand and Louis Vincent St. Hilaire’s divisions were kept in reserve. 118
114
Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Campaigns of 1806-1807, 184-85; Karpov, “Russian
Operations in the 1806-1807 Campaigns,” RGVIA, f. 846, op. 16, d. 3161, l.37; Traduction du
Rapport détaillé de la Bataille d’Eylau, RGVIA, f. 846, op. 16. d. 3200, l.9; Petre, Napoleon’s
Campaign in Poland, 164-65; Langlois, Relation du Combat et de la Bataille d’Eylau, 17; Lettow-
Vorbeck, Der krieg von 1806 und 1807, IV, 89-90.
115 Colmar, From Jena to Eylau, 244; Dumas, Précis des événemens militaires, XVIII, 6-7;
Landmann, Der Krieg von 1806 und 1807, 342-43; Lettow-Vorbeck, Der krieg von 1806 und
1807, IV, 91; Bulletin of the Operations of the Imperial Russian Army, in Wilson, Brief Remarks,
244.
116 Höpfner, Der Krieg von 1806 und 1807, III, 223. According to Thiers, General Victor
Levasseur commanded the Brigade of 46 th and 28 th Lines; it must be 18 th instead of 28 th Line.
Thiers, History of Consulate and Empire, VI, 421; Langlois, Relation du Combat et de la Bataille
d’Eylau, 17; Dumas, Précis des événemens militaires, XVIII, 6. The 58 th Bulletin briefly stated
that Soult gave orders to the 46 th and 18 th Line to attack. 58 th Bulletin, Preussich Eylau, 9
February 1807, Correspondance de Napoleon Ier, No.11796, XIV, 366.
117 Hugo, Histoire des Armées Francaises, IV, 23.
118 Bataille de Preussisch Eylau: Situation de l’Armee Francaise avant la battaile de
Preussisch Eylau, RGVIA, f. 846, op. 16., d.3202, l.2; Victoires, Conquêtes, XVII, 64-65;
Langlois, Relation du Combat et de la Bataille d’Eylau, 17.
335