the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

very happy to be able to acquaint Your Majesty that the army which had been entrusted
to my command, has been again victorious… The enemy has been completely beaten,
near 2,000 prisoners made and twelve standards, which I lay at the feet of Your Majesty,
have fallen into the hands of conquerors.” 231 The Russian society embraced this news and
special celebrations were held throughout Russia on this occasion. 232 Yet, the reports of
the enormous Russian losses and Bennigsen’s subsequent retreat to Koenigsberg soon
reached St. Petersburg and raised questions of faithfulness of the official reports. 233 In
addition, many senior Russian officers disliked Bennigsen; General Knorring even
challenged him to a duel. 234 Sir Robert Wilson informed his colleague in London,
“General Bennigsen is not popular in this army. His enemies do not form their opinion
from a due appreciation of his qualities: but they are hurried into prejudice by the false
feeling that their national glory is obscured by the success of a foreigner at the head of
their armies.” 235 Three days after Eylau, Bennigsen offered his resignation to Alexander,
although he wished to remain in the army but in a different position. Hearing of the
increasing displeasure at St. Petersburg, he instructed Prince Bagration to travel to the
capital and deliver official reports of the battle of Eylau. Bennigsen hoped that Prince
Peter, who was admired and respected in the Russian society, would turn the public
opinion in his favor. 236 Bagration left the army on 17 February leaving his rear guard
231 Bennigsen to Alexander, 8 February 1807, in Wilson, Brief Remarks, 238.
232 For Alexander’s reaction to the news, see Alexander to Bennigsen, 20 February 1807, St.
Petersburg, Istoricheskii vestnik, 148 (May-June 1917): 563-66.
233 In his report, Bennigsen mentioned 12 French flags captured, however only five were sent
to St. Petersburg. When Alexander requested the rest of the trophies, Bennigsen claimed,
“Soldiers sold the eagles at Koenigsberg because they believed they were made of gold.”
234 Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Campaigns of 1806-1807, 231.
235 Wilson to Lord Hutchinson, 9 February 1807, in Life of General Sir Robert Wilson, II,
414. Wilson also characterized Bennigsen as “the most gallant and good man in every sense of
the word and he merits regard instead of ill-will. He is not, however, a great officer. But then he
is perplexed by the impediments thrown in his way by malice, ignorance and idleness.”
Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Campaigns of 1806-1807, 209-10.
236 Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Campaigns of 1806-1807, 230-31.
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