Eylau

FRENCHMEN!

The victories of Maida, of Saalfeld, of Jena, of Golymin, and of Pultusk; pale into insignificance in the light of this glorious day! We are victorious! The forces of our enemies are scattered across the frozen waste like sparrows before an Eagle and it is the French Eagle that is triumphant!

I am sending this new and important report from the field of battle before I have even sat down to rest, knowing how much it will mean to you, brave and loyal citizens of France. These past few weeks have seen the appalling roads and muddied tracks that make up this vast and bleak country converted, by the savage weather, into all-neigh impassable obstacles that only the brave determination of Frenchmen could overcome.

Spying our difficulties, the enemy sought to set a trap and concentrated his men in the vicinity of the town of Eylau hoping to catch our forces spread out and unable to respond. It is true that Marshal Ney, as ever impetuous in his search for glory for France, had moved further away from the center than might have seemed prudent, but this only caused the enemy to be reckless with overconfidence.

As I watched from the forefront of our forces just after dawn, I briefly glimpsed through the sleeting snow that blanketed that terrain, the tell-tale uniforms of the finest soldiers and horses that the enemy possesses. Brief though this glimpse was, I immediately realized that it meant that the bulk of his forces were already committed to assail my left flank, even at this hour. I swept my eyes across the surrounding features and realized that the small rise on which we were standing, anchored as it was by the village to our front, provided the slight tactical superiority that was all Frenchman would need to prevail, even when outnumbered at least four to one by the enemy.

I summoned Marshal Murat to my side and immediately dispatched him with all his command to assail the enemy on my right flank, knowing that this would be weakened by the enemy’s impetuous advance. A lesser man may have baulked at leaving only a few light cavalry regiments to secure my left flank when I sent two Corps of the finest cavalry the world has ever know away into the swirling snow, but I was secure in the confidence that Marshal Soult, under my watchful eye and that of the Imperial Guard, would stand.

Stand they did! At times we were sorely pressed as Corps of enemies dashed themselves against our ranks but my soul remained unshaken and I never left the point at which I knew the battle would be decided. Surrounded as I was by only a handful of brave Frenchmen we stood against a sea of the enemy, as granite rocks against the waves, waiting for Murat and his cavalry to strike the decisive blow.

Strike they did! A shattering blow was dealt to the enemy by the finest horsemen that ever lived! Supported to the hilt by brave Marshal Davout, marching as ever to the sound of the guns, the Cavalry Corps broke the enemy lines and drove all before them in retched rout across the snow. The enemy commander himself was surprised by the speed of advance and fell into our hands. The remaining enemy, leaderless and in disarray, fled to the east leaving Marshal Ney, when he finally arrived, to sum up with the words “Quel massacre! Quel résultat!”

It is thus that to you alone, and to the brave men of the army, I account it, and shall always account it, my glory to owe you everything.

Signé N A P O L É O N.

Par L'Empereur, Le Grand Marechal faisant de Major-Général de la Grande Armée,

Signé Comte B E R T R A N D.

	The Battle of Eylau The French Bulletin?!
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	FRENCHMEN! The victories of Maida, of Saalfeld, of Jena, of Golymin, and of Pultusk; pale into insignificance in the light of this glorious day! We are victorious! The forces of our enemies are scattered across the frozen waste like sparrows before an Eagle and it is the French Eagle that is triumphant! I am sending this new and important report from the field of battle before I have even sat down to rest, knowing how much it will mean to you, brave and loyal citizens of France. These past few weeks have seen the appalling roads and muddied tracks that make up this vast and bleak country converted, by the savage weather, into all-neigh impassable obstacles that only the brave determination of Frenchmen could overcome. Spying our difficulties, the enemy sought to set a trap and concentrated his men in the vicinity of the town of Eylau hoping to catch our forces spread out and unable to respond. It is true that Marshal Ney, as ever impetuous in his search for glory for France, had moved further away from the center than might have seemed prudent, but this only caused the enemy to be reckless with overconfidence. As I watched from the forefront of our forces just after dawn, I briefly glimpsed through the sleeting snow that blanketed that terrain, the tell-tale uniforms of the finest soldiers and horses that the enemy possesses. Brief though this glimpse was, I immediately realized that it meant that the bulk of his forces were already committed to assail my left flank, even at this hour. I swept my eyes across the surrounding features and realized that the small rise on which we were standing, anchored as it was by the village to our front, provided the slight tactical superiority that was all Frenchman would need to prevail, even when outnumbered at least four to one by the enemy. I summoned Marshal Murat to my side and immediately dispatched him with all his command to assail the enemy on my right flank, knowing that this would be weakened by the enemy’s impetuous advance. A lesser man may have baulked at leaving only a few light cavalry regiments to secure my left flank when I sent two Corps of the finest cavalry the world has ever know away into the swirling snow, but I was secure in the confidence that Marshal Soult, under my watchful eye and that of the Imperial Guard, would stand. Stand they did! At times we were sorely pressed as Corps of enemies dashed themselves against our ranks but my soul remained unshaken and I never left the point at which I knew the battle would be decided. Surrounded as I was by only a handful of brave Frenchmen we stood against a sea of the enemy, as granite rocks against the waves, waiting for Murat and his cavalry to strike the decisive blow. Strike they did! A shattering blow was dealt to the enemy by the finest horsemen that ever lived! Supported to the hilt by brave Marshal Davout, marching as ever to the sound of the guns, the Cavalry Corps broke the enemy lines and drove all before them in retched rout across the snow. The enemy commander himself was surprised by the speed of advance and fell into our hands. The remaining enemy, leaderless and in disarray, fled to the east leaving Marshal Ney, when he finally arrived, to sum up with the words “Quel massacre! Quel résultat!” It is thus that to you alone, and to the brave men of the army, I account it, and shall always account it, my glory to owe you everything. Signé N A P O L É O N. Par L'Empereur, Le Grand Marechal faisant de Major-Général de la Grande Armée, Signé Comte B E R T R A N D.