February 7–8, 1807 · Eastern Europe / East Prussia Theater
February 7–8, 1807
Fought in a blinding blizzard across the frozen plains of East Prussia (present-day Bagrationovsk, Russia), Eylau was the bloodiest battle Napoleon had fought to that point. The Russian army under Bennigsen fought stubbornly and nearly broke the French center when a massive artillery bombardment devastated Augereau's corps. In desperation, Napoleon ordered Marshal Murat to lead the largest cavalry charge of the Napoleonic era — 10,700 horsemen thundering through the snowstorm — buying time until Ney's corps arrived to stabilize the line. When the smoke cleared, the field was carpeted with dead on both sides and the result was inconclusive.
Commanders