The battle of Eylau, fought on the 8th of February, 1807, was a scene of
carnage which lasted from morning until night, and the field of battle
presented a most horrible scene. Let any one imagine upon a square
league of ground nine or ten thousand dead bodies, four or five thousand
horses killed, whole lines of Russian knapsacks, broken muskets and
sabres, cannon balls, howitzer shells, and ammunition, twenty-four
pieces of cannon, near which were lying the bodies of their drivers,
killed as they were trying to carry them off!--and all this on a field
covered with snow.
About noon on the 9th, Napoleon rode over the field, stopping
continually to question the wounded, to console and succor as many as
possible. The Russians, instead of the death they expected, found a
generous conqueror, and prostrating themselves before him, held up their
hands in token of their gratitude.
The Emperor, mounted upon a light bay horse, was accompanied by Princes
Murat and Berthier, Marshals Soult, Davoust, Bessieres, and General
Caulaincourt, Mouton, Gardaune, and Le Brun.
The original painting of this subject, by M. Gros, is now in the
Luxembourg.
[Illustration: THE FIELD OF BATTLE AT EYLAU.]