The Prussian troops under General Lestocq attacking during the battle of Eylau.

Table of Contents

Chapter I.  From Jena to Magdeburg

Sequel of the double disaster of Jena-Auerstedt - Disorder and indiscipline - King Frederick William attempts to negotiate - Napoleon refuses an armistice - Retreat of the remains of the army on Nordhausen - The march through and round the Harz - Napoleon's dispositions - Engagement of Halle - Prince Hohenlohe's council of war - Lucchesini and Napoleon - Arrival of the army at Magdeburg and state of affairs there - Retreat on Stettin.

Chapter II.  From Magdeburg to Prenzlau

The French cross the Elbe - Rathenow - Massenbach's disastrous influence - Rumours of Hohenlohe's march - Surrender of Spandau - Combat at Zehdenick - Combat at Boitzenburg - Weakening of discipline - Hohenlohe arrives at Prenzlau - Position of the Prussians at Prenzlau - The capitulation - Effect on the country - Surrender of Stettin.

Chapter III.  Observations

False ideas of war - Humanitarian weakness in the leaders - The dangers of our own time - The present and the past.

Chapter IV.  From Prenzlau to Lübeck

Blücher's march on Strelitz - Junction with Weimar's corps - Blücher means to give battle - Continuance of the retreat to the Elbe and the west - Engagements at Waren and Nossentin - Blücher and Pletz - Grave effect of the marches in retreat - False news - The passage of the Elbe given up - Retirement on Lübeck - The street-fighting in Lübeck - The capitulation of Ratkau.

Chapter V.  On the Vistula

Napoleon's terms of peace - His arrangements for reinforcements - The defense of Thorn - L'Estocq - Approach of the Russians and influence of Queen Luise - Negotiations are broken off - Frederick William's "Instructions and Principles" - The Ortelsburg manifesto - Supply difficulties of the French - The position on the Vistula - Plans for crossing - Count Kamenskoi, the Russian commander-in-chief - Retreat of the Russians to Pultusk - The battle of Pultusk - Combat of Golymin - Exhaustion and demoralization of the French troops - Temporary winter quarters - Would it have been possible to defend the Vistula? - Combat of Soldau.

Chapter VI.  From the Vistula to the Alle

Standing winter quarters - Napoleon's preparations - Ney's unauthorized advance spoils Napoleon's plans - Bennigsen's offensive - Advance of the Allies - Engagement at Mohrungen - Scharnhorst as L'Estocq's "assistant" - Difficulties of his position - Napoleon's negotiations -  News of the Russian advance - Napoleon resolves upon a counter-offensive - His precautions for supply - Advance of the French army - "His Sacred Majesty Chance".

Chapter VII.  The Campaign in Old Prussia

Allenstein - Göttkendorf - Jonkendorf - Combat of Bergfriede - Situation on the Alle - Retreat of L'Estocq's corps from Freistadt - Sport and the communication service - Disaster to the outpost brigades at Waltersdorf - Engagements at Wolfsdorf and Open - Engagementa at Heilsberg and Hof - Bennigsen retreats upon Preussisch-Eylau - Condition of the Russian army - Condition of the French - Devastation of the country.

Chapter VIII.  The Battle of Eylau (7th - 8th February 1807)

Preliminary combat of the 7th - The fight for the town - The two armies on the 8th of February - The power of theory - The artillery duel - Napoleon's plan of attack - The disaster to Augereau's corps - Napoleon in danger - The cavalry battle - Davout's enveloping attack - Assault on the Kreege-Berg - Retirement of the Russian left wing - Fall of Kutschitten and Auklappen - The advance of L'Estocq's corps to the battlefield - Order of march - Terrain - Ney's advanced guard is encountered - Fighting at Wackern and Pompicken - Success of the flank march - Althof reached - L'Estocq decides to march on Kutschitten - The village stormed - Capture of the Birch Wood - Auklappen retaken - The attack suspended - Ney's arrival - Comparison of Eylau to Vionville - Bennigsen retires from the field - Indiscipline in the French army - Consequences of the battle - Did Napoleon contemplate retreat? - The French depart into winter quarters - Conduct and leadership of L'Estocq's corps - L'Estocq and Scharnhorst.

Envoy

Index of Names

Index of Places