Polish Campaign (Fourth Coalition)

In a grueling winter offensive, French forces engaged the Russian rearguard at Gołymin. Fighting was confused, made difficult by snow, mud, and nightfall. The Russians held firmly, then managed to withdraw in good order.

In extreme weather conditions, Lannes faced a numerically superior Russian army at Pułtusk. Though violently attacked, Bennigsen refused to retreat immediately and sustained fighting all day. At nightfall the Russians withdrew in good order, but both sides claimed victory.

Eylau was one of the bloodiest battles of the Napoleonic era. Under a snowstorm, the French attacked Russian lines around the town of Eylau. The battlefield was chaotic, visibility nil. Murat led a cavalry charge of more than 10,000 men to halt the enemy advance. At day's end both sides remained on the field, drained of blood. Napoleon claimed victory, but the result was militarily indecisive.

The Battle of Friedland opposed Napoleon's French forces to Bennigsen's Russian army, which had imprudently engaged with the Alle River at its back. After a tenacious defense led by Lannes in the morning, Napoleon arrived with the bulk of his forces, launched a massive attack on the Russian left flank, and crushed the enemy army. Victory was total, sealing the end of the campaign.

The Battle of Heilsberg opposed French forces to Russians solidly entrenched on heights behind the Alle River. The poorly coordinated French attack met fierce defense. Casualties were heavy on both sides, and the French failed to break through.

Murat's French cavalry engaged Russian vanguards on icy, difficult terrain. Fighting was violent but confused, ending without a clear victor. This battle set the stage for the decisive confrontation at Eylau two days later.

During a winter redeployment phase, Ney was surprised by a Russian offensive near Mohrungen. His troops, numerically inferior, resisted fiercely and prevented the Russians from penetrating deeper into the French zone. After violent fighting, the Russians withdrew.

Verdier's division, isolated at Ostrołęka, was attacked by a greatly superior Russian force. Verdier skillfully defended his positions, repulsed several assaults, and retained control of the town after a day of fierce fighting.