518 
ACHIEVEMENTS OT FIELD ARTILLERY. 
on the left in advance of Posthenen, behind which he posted the reserve. 
Thus, the enemy's guns and columns as they pressed forward were 
brought under a concentrated and crossing fire, which almost immedi¬ 
ately began to tell. As the Russians fell back before the advance of 
the French reinforcements and this well directed fire, the two great 
batteries moved forward, and soon from the converging nature of their 
movements they approached close to one another, and were formed 
together into one great battery, which Senarmont could himself direct 
with more facility, than when he had to move, as he did, from one 
battery to another. 
The guns had opened at 400 metres, but after five or six salvoes they 
were led with rare audacity within half that distance of the enemy. As 
the guns pushed on beyond the French line all who saw them were 
absolutely astounded, and it is said that Napoleon himself was at first 
so greatly taken aback that he cried in. horror, (C Mon Dieu ! le General 
Senarmont deserte /" 
Then he sent his aide-de-camp, Mouton, to call the eager General 
back from his rash enterprise, and to ask him what he meant by thus 
pushing forward unsupported. Full of his project, Senarmont would 
listen to no one however. “ Laissez moifaire avec mes canonniers” he 
shouted, “ Je reponds de tout” Little pleased with the message he had 
to bear, Mouton returned to the Emperor. But already the keen eye 
of the latter had seen that the guns were producing an effect, and the 
success of his lieutenant had atoned already for his independence. 
Mouton found him quite mollified and a pleased smile played round his 
mouth as he received him. He shrugged his shoulders and said 
laughingly, “ These gunners are unruly fellows, let them do as they 
will." 
The well served fire of this great mass of guns had in fact relieved 
the pressure on the French right at once, and drew the shells of the 
Russian batteries from off the infantry. Gathering way once more 
under their support, Dupont's division returned to the charge, and soon 
Ney was assailing the town of Friedland, and the Russian line of 
retreat across the bridges was dangerously threatened. As the French 
pushed on, the press and confusion in the town became so obvious that 
their divisions were hurried forward to the assault, the streets were 
forced, and many buildings, and the bridges were soon in flames. The 
defeat of the Russian left meanwhile had dangerously exposed their 
centre, and Beningsen saw with dismay that his communication with 
the right bank was compromised. Indeed, the French pressing on 
in superior numbers on the centre and left quickly left the issue of 
the battle little doubtful. A stream of fugitives was soon setting 
towards the bridges, and the Russian cavalry gallantly dashed forward 
to cover the retreat. 
Meanwhile Senarmont's audacity grew greater with success. With 
a firm confidence in the invincibility of his splendid batteries he hurried 
them to the front once more, and again took them nearer still, so as to 
complete the ruin of the Russians, and assail their retreating columns 
in flank. With a true instinct he disregarded the artillery fire which 
was now poured upon him, and concentrated all the efforts of his guns 
