ACHIEVEMENTS OP FIELD ARTILLERY. 
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towards consummating the ruin of the troops he saw before him trying 
to escape. The enemy’s cavalry, noting his exposed position, swooped 
down upon his left flank. In a moment he has swung his guns round to 
meet them; and two salvoes of grape are enough to shatter their effort, 
and the squadrons mown down by canister melt away. His terrible 
fire sweeps once more the road to Friedland, the Russian retreat 
becomes a total rout, and the fate of their army is sealed. The Russian 
loss has been variously estimated, as is usually the case where 
Napoleon’s battles are concerned. Some French accounts say they 
lost as many as 80 guns, while, according to others, 17 only were 
captured. It is certain that the Russians fought with magnificent 
bravery, and that their resolution staved off what might have been a 
far more serious disaster. They left some 17,000 killed and wounded 
on the field, and 5000 prisoners fell into their enemy’s hands, who on 
their part lost 8000 men and two eagles. 1 
But Friedland, whatever may have been the number of the trophies, 
was a most decisive victory as regards the consequences it entailed, 
and the combination against Napoleon was effectually for the time des¬ 
troyed by it. Senarmont’s brilliant action contributed in no small 
measure to the result of the day, and he received much credit for it. Never 
before had artillery played so independent a part, and it may be said that 
neither before nor since has the arm been handled with greater vigour 
and skill. Whether in a modern battle calculated courage, such as has 
been described, could ever again hope to achieve so much seems impos¬ 
sible, but at least the promptitude with which an opportunity was 
seized and acted upon deserves our admiration and attention. 
A quick eye and swift decision will never be at a discount, however, 
and even in the most scientifically conducted battle of our own day, it 
is possible that the surges of the fight may leave an opening in which an 
artillery general may again recognise his chance, and know how to turn 
it to account. 
Senarmont’s report gives his losses as follows — 
1 officer and 10 gunners killed; 3 officers and 42 men wounded. 
The number of rounds fired was 2516, of which 368 were grape. 
53 horses were killed. 
Two years later Napoleon was again at war with Austria, and in the 
campaign of Eckmiihl had given the world another magnificent example 
of what his genius could effect. Vienna fell an easy prey to him, and 
shortly after its capture he began to cast about for a means of getting 
at the Archduke Charles, who had made his escape to the northern 
bank of the Danube, and whose army formed a standing menace and 
nucleus of resistance to the French power. 
On the 21st and 22nd of May, 1809, Napoleon had endeavoured to 
force his way across a broad river in the presence of a powerful enemy, 
relying on one frail bridge only. It says much for the skill and 
1 In a letter to his brother, dated “ Tilsit, June 26th, 1807,” which is given by Captain ^e l’Ain 
in his account of this battle, Senarmont says —“ The position of the enemy showed 4000 dead on 
this spot alone ” (that opposite to his battery).“I lost the chief of my staff, Colonel 
Formo, killed by a ball at the end of the action ; I have had 3 officers and 52 gunners placed hor$ 
de combat , and a charming horse wounded under me ; I fear Ijshall not be able to save him.” 
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