On the left, it is true, the Russians had beaten back Oudinot with heavy loss; but, as Napoleon had not yet seriously drawn on his reserves, the allied chiefs decided to draw off their hard-pressed troops from this unequal contest, where victory was impossible and delay might place everything in jeopardy.
The retirement began late in the afternoon.

Covered by the fire of a powerful artillery from successive crests, and by the charges of their dauntless cavalry, the allies beat off every effort of the French to turn the retreat into a rout.

In vain did Napoleon press the pursuit.
As at Luetzen, he had cause to mourn the loss in the plains of Russia of those living waves that had swept his enemies from many a battlefield.

But now their columns refused to melt away.

They filed off, unbroken and defiant, under the covering wings of Uhlans and Cossacks.[299] The next day witnessed the same sight, the allies drawing steadily back, showering shot from every post of vantage, and leaving not a prisoner or a caisson in the conquerors' hands.