Even while Murat was hacking at their centre a column of 4,000 Russian grenadiers, detaching itself from their mangled line, marched straight forward on the village of Eylau.

With the same blind courage that nerved Solmes' division at Steinkirk, they beat aside the French light horse and foot, and were now threatening the cemetery where Napoleon and his staff were standing.
"I never was so much struck with anything in my life," said General Bertrand at St.Helena, "as by the Emperor at Eylau when he was almost trodden under foot by the Russian column.

He kept his ground as the Russians advanced, saying frequently, 'What boldness.'" But, when all around him trembled, and Berthier ordered up the horses as if for retreat, he himself quietly signalled for his Guards.

These sturdy troops, long fuming at their inaction, marched forward with a stern joy.

As at Steinkirk the French Household Brigade disdained to fire on the bull-dogs, so now the Guards rushed on the Muscovites with the cold steel.