The omens are all favourable.

If driven back the Russians will fight with their backs to a deep river.

Besides, their position is cut in twain by a mill-stream which flows in a gulley, and near the town is dammed up so as to form a small lake.

Below this lies Friedland in a deep bend of the river itself.

Into this _cul-de-sac_ he will drive the Russian left, and fling their broken lines into the lake and river.
At five o'clock a salvo of twenty guns opened the second and greater battle of Friedland.