ively , ▁the ▁castle ▁was ▁supported ▁by ▁its ▁brid ges ▁and ▁walls , ▁both ▁of ▁which ▁were ▁built ▁along ▁the ▁per imeter ▁of ▁the ▁castle . ▁The ▁land ▁surrounding ▁the ▁Te ut onic ▁Castle ▁acted ▁as ▁an ▁obst acle ▁for ▁the ▁French ▁army ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁increase ▁of ▁elev ation ▁from ▁the ▁base ▁of ▁the ▁river ▁to ▁the ▁cast les ▁foundation . ▁The ▁Pr uss ian ▁ 2 1 st ▁F us ili ers , ▁commanded ▁by ▁Ludwig ▁August ▁von ▁St utter heim , ▁was ▁g arrison ed ▁there . ▁ ▁Cl imate ▁ ▁Although ▁the ▁terrain ▁was ▁pun ishment ▁enough ▁for ▁the ▁French , ▁weather ▁also ▁took ▁a ▁to ll ▁on ▁their ▁ab ilities ▁and ▁health . ▁During ▁the ▁day , ▁on ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁weight ▁being ▁carried ▁in ▁regards ▁to ▁supplies ▁and ▁arm ory , ▁temper atures ▁reached ▁danger ously ▁hot ▁and ▁hum id ▁levels . ▁The ▁d amp ness ▁and ▁bitter ▁cold ▁of ▁the ▁night ▁also ▁played ▁a ▁significant ▁role ▁by ▁providing ▁little ▁opportunity ▁for ▁rest . ▁ ▁Str ateg ies ▁and ▁tact ics ▁ ▁Begin nings ▁of ▁the ▁battle ▁The ▁French ▁were ▁initially ▁out number ed ▁by ▁the ▁Rus si ans , ▁and ▁knowing ▁this , ▁position ed ▁themselves ▁to ▁cut ▁off ▁any ▁opportunity ▁for ▁the ▁Rus si ans ▁to ▁obtain ▁rein for c ements . ▁At ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁battle , ▁French ▁army ▁men ▁were ▁separ ating ▁amongst ▁their ▁own ▁divisions . ▁This ▁t actic ▁was ▁thought ▁to ▁help ▁block ▁Russian ▁s ights ▁in ▁terms ▁of ▁all