COMPELS BLUCHER TO RETREAT.

249

a rapid movement to the north of Nogent, where he attacked a Russian corps and made all of them prisoners. Being reinforced by Marmont, he marched against Blucher, who retreated. But having formed his infantry into squares, Bonaparte, although he made the most incessant and furious attacks, was not able to break them. Having ordered a body of cavalry, and another of infantry, through bye roads to intercept Blucher's line, and fall upon his flanks, he was attacked, but succeeded in cutting his way through them.

Whilst Bonaparte was pursuing Blucher, the Prussian general Winzingerode, attacked his entrenched camp at Sissons for the protection of his army of reserve, and took near 3000 men. The grand allied army had advanced to Sens, 82 miles south-east of Paris, which was assaulted and carried. Other divisions advanced in the same direction, and by the middle of February, the allies occupied a district of about 40 miles along the Seine. Alarmed at this immense force, Victor and Oudinot who were entrusted with the defence of this important river, retired to the right bank, and destroyed the bridges, but they were soon replaced. The rapid advance of the main army of the allies, arrested the attention of Bonaparte, and indųced him to hasten to oppose them. His movements were so rapid, that he appeared suddenly in the midst of them, and the allied army being greatly divided, he obtained some advantages, which induced Schwartzenburg to concentrate the whole behind the Seine.

Bonaparte considering it of great importance to secure a bridge across this river, which was defended by a large body of the enemy, made three successive attacks to gain this position, but was repulsed in each attempt. He renewed the attack the fourth time, and with such irresistible impetuosity, that he dislodged the enemy and passed over the bridge with a considerable part of his army.

On the 25th of February, immediately after he had obtained some successes, Bonaparte received the proposals of the allies for peace, which had been settled at Chatillon. He indignantly tore the papers to pie

250 REJECTS THE TERMS OF THE ALLIES.

ces, exclaiming "I am nearer to Vienna than they are to Paris." He however proposed to keep open the negociation, and said he would present his ultimatum by the 10th of March. His blindness and infatuation was truly astonishing. At this period the clouds had thickened upon him, in all quarters. Dantzic, and most of his garrisons in Germany had fallen, and even Murat, his own brother-in-law, had exhibited defection, and opened his ports to the English, which entirely embarassed the operations of Eugene in Italy. It is probable that the obstinacy of Bonaparte was in part occasioned by an expectation that Austria would withdraw from the coalition, and at any rate would not consent to any designs adverse to his crown and sovereignty.

He

Blucher no sooner found that he had not to contend with Bonaparte himself, than he began to advance; Oudinot and Marmont who had been left to oppose him, being unable to resist his progress. And even after Macdonald had formed a junction with them they were obliged to retreat rapidly before the old Prussian veteran. His rapid march obliged Bonaparte again to turn his attention to Blucher, as he alone was capable of obtaining any success. His marshals during this campaign, were uniformly defeated; it was only the personal exertions and prowess of Bonaparte that could make any stand against the numerous and powerful enemies with which he was overwhelmed. was obliged to hurry from one invading enemy to another, and then back again; directing his attention where danger was most immediate. His object now was to prevent a junction between Blucher and Winzingerode; in which he did not succeed. After various partial engagements, and much maneuvering, a general and obstinate battle took place on the 9th of March at Loan. It was commenced by Bonaparte, who, taking advantage of a mist, drove the Prussians back to the very walls of Loan; but the mist disappearing, Blucher regained the ground he had lost. The contest was long and severe, particularly on the Prussian left, which was attacked under a heavy can

HIS ULTIMATUM-MARCHES TO ST. DIZIER. 251

nonade. Blucher reinforcing his left with two divisions, and ordering his whole line to advance, the French could not withstand the shock; they were repulsed, thrown into confusion, and retreated towards Reims.

The negotiations at Chatillon were not yet broken off; on the 15th Caulincourt presented Bonaparte's promised Ultimatum, which was instantly rejected by the allies, and the congress dissolved. Bonaparte demanded the whole line of the Rhine; Italy for Eugene; indemnities to his brother Jerome, for the kingdom of Westphalia: indemnities to Louis, for the Duchy of Berg, and also to Joseph for Naples.

The negotiation being at an end, Bonaparte made a desperate assault upon Blucher; for two days he kept up incessant attacks upon that general, but making no serious impression, he moved off, towards the main allied army. He was unexpectedly attacked under the walls of Arcis, as his troops were crossing the river; and Bonaparte escaped narrowly himself; his horse was killed under him, and as he was rallying his men, he was obliged to defend himself with his own pistols, and escaped, but by a 'hair's breadth' from the lance of a Cossack. On the 21st the two armies were opposite each other, but Bonaparte from the immense inferiority of his force, was obliged to decline a battle, which he would not have done, had there been the least chance of success. He marched towards the north, but turned to the east, and took up a position at St. Dizier, so that on the 24th of March, he found himself exactly where he was when he opened the campaign, on the 26th of January. The object of Bonaparte in this movement, was probably to form a junction, with the army under Augerau on the Soan, and then to fall on the rear of Schwartzenberg. But Augerau had been defeated by the Austrian reserve, a force of 60,000 men, that had recently arrived int France, which had interposed itself between Augerau and Bonaparte, and rendered a junction impracticable. The design of Bonaparte in throwing himself in the rear, of the main allied army, might have been,

252 HIS NOBLE STRUGGLE AGAINST DIFFICULTIES.

to intimidate them by threatening their communication with Germany, and induce them to turn and pursue him.

Whilst these events were going on, the contest was kept up between Soult and lord Wellington, in the South of France. A great battle was fought at Orthes, in which the allied troops were successful; Soult retreated first towards Bordeaux, then in the direction of Toulouse, followed by the main British army.Bordeaux, a royal city, and always subject more or less to British influence, was the first to declare for the Bourbons; the Mayor issued a proclamation, in favour of Louis XVIII.

There is something which strongly interests our feelings, in witnessing a great man, although we may not regard his cause as just, struggling with difficulties, and sustaining himself even against the power of destiny. The efforts of Bonaparte at this momentous crisis, were worthy of his great military character.Surrounded with enemies on all sides, and with a force inferior to each of the invading armies, from the boldness and rapidity of his movements, marching rapidly from one army of the enemy to the other, and to the points of the greatest danger, he frustrated the plans of the allies, checked their advance, obliged them to fall back, and sometimes defeated them, and obtained considerable advantages. During the campaign the allied armies, had often advanced within a short distance of Paris, but the sudden and unexpected movements of Bonaparte, had disconcerted their operations and compelled them to retrace their steps. The situation of Napoleon at this time, was such, that it was evident, nothing but some bold measure could save him; it was from this consideration probably that he was induced to throw himself into the rear of the allied armies, thereby threatening their rear, and also their communication with Germany, where Bonaparte still had many powerful garrisons, from which he might draw reinforcements. From the boldness of this measure, and the surprise which it would be likely to occasion, he was in hopes to dis

ACTION BEFORE PARIS.

253

concert the plan of his enemies, which evidently was, to press rapidly towards Paris. But the manoeuvre did not succeed: the allies knew their strength and the weakness of Bonaparte; disregarding his position in their rear, they pressed on for Paris. The grand al

lied army consisted of 200,000 men.

Bonaparte, learning that his movement in the rear of the allied armies produced no effect, but that they were advancing rapidly towards the capital, resolved to hasten back to its relief with all possible expedition.

On the 28th and 29th of March, the allies passed the Mearn near Meaux, and in the night of the 29th, Mortier, one of Bonaparte's generals, entered Paris, where he found 8000 regulars, and 30,000 national guards. On approaching the capital, the allies issued a proclamation, assuring the inhabitants of protection, and for-warded a flag requesting the surrender of the city, but it was refused admittance. The defence of the city was entrusted to Marmont, who had under his command the national guard of the city, and such other troops as could be spared, which were increased by the troops of general Mortier. Marmont had taken a position on the heights Montmartre and Belville in the vicinity of Paris; the allies instantly determined to attack the positions of the French; the grand army moved against the heights at Belville, and Blucher against Montmartre; both of which, after a most desperate defence, were carried, and the French driven. from their positions, with the loss of a considerable proportion of their cannon. The victorious allies looked down on the lofty domes and spires of Paris! Marshal Marmont, perceiving no chance of saving the capital, sent a flag of truce, proposing an armistice, which was granted. A capitulation followed, and the next day the allied troops entered the French capital. where royalty had been so long proscribed, amidst the acclamations of a small portion of the populace, who were all things by turns, and nothing long."

66

Before these events had taken place, Bonaparte had