nde, vaincu quarante annees;
Du monde, entre mes mains, j'ai vu les destinees;
Et j'ai toujours connu qu'en chaque evenement
Le destin des etats dependait d'un moment."

Hard on the tidings of Culm followed others of the same complexion. No
sooner did Blucher perceive that Napoleon had retired from Silesia, than
he resumed the offensive, and descended from the position he had taken
up at Jauer. He encountered Macdonald, who was by no means prepared for
this boldness, on the plains between Wahlstadt and the river Katsbach,
on the 26th of August, and after a hard fought day gained a complete
victory.[64] The French lost 15,000 men and 100 guns, and fell back on
Dresden. Oudinot, meanwhile, had advanced from Leipsig towards Berlin,
with the _view_ of preventing Bernadotte from effecting a junction with
Blucher, or overwhelming the French garrisons lower down the Elbe. The
Crown Prince, however, met and defeated him at Grossbeeren, on the 23rd
of August; took Luckau, where 1000 men were in garrison, on the 28th;
and continued to advance towards Wittemberg, under the walls of which
city Oudinot at length concentrated all his forces. Napoleon, perceiving
the importance of this point, sent Ney with new troops, and gave him the
chief command, with strict orders to force his way to Berlin; so placing
Bernadotte between the Leipsig army and himself at Dresden. Ney
endeavoured to pass the Swedes without a battle, but failed in this
attempt. A general action was forced on him on the 7th of September, at
Dennewitz. He also was wholly defeated; 10,000 prisoners and forty-six
guns remained in the hands of Bernadotte; and Ney retreated in confusion
upon Torgau.

Napoleon had now recovered his health and activity; and the exertions
which he made at this period were never surpassed, even by himself. On
the 3rd of September he was in quest of Blucher, who had now advanced
near to the Elbe; but the Prussian retired and baffled him as before.
Returning to Dresden he received the news of Dennewitz, and immediately
afterwards heard that Witgenstein had a second time descended towards
Pirna. He flew thither on the instant; the Russian also gave way,
according to the general plan of the campaign; and Buonaparte once more
returned to Dresden on the 12th. Again he was told that Blucher, on the
one side, and Witgenstein on the other, were availing themselves of his
absence, and advancing. He once more returned to Pirna: a third time t