he
Russian retired. Napoleon followed him as far as Peterswald, and, having
contemplated with his own eyes the scene of Vandamme's catastrophe, once
more returned to his centre-point.

Not all Ney's exertions could prevent Bernadotte and Blucher from at
length effecting their junction to the west of the Elbe. The Marshal,
having witnessed the combination of these armies, retreated to Leipsig.
Napoleon ordered Regnier and Bertrand to march suddenly from Dresden on
Berlin, in the hope of recalling Blucher; but the veteran persisted.
Meantime Schwartzenberg was found to be skirting round the hills to the
westward, as if for the purpose of joining Blucher and Bernadotte, in
the neighbourhood of Leipsig. It became manifest to all that Dresden had
ceased to be the key of Napoleon's defence: yet he clung to the Elbe, as
he had done to the Kremlin.

He lingered at Dresden at least three weeks after all rational hope of
holding that river was gone; and even at the last, when he perceived the
necessity of transferring his person to Leipsig, he could not be
persuaded to call in his garrisons scattered down the valley, which he
still hoped some turn of events would enable him to revisit in triumph.

Towards Leipsig, however, as on a common centre, the forces of France,
and all her enemies, were now at length converging. Napoleon reached
that venerable city on the 15th of October, and almost immediately the
heads of Schwartzenberg's columns began to appear towards the south. It
was necessary to prepare on the northern side also, in case Bernadotte
and Blucher should appear ere the grand army was disposed of; and,
lastly, it was necessary to secure effectually the ground to the west of
Leipsig;--a series of marshy meadows interfused with the numerous
branches of the Pleiss and the Elster, through which lies the only road
to France. Napoleon having made all his preparations, reconnoitred every
outpost in person, and distributed eagles, in great form, to some new
regiments which had just joined him. The ceremonial was splendid: the
soldiers knelt before the Emperor, and in presence of all the line:
military mass was performed, and the young warriors swore to die rather
than witness the dishonour of France. Upon this scene the sun descended;
and with it the star of Napoleon went down for ever.

At midnight three rockets, emitting a brilliant white light, sprung into
the heavens to the south of the city; these marked the position on w