re of arms.

He arrived at Chalons ere midnight; and found that Schwartzenberg and
Blucher, having severally passed through Franche-Comte and Lorraine,
were now occupying--the former with 97,000 men, the latter with
40,000--an almost complete line between the Marne and the Seine. Blucher
was in his own neighbourhood, and he immediately resolved to attack the
right of the Silesian army, which was pushing down the valley of the
Marne, while its centre kept the parallel course of the Aube, ere the
Prussian marshal could concentrate all his own strength, far less be
adequately supported from the side of Schwartzenberg, who was advancing
down the Seine towards Bar. A sharp skirmish took place accordingly on
the 27th at St. Dizier; and Blucher, warned of Napoleon's arrival, lost
no time in calling in his detachments, and taking a post of defence at
Brienne-le-Chateau on the Aube--the same town where Buonaparte had
received his military education. Could Napoleon force him from the Aube,
it was evident that the French would be enabled to interpose themselves
effectually between the two armies of the Allies: and it was most
necessary to divide the enemy's strength, for after all his exertions,
Napoleon had been able to add only 20,000 good troops to the 50,000 who
had been retiring before the allied columns from the course of the
Rhine.

Napoleon, therefore, marched through a thick forest upon the scene of
his youthful studies, and appeared there on the 29th:--having moved so
rapidly that Blucher was at dinner in the chateau, when the French
thundered at his gates, and with difficulty escaped to the rear through
a postern--actually leading his horse down a stair. The Russians,
however, under Alsusieff, maintained their place in the town
courageously; and, some Cossacks throwing themselves upon the rear of
the French, the Emperor himself was involved in the melee, drew his
sword, and fought like a private dragoon. General Gourgaud shot a
Cossack when in the act of thrusting his spear at Napoleon's back. The
town of Brienne was burnt to the ground; Alsusieff was made prisoner;
Lefebre Desnouettes died; and there was considerable slaughter on both
sides; but the affair had no result of importance. Blucher retired but a
little further up the Aube, and posted himself at La Rothiere, where
Schwartzenberg, warned by the cannonade, hastened to co-operate with
him.

Napoleon said at St. Helena, that during the charge of the Cossacks a