k of
Napoleon's entire force between the Marne and the Aube. The Prussian
marshal, advancing rapidly in consequence of the firing of these
battles, found himself all at once in presence of an army flushed with
victory, vastly superior in numbers, and well provided with cavalry, of
which he had almost none. He retired in alternate squares, sustaining
all day the charges of the French, with much loss of life, but with no
disorder; and at length cut his way, at Etoges, through a column of
heavy horse, sent round to intercept him, and drawn up on the causeway.
Blucher himself was, in the course of this day, obliged to fight hand to
hand like a private soldier. His retreat was masterly, and he finally
crossed the Marne at Chalons.

Such was Napoleon's celebrated "Expedition of the Marne." In five days
his arms had been three times successful. He had shattered and dispersed
(as he thought effectually) the Silesian army, and above all, recovered
the spirits of his own soldiery. A column of 7000 Prussian prisoners,
with a considerable number of guns and standards, at length satisfied
the Parisians that Victory had not entirely forsworn her old favourite.
Thus far all was well; and had Napoleon, from the field which thus
raised the courage of his troops, and revived the confidence of his
capital, despatched authority to Caulaincourt to conclude the treaty on
the terms before described--the victor of Montmirail might have kept the
throne of France. But his own presumption was rekindled by the same
success which dazzled inferior eyes--and Napoleon wrote on the instant
to his representative at Chatillon, that he might now assume "an
attitude less humble." This error proved fatal.

Scarcely had the Parisians seen the prisoners from Montmirail marched
along their boulevards, before they heard that the Cossacks were in
possession of Fontainebleau. Napoleon had left, as was mentioned, small
divisions of his army to guard the bridges over the Seine at Nogent and
Bray. The enemy, however, soon discovered that the Emperor and his chief
force were no longer in that quarter, and--while he was beating
Alsusieff, Sacken, and Blucher--had made good the passage of the Seine,
at three different points, at Nogent, at Bray, and still further down,
at Montereau, driving the discomfited guardians of these important
places before them. Schwartzenberg had already his headquarters at
Nangis, and was obviously resolved to reach Paris, if possible, whil