e
Napoleon was on the Marne. The light troops of the grand allied army
were scattering confusion on both sides of the Seine--and one party of
them were so near the capital as Fontainebleau.

Buonaparte instantly committed to Marmont and Mortier the care of
watching the Chalons road and the remains of Blucher's army, and marched
with his main body on Meaux, where he received (15th February) the
welcome reinforcement of 20,000 veterans from Spain, commanded by
Grouchy. On the 16th, Victor and Oudinot were engaged with the van of
Schwartzenberg, on the plains of Guignes, when the Emperor arrived to
their assistance. The enemy immediately drew back, and concentrated his
strength at Nangis. Napoleon attacked that position on the morning of
the 17th, and with such effect, that the allies retreated after
considerable loss, though not in disorder, on the bridges in their rear.

They halted, however, at Montereau, and Victor, who commanded the
pursuers on that route, failed in dislodging them. Napoleon resented
this as a heinous error, and coming up on the morning of the 18th,
rebuked him in terms of violent wrath, and formally dismissed him from
the service. The Marshal, tears streaming down his face, declared that
though he had ceased to be an officer, he must still be a soldier, and
would serve once more in the ranks, from which he had originally risen.
The old man's son-in-law, General Chateau, had been slain the same
morning. Napoleon extended his hand to him, and said he could not give
him back the command of his corps d'armee, which had already been
assigned to another, but that he was welcome to place himself at the
head of a brigade of the guard. The attack then commenced with fury, and
the bridge and town of Montereau were carried. The defence was, however,
long and stern, and Napoleon was seen pointing cannon with his own hand,
under the heaviest of the fire. The artillerymen, delighted with
witnessing this resumption of his ancient trade, were, nevertheless,
alarmed at the exposure of his person, and entreated him to withdraw. He
persisted in his work, answering gaily, "My children! the bullet that
shall kill me is not yet cast." Pursuing his advantage, Napoleon saw the
grand army continue their retreat in the direction of Troyes, and on the
morning of the 22nd arrived before Mery.

The astonishment of the Emperor was great, when he found this town
occupied, not by a feeble rear-guard of Schwartzenberg, but by a
p