t still they were stout-looking,
hardy peasants, who, whatever deficiency of drill they might display, I
knew well would exhibit no lack of courage before an enemy.

On reaching Chalons, I found that General Damremont had left with the
staff for Vitry only a few hours before; and so I reported myself to the
officer commanding the town, and was ordered by him to join the cavalry
brigade then advancing on Vitry.

Had I time at this moment, I could not help devoting some minutes to
an account of that strange and motley mass which then were brigaded
as Imperial cavalry. Dragoons of every class, heavy and
light-armed,--grenadiers a cheval and hussars, cuirassiers, carbineers,
and lancers,--were all, pell-mell, mixed up confusedly together, and
hurried onwards; some to join their respective corps if they could find
them, but all prepared to serve wherever their sabres might be
called for. It was confusion to the last degree; but a tumult without
enthusiasm or impulse. The superior officers, who were well acquainted
with the state of events, made no secret of their gloomy forebodings;
the juniors lacked energy in a cause where they saw no field for
advancement; and the soldiers, always prepared to imbibe their feelings
from their officers, seemed alike sad and dispirited.

What a change was this from the wild and joyous spirit which once
animated every grade and class,--from the generous enthusiasm that
once warmed each bold heart, and made every soldier a hero! Alas! the
terrible consequences of long defeat were on all. The tide of battle
that rolled disastrously from the ruined walls of the Kremlin still
swept along towards the great Palace of the Tuileries. Germany had
witnessed the destruction of two mighty armies; the third and last was
now awaiting the eventful struggle on the very soil of their country.
The tide of fugitives, which preceded the retiring columns of Victor and
Ney, met the advancing bodies of the conscripts, and spread dismay and
consternation as they went.

The dejection was but the shadow of the last approaching disaster.

On the night of the 27th January, the cavalry brigade with which I was
received orders to march by the Forest of Bar on Brienne, where Bluecher
was stationed in no expectation of being attacked. The movement,
notwithstanding the heavy roads, was made with great rapidity; and by
noon on the following day we came up with the main body of the army in
full march against the enemy.