nowo, on the 14th of December, had
reached Macdonald several days before, in which he was informed that the
army no longer existed, and that it was necessary that he should arrive
speedily on the Pregel, in order to cover Koenigsberg, and to be able to
retreat upon Elbing and Marienburg. This news the marshal concealed from
the Prussians. Hitherto the cold and the forced marches had produced no
complaints from them; there was no symptom of discontent exhibited by
these allies; brandy and provisions were not deficient.

But on the 28th, when General Bachelu extended to the right, towards
Regnitz, in order to drive away the Russians, who had taken refuge there
after their expulsion from Tilsit, the Prussian officers began to
complain that their troops were fatigued; their vanguard marched
unwillingly and carelessly, allowed itself to be surprised, and was
thrown into disorder. Bachelu, however, restored the fortune of the day,
and entered Regnitz.

During this time, Macdonald, who had arrived at Tilsit, was waiting for
Yorck and the rest of the Prussian army, which did not make its
appearance. On the 29th, the officers, and the orders which he sent
them, were vainly multiplied; no news of Yorck transpired. On the 30th,
Macdonald's anxiety was redoubled; it was fully exhibited in one of his
letters of that day's date, in which, however, he did not yet venture to
appear suspicious of a defection. He wrote "that he could not understand
the reason of this delay; that he had sent a number of officers and
emissaries with orders to Yorck to rejoin him, but that he had received
no answer. In consequence, when the enemy was advancing against him, he
was compelled to suspend his retreat; for he could not make up his mind
to desert this corps, to retreat without Yorck; and yet this delay was
ruinous." This letter concluded thus:--"I am lost in conjectures. If I
retreat, what would the Emperor say? what would be said by France, by
the army, by Europe? Would it not be an indelible stain on the tenth
corps, voluntarily to abandon a part of its troops, and without being
compelled to it otherwise than by prudence? Oh, no; whatever may be the
result, I am resigned, and willingly devote myself as a victim, provided
I am the only one:" and he concluded by wishing the French general "that
sleep which his melancholy situation had long denied him."

On the same day, he recalled Bachelu and the Prussian cavalry, which was
still at Regnitz, to