ld
tell? Certainly they were on the eve of great events.

CHAPTER XIV

THE HAMMER OF THE WAR GOD

Nansouty's brilliant cavalrymen were already awake and their general
having divined to some extent the part he was to play in the glorious
day, the eleventh of February, the trumpets were already calling his
horsemen to arms when Marteau delivered the order and took his place by
the General as the Emperor's representative, a high position and great
responsibility for so young a soldier. They made a hasty breakfast and
broke camp. Indeed, there was little to break. The words are only
used figuratively, since they had no tents. In half an hour after
Marteau had left the Emperor's headquarters, the squadrons were formed.
Nansouty, attended by his staff and the young officer, galloped to the
head of the column, gave the word of command and the gallant horsemen
trotted down the road.

They had been posted near Fromentieres, about two miles from
Champaubert, for the night. The roads were bad, but they took to the
fields, and by six o'clock they had passed through the town of
Montmirail, easily driving out a few straggling battalions which
occupied it. By eight o'clock they were in touch with the columns of
Sacken at Vieux Maisons. A bit of woodland covered their approach. It
was not until they were almost upon them that Sacken's advance came in
touch with them. The French horse followed the Russian outposts and
advance guards at a gallop back to the main column, upon which they
fell impetuously. Batteries were also deployed in the woods and opened
on the Russians.

Sacken's men had started after breakfast in a rather leisurely way, and
they had not progressed very far when Nansouty surprised them. The
French rode down the advance regiments, threw the heads of the columns
into confusion, and then galloped back to the shelter of the wood.
Believing that he was about to be attacked in force, Sacken deployed,
wasting much valuable time before he discovered this was only a cavalry
feint, whereupon he moved forward. It was ten o'clock before he
reached a large farm called Haute-Epine. By that time Napoleon was
ready for him. He had left Marmont back at Champaubert to hold back
Bluecher. He threw Mortier forward on the Chateau-Thierry road to check
Yorck. He put Friant, the veteran and splendid fighter, in echelon
along the La Ferte road; withdrew Nansouty's cavalry to cover his own
right, and put Ney and R