eling of unrest had been increasing momentarily;
men collected in groups, talking loudly and discussing the situation
pro and con, and the general inquietude communicating itself to the
officers, they knew not what answer to make to those of their men who
ventured to question them. They ought to be marching, it would not
answer to dawdle thus; and so, when it became known about five o'clock
that the aide-de-camp had returned and that they were to retreat, there
was a sigh of relief throughout the camp and every heart was lighter.

It seemed that the wiser counsel was to prevail, then, after all! The
Emperor and MacMahon had never looked with favor on the movement toward
Montmedy, and now, alarmed to learn that they were again out-marched
and out-maneuvered, and that they were to have the army of the Prince
of Saxony as well as that of the Crown Prince to contend with, they had
renounced the hazardous scheme of uniting their forces with Bazaine, and
would retreat through the northern strongholds with a view to falling
back ultimately on Paris. The 7th corps' destination would be Chagny, by
way of Chene, while the 5th corps would be directed on Poix, and the 1st
and 12th on Vendresse. But why, since they were about to fall back, had
they advanced to the line of the Aisne? Why all that waste of time and
labor, when it would have been so easy and so rational to move straight
from Rheims and occupy the strong positions in the valley of the Marne?
Was there no guiding mind, no military talent, no common sense? But
there should be no more questioning; all should be forgiven, in the
universal joy at the adoption of that eminently wise counsel, which
was the only means at their command of extricating themselves from the
hornets' nest into which they had rushed so imprudently. All, officers
and men, felt that they would be the stronger for the retrograde
movement, that under the walls of Paris they would be invincible, and
that there it was that the Prussians would sustain their inevitable
defeat. But Vouziers must be evacuated before daybreak, and they must be
well on the road to Chene before the enemy should learn of the movement,
and forthwith the camp presented a scene of the greatest animation:
trumpets sounding, officers hastening to and fro with orders, while
the baggage and quartermaster's trains, in order not to encumber the
rear-guard, were sent forward in advance.

Maurice was delighted. As he was endeavoring to explai