The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-03-22

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most strenuous exertions he found that
be could only concentrate seventy thou.
rand men, Of whom fifteen thousand were
cavalry. Yet, such was his confidence in |
the discipline Of these, and in his own
powers, that he resolved to assume the
offensive at once. He did 30 but, after
"a few successful but comparatively unim-
portant engagements, he was defeated,
with heavy loss, by Blucher, in the terri
bic battle Of Brienne, on the lst Of sFe-
bruary, ia which NApoleoo Commanded
in person, and in spite Of his personal ex-
ertions. W.
THE ALLIES BELIEVE THE FALL or MA
poLEoN TO BE CERTAIN.
The cause Of Napoleon appeared now
altogether desperate. He had been de-
feated in pitched battle, on ground
which he himself had chosen, losing six
thousand men and seventy.three pieces of
cannon. Everything seemed to presage
the immediate dissolution Of the French
power. Obliged, after this defeat, to
evacuate even Troyes, to see that city oc-
cupied by the allies, and compelled to re-
treat towards Paris, the spirits of his SOL
diers become so much depressed that they
seemed incapable of any further exertion.
They believed that the star of Napoleon
had set they feared that Paris itself
would have to be abandoned /; the cause
of Napoleon seemed with them to be at
an end The new copscripts deserted by
Gro IDS the sides Of the roads we're GOV.
cred with arms and knapsacks already
the litters of the wounded, and the dis.
banded conscripts, began to be seen in
the streets of Paris These facts were
known to the allied powers. They be,
lieved that the cause Of Napoleon was
altogether desperate that it was impos
sible for him to recruit his army, or tc
make with it any stand whatever agains
their combined forces, and that his de
feat, was inevitable. They rose in thei
demands, therefore, believing that tbey
had the power to enforce them.
HOW THE GENIUS OF NAPOLEON TURN!
THE SCALE.
Bat then it was that the genius Of Ma
poleon shone forth with undminishet
iuster.. Then it was that he snatchet
victory from defeat. Then it was tha
he made strategy and skill supply tn
place Of numbers. Concentrating forty
five thousand of the elite Of his army, b
: fell. like thunderbolt, on the 9th Q
, February, upon the long and thin line c
. Blucher, pierced it, and routed it; the
marching rapidly to Champaubert ho de
teated the Russians there. Having thu
gained the initiative, and having b
these victories again inspired his troop
with their former courage, he found hin
self able, with concentrated army, I
= turn a. pleasure upon any of the seattle
u ed columns of the allies. The defeat
i the Russians and Prussians at Montmira
D followed on the llth, the dofeat
- Blucher at Vauchamps followed on Il
IL l4th and on the 5th Biuchel, with b
l. great army, retreated to Chalons, close
e pursued by Napoleon. Paris was throw
le into transports of joy by these brilial
g. victories of Napoleon; the allied arm
10 continued to retreat at oil points, and Il
u naughty allies proposed to Napoleon {
L. immediate suspension of hostilities. N
:. poleon, however, although he only HI
Is now ffty,fve thousand troops, had dete
y mined to make negotiation entirely d
Us pendent on the progress Of militia
s, events, and he refused TO suspend
OF operations. On the 18th of February
'g defeated the allied army at Monterea
o. and the allies retreated beyond the Sci:
~ THE ALLIES PROPOSE AN ARMrsTIcI
n These repeated successes of Napole
I'd restored the prestige of his name and t
1t. magic Of his renown; the young CT
cd scripts deemed themselves invincible u
ps der his direction. The allied sovereig
n. we're confounded and amazed at such
IN succession of disasters as had. befall
pb their arms; they were mortified at /
,es defeats they had sustained from an arl
cd not half as large as their own they 9
lid befor, them no prospect but that Of
lc. long retreat, through hostile populate
on to the Rhine and for the second ii
is they offered to Napoleon an armistice.
nc WHY NAPOLEON REFUSED AN ARMlsTI
W. But Napoleon had now performed
most extraordinary and brilliant milit
ES achievements. Recovering his army,
the force Of his resolution and the en-
~ gy Of his character, from the lowest pc
"a Of depression, he had. at once arres
nd the course Of disaster and struck
o., m most terrible blows against the armies
ire the allies. Suddenly stopping his retr
of after his defeat at Brienne, and fall
,rv perpendicularly on the line of march
N. BluchSr's army, he had surprised
H. Prussian marshal, whose scattered co
Sf ~ fall an easy prey to the superior 70
al. which he directed against them.
re. Champaubert, Montmirail, and Vau
10 amps, he had ipfictea q loss Of 20,l
n men op the allies, losing only 5000 i
N, himself; at Nangis and Montereau
ns. had stopped the advance Of tho all
i'd army, caused them q loss Of 10000 M
nv and thrown back their victorious sta
u d.. n