Coignet The Emperor gave orders for a general attack!

Coignet Marshal Ney has a formidable task before him. He cannot take it without reinforcements, which he continually sends for but never receives.

Coignet All is confusion and continual movement.

Coignet Ney has put the English to rout, but without positive success.

Coignet Word has come that a column is advancing on the right wing. Emperor believes it to be Grouchy, come to support Mabot.

Coignet A column of Prussians is rapidly advancing on our right wing. Our troops are retreating.

Coignet Emperor has sent a division from the centre to the right, to reinforce the retreating column.

Coignet General Blucher has come upon our right flank. Grouchy expected him from a different direction.

Coignet Our centre is weakened! The English have time to breathe. No supports available for Ney.

Coignet The Prussian army has moved into line, and the junction is complete.

Coignet There are two or even three of the enemy to one of us. There is no means of holding out.

Coignet The Emperor has taken his guard, and is marching forward to the centre of his army.

Coignet The Emperor will get himself killed. Is it not enough for our enemies to have gained the victory? Must this sacrifice be made as well?

Coignet We all surrounded the Emperor and compelled him to retreat rather than get himself killed.

Coignet We are having the greatest possible difficulty in getting away. We can not make our way through the panic-stricken multitude.

Coignet The Emporer is trying to reestablish some kind of order among the retreating troops, but his efforts appear to be in vain.

Coignet Our men struggle and fight through the streets, panic-stricken, flying before the Prussian cavalry, hurrahing continually behind us.

Coignet The one thought uppermost in the minds of all is to get across the bridge. Nothing can stand in the way of these desperate men.

Coignet No voice can make itself heard above the tumult.

Coignet The Emperor, recognizing his impotence, gave way and let the torrent flow. He, no doubt, believes he will be able to stem it next morning.

Coignet Nothing can calm the men. They will listen to no one.

Coignet The mounted men blow out their horses’ brains; the foot-soldiers blow out their own to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy.

Coignet I have myself taking part in another rout as complete as that of Moscow. "We are betrayed," all the men cry.

Coignet The Emperor has realized the extent of the disaster.

Coignet We have arrived, in company of the Emperor at Charleroi.

Coignet We are now in Laon.

Coignet The Emperor wishes to remain with the army. His generals urge him to Paris. All is chaos.

Coignet The Emperor has been compelled to return to Paris by the majority of his generals. His life, at the very least, shall be secured by this.

Coignet The Emperor has left for Paris. We who remain behind find ourselves to weary even for words.

Coignet The silence amongst us is profound. We are worn out with hunger and fatigue. Our poor horses can scarcely move after 24 hours in the field.

Coignet Men and horses fall from want of food. We know not what will become of our brave men. We are, indeed, miserable.

Coignet By forced marches we reached the forest of Villers-Cotterets.

Coignet We are to spend the night at the house of a physician on the edge of the forest.

Coignet We have not unsaddled our horses, for the enemy may surprise us during the night. They are surely on our heels. We must not even undress.

Coignet The grooms are ordered to remain in the stable with the bridles on their arms, ready for departure at a moment's notice.

Coignet The Prussians are attacking! They have shut us up in the city. They fell upon our train, and are making fearful havoc.

Coignet We fled in time, but barely Three minutes later and we should have been captured.

Coignet Our deserters are coming in, most of them without arms. It is a heart-breaking sight.

Coignet The countryside is deserted. All the inhabitants have moved out, taking their valuables to Paris. The roads are blocked up with carriages.

Coignet Such great destruction we see from the frantic fleeing of our countrymen ahead of the inevitable arrival of our victorious enemy.