they could get some sleep; they had had enough of that kind of work.
Since the departure of the second aide-de-camp, who had been
dispatched in quest of orders, this feeling 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