least, got one march ahead; and will do what is in him, he and
every soul of those 14,000. The officers have given their horses
for the baggage-wagons, made every sacrifice; the word Homewards
kindles a strange fire in all hearts; and the troops, say my French
authorities, are unsurpassable. The Marechal himself, victim of
rheumatisms, cannot ride at all; but has his light sledge always
harnessed; and, at a moment's notice, is present everywhere.
Sleep, during these ten days and nights, he has little.

"Eger is 100 miles off, by the shortest Highway: there are two bad
Highways, one by Pilsen southerly, one by Karlsbad northerly,--with
their bridges all broken, infested by Hussars:--we strike into a
middle combination of country roads, intricate parish lanes;
and march zigzag across these frozen wildernesses: we must dodge
these Festititz Hussar swarms; and cross the rivers near their
springs. Forward! Perhaps some readers, for the high Belleisle's
sake, will look out these localities subjoined in the Note, and
reduced to spelling. [Tachlowitz, Lischon (near Rakonitz); Jechnitz
(as if you were for the Pilsen road; then turn as if for the
Karlsbad one); Steben (not discoverable, but a DESPATCH from
it,-- Campagnes, v. 280), Chisch, Luditz,
Theysing (hereabouts you break off into smaller columns, separate
parties and patches, cavalry all ahead, among the Hills): Schonthal
AND Landeck (Belleisle passes Christmas-day at Landeck,--
Campagnes, vii. 10); Einsiedel (AND by Petschau),
Lauterbach, Konigswart, AND likewise by Topl, Sandau, Treunitz
(that is, into Eger from two sides).] Resting-places in this grim
wilderness of his: poor snow-clad Hamlets,--with their little hood
of human smoke rising through the snow; silent all of them, except
for the sound of here and there a flail, or crowing cock;--but have