Saxon Captain von Odeleben, who was at the French headquarters, states that the Emperor was for a few minutes quite dazed by the daring of this stroke; and he now had too few squadrons to venture on any retaliation.  Both sides were, in fact, exhausted.  The allies had lost 10,000 men killed and wounded, but no prisoners or guns:  the French losses were nearly as heavy, and five guns and 800 prisoners fell into Bluecher’s hands.  Both armies camped on the field of battle; but, as the supplies of ammunition of the allies had run low, and news came to hand that Lauriston had dislodged Kleist from Leipzig, it was decided to retreat towards Dresden.

Napoleon cautiously followed them, leaving behind Ney’s corps, which had suffered frightfully at Gross Goerschen; and he strove to inspirit the conscripts, many of whom had shown unsteadiness, by proclaiming to the army that the victory of Luetzen would rank above Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, and Borodino.

Far from showing dejection, Alexander renewed to Cathcart his assurance of persevering in the war.  At Dresden our envoy was again assured (May 7th) that the allies would not give in, but that “Austria will wear the cloak of mediation till the time her immense force is ready to act, the 24th instant.  Count Stadion is hourly expected here:  he will bring proposals of terms of peace and similar ones will be sent to the French headquarters.  Receiving and refusing these proposals will occupy most of the time.”  In fact, Metternich was on the point of despatching from Vienna two envoys, Stadion to the allies, Count Bubna to Napoleon, with the offer of Austria’s armed mediation.

It found him in no complaisant mood.  He had entered Dresden as a conqueror:  he had bitterly chidden the citizens for their support of the Prussian volunteers, and ordered them to beg their own King to return from Bohemia.  To that hapless monarch he had sent an imperious mandate to come back and order the Saxon troops, who obstinately held Torgau, forthwith to hand it over to the French.  On all sides his behests were obeyed, the Saxon troops grudgingly ranging themselves under the French eagles.  And while he was tearing Saxony away from the national cause, he was summoned by Austria to halt.  The victor met the request with a flash of defiance.  After a reproachful talk with Bubna, on May 17th, he wrote two letters to the Emperor Francis.  In the more official note he assured him that he desired peace, and that he assented to the opening of a Congress with that aim in view, in which England, Russia, Prussia, and even the Spanish insurgents might take part.  He therefore proposed that an armistice should be concluded for the needful preparations.  But in the other letter he assured his father-in-law that he was ready to die at the head of all the generous men of France rather than become the sport of England.  His resentment against Austria finds utterance in his despatch of the same day, in which he bids Caulaincourt seek an