For that plan was now his dominant aim, while the repulse of Bluecher was chiefly of importance because it would enable him to stretch a hand eastwards to his beleaguered garrisons.[425] But Bluecher was not to be thus disposed of.  While withdrawing from Soissons to the natural fortress of Laon, he heard that Napoleon had crossed the Aisne at Berry-au-Bac, and was making for Craonne.  Above that town there rises a long narrow ridge or plateau, which Bluecher ordered his Russian corps to occupy.  There was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the war (March 7th).  The aim of the allies was to await the French attack on the plateau, while 10,000 horsemen and sixty guns worked round and fell on their rear.

The plan failed, owing to a mistake in the line of march of this flanking force:  and the battle resolved itself into a soldiers’ fight.  Five times did Ney lead his braves up those slopes, only to be hurled back by the dogged Muscovites.  But the Emperor now arrived; a sixth attack by the cavalry and artillery of the Guard battered in the defence; and Bluecher, hearing that the flank move had failed, ordered a retreat on Laon.  This confused and desperate fight cost both sides about 7,000 men, nearly a fourth of the numbers engaged.  Victor, Grouchy, and six French generals were among the wounded.[426]

Nevertheless, Napoleon struggled on:  he called up Marmont and Mortier, gave out that he was about to receive other large reinforcements, and bade his garrisons in Belgium and Lorraine fall on the rear of the foe.  One more victory, he thought, would end the war, or at least lower the demands of the allies.  It was not to be.  Bluecher and Buelow held the strong natural citadel of Laon; and all Napoleon’s efforts on March the 9th and 10th failed to storm the southern approaches.  Marmont fared no better on the east; and when, at nightfall, the weary French fell back, the Prussians resolved to try a night attack on Marmont’s corps, which was far away from the main body.  Never was a surprise more successful; Marmont was quite off his guard; horse and foot fled in wild confusion, leaving 2,500 prisoners and forty-five cannon in the hands of the victorious Yorck.  Could the allies have pressed home their advantage, the result must have been decisive; but Bluecher had fallen ill, and a halt was called.[427]

Alone, among the leaders in this campaign, the Emperor remained unbroken.  All the allied leaders had at one time or another bent under his blows; and the French Marshals seemed doomed, as in 1813, to fail wherever their Emperor was not.  Ney, Victor, and Mortier had again evinced few of the qualities of a commander, except bravery.  Augereau was betraying softness and irresolution in the Lyonnais in front of a smaller Austrian force.  Suchet and Davoust were shut up in Catalonia and Hamburg.  St. Cyr and Vandamme were prisoners.  Soult had kept a bold front near Bayonne:  but now news was to hand that Wellington had surprised and routed him at Orthez.