_Buonaparte marches upon Blucher, who is in possession of Soissons--Attacks the place without success--Battle of Craonne--Blucher retreats on Laon--Battle of Laon--Napoleon is compelled to withdraw on the 11th--He attacks Rheims, which is evacuated by the Russians--Defeat at Bar-sur-Aube of Oudinot and Gerard, who, with Macdonald, are forced to retreat towards Paris--Schwartzenberg wishes to retreat behind the Aube--but the Emperor Alexander and Lord Castlereagh opposing the measure, it is determined to proceed upon Paris--Napoleon occupies Arcis--Battle of Arcis--Napoleon is joined, in the night after the battle, by Macdonald, Oudinot, and Gerard--and retreats along the Aube._ The sword was now again brandished, not to be sheathed or reposed, until the one party or the other should be irretrievably defeated. The situation of Buonaparte, even after the victory of Montereau, and capture of Troyes, was most discouraging. If he advanced on the grand army of the allies which he had in front, there was every likelihood that they would retire before him, wasting his force in skirmishes, without a possibility of his being able to force them to a general action; while, in the meantime, it might be reckoned for certain that Blucher, master of the Marne, would march upon Paris. On the contrary, if Napoleon moved with his chief force against Blucher, he had, in like manner, to apprehend that Schwartzenberg would resume the route upon Paris by way of the valley of the Seine. Thus, he could make no exertion upon the one side, without exposing the capital to danger on the other.