This heavy blow, delivered on the 18th of May, in spite of a successful rally a week later, finally convinced the Emperor that the march on Paris was impossible. Eleven days later, on the 29th, it was announced in the camp of Tournay, upon which the Allied army had fallen back, that the Emperor had determined to return to Vienna. The Allied army was indeed still left upon that front, but the French continued to pour up against it. It was again their numbers that brought about the next and the final victory. Far off, upon the east of that same line, the army which is famous in history and in song as that of the Sambre et Meuse was violently attempting to cross the Sambre and to turn the line of the Allies. Coburg reinforced his right opposite the French left, but numbers had begun to bewilder him. The enthusiasm of Saint-Just, the science of Carnot, decided victory at this eastern end of the line. Six times the passage of the Sambre had failed. Reinforcements continued to reach the army, and the seventh attempt succeeded. Charleroi, which is the main fortress blocking the passage of the Sambre at this place, could be, and was, invested when once the river was crossed by the French. It capitulated in a week. But the evacuation of Charleroi was but just accomplished when Coburg, seventy thousand strong, appeared in relief of the city. [Illustration: Showing effect of _Ypres_, _Charleroi_ and _Fleurus_ in wholly throwing back the Allies in June 1794. _Ypres_ captured on June 19 by the French, they march on Oudenarde and pass it on June 25 to 27. Meanwhile _Charleroi_ has also surrendered to the French, and when, immediately afterwards, the Austrians try to relieve it, they are beaten at _Fleurus_ and retire on Brussels. Thus the English at _Tournai_ and all the Allied Forces at _Condé_, _Valenciennes_, _Landrecies_, and _Mons_ are imperilled and must surrender or retire.] The plateau above the town where the great struggle was decided, is known as that of Fleurus, and it was upon the 26th of June that the armies were there engaged. Never before had forces so equal permitted the French any success. It had hitherto been the ceaseless requisitioning of men to supply their insufficient training and command, which had accomplished the salvation of the country. At Fleurus, though there was still some advantage on the French side, the numbers were more nearly equal. The action was not determined for ten hours, and on the French centre and left was nearly lost, when the Reserves’ and Marceau’s obstinacy in front of Fleurus village itself at last decided it.