On the other hand, in these operations the French had lost some four thousand men killed and wounded, and, as their army was so small, they could ill afford such a diminution of their forces.
Meantime, Bluecher, apprised of these disasters, and at last awakened to his peril, bravely marched westward.

He had come in touch with Marmont, and had driven him out of Champaubert after a desperate resistance.

The day after the elimination of Yorck, the fourteenth, Napoleon headed his tired but triumphant troops back over the road to Champaubert, sending word to Marmont to hold the Prussians in check as long as possible, to dispute every rod of the way, but not to throw away his precious men or bring on a general engagement until the Emperor arrived.
The morning after that Napoleon fell on Bluecher, who clearly outnumbered the French.

But the allies were dismayed and disheartened.
The name of the Emperor whom they had defeated and driven across Europe was again full of terror to them.

The French were accordingly elated.
They would not be denied.