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The German Advance Westward Gambetta at Le Mans The "Army of Brittany" and Count de Keratry The Camp of Conlie The Breton Marching Division Keratry resigns The Champigny Sortie from Paris The dilatory D'Aurelle The pitiable 20th Army Corps Battles of Beaune-la-Rolande and Loigny Loss of Orleans D'Aurelle superseded by Chanzy Chanzy's Slow Retreat The 21st Corps summoned to the Front I march with the Breton Division Marchenoir and Freteval Our Retreat Our Rearguard Action at Droue Behaviour of the Inhabitants We fight our Way from Fontenelle to Saint Agil Guns and Quagmires Our Return to Le Mans I proceed to Bennes and Saint Malo.
The former retired in the direction of Bourges and Nevers, whilst Chanzy, who was now placed in chief command of the others, D'Aurelle being removed from his post, withdrew gradually towards the forest of Marchenoir. In that second battle of Orleans the French lost 20,000 men, but 18,000 of them were taken prisoners.
We passed from the department of the Sarthe into that of Loir-et-Cher, going on until we reached a little place called Ville-aux-Cleros, where we spent the night under uncomfortable conditions, for it snowed. Early the following day we set out again, and, leaving Vendome a couple of miles or so away on our right, we passed Freteval and camped on the outskirts of the forest of Marchenoir.
The 18th and 20th could not cooperate in this movement, however; and on the three others being driven back, D'Aurelle instructed Chanzy to retire on Beaugency and Marchenoir, but sent no orders to Bourbaki, who was now on the scene of action.
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