about five o'clock
In the name of Heaven , what were they doing there , since the Prussians had not shown themselves ? either let them fight and have it over with , or else go off to some place where they could get some sleep ; they had had enough of that kind of work . Since the departure of the second aide-de-camp , who had been dispatched in quest of orders , this feeling of unrest had been increasing momentarily ; men collected in groups , talking loudly and discussing the situation pro and con , and the general inquietude communicating itself to the officers , they knew not what answer to make to those of their men who ventured to question them . They ought to be marching , it would not answer to dawdle thus ; and so , when it became known about five o'clock that the aide-de-camp had returned and that they were to retreat , there was a sigh of relief throughout the camp and every heart was lighter . It seemed that the wiser counsel was to prevail , then , after all ! The Emperor and MacMahon had never looked with favor on the movement toward Montmedy , and now , alarmed to learn that they were again out-marched and out-maneuvered , and that they were to have the army of the Prince of Saxony as well as that of the Crown Prince to contend with , they had renounced the hazardous scheme of uniting their forces with Bazaine , and would retreat through the northern strongholds with a view to falling back ultimately on Paris . The 7th corps ' destination would be Chagny , by way of Chene , while the 5th corps would be directed on Poix , and the 1st and 12th on Vendresse .