BRIENNE

a small town in the department of the Aube (Upper Champagne), consists of Brienne-la- Ville and Brienne-le-Chftteau, containing 2000 inhabitants. It has various manufactures, and stands among vineyards. In the military academy formerly existing at Brienne-le-Ch , Napoleon received his first instruction in the military art. Brienne-le-Ch was afterwards celebrated as the scene of a portion of the final 'stmggle in 1814, in which the empire was overthrown. 160,000 Ru ians and allies had cro ed the Rhine at Basel; Bliicher, with 60,000 combatants, had effected his pa age at Mannheim, Mainz, and Coblenz. Napoleon attacked BlUcher on 27th January at St. Dizier, and on the 29th at Brienne, with a view to prevent the junction of the allies. The battle was renewed on the SOth, and Bliicher compelled to retreat to Trannes. Napoleon advanced to La Rothi^re; but the Ru ians having effected their junction with BlUcher, Prince Schwartzenberg gave orders, on the 1st of February, to renew the combat. Despite the utmost exertions of Napoleon the French were defeated after a sanguinary stmggle, in which each side lost about 5000, and on the following night they evacuated Brienne, leaving 9000 prisoners and seventy pieces of artillery in the hands of the enemy. Brienne was nearly destroyed in the battle of the 29th.