What day in December did Napoleon complete what is considered his greatest victory ?
Ordering Durutte to move east to break out the beleaguered fortress garrisons and join him with what he optimistically estimated as some 12,000 men , and leaving Marmont and Mortier to contain Blucher he swung himself southwards with 28,000 men to deal with Schwarzenberg whom he intended to score a quick success against , in order that he might quickly return to Blucher on the Aisne .