By the middle of June, the Anglo-Allied Army which had been gradually
assembling in Belgium, under the command of the Duke of WELLINGTON,
amounted to about 106,000 men, and was composed in the following
manner:--
INFANTRY.
British 23,543
King's German Legion 3,301
Hanoverian 22,788
Brunswick 5,376
Nassau (1st Regiment) 2,880
Dutch and Belgian 24,174
------
82,062
CAVALRY.
British 5,913
King's German Legion 2,560
Hanoverian 1,682
Brunswick 922
Dutch and Belgian 3,405
------
14,482
ARTILLERY.
British 5,030 102 guns.
King's German Legion 526 18 "
Hanoverian 465 12 "
Brunswick 510 16 "
Dutch and Belgian 1,635 56 "
------ ----
8,166 204 guns.
ENGINEERS, SAPPERS AND MINERS, WAGGON-TRAIN, AND STAFF CORPS.
British 1,240
TOTAL.
Infantry 82,062
Cavalry 14,482
Artillery 8,166
Engineers, Waggon-Train, &c. 1,240
--------
105,950 men and 204 guns.
The Infantry was divided into two Corps and a Reserve.
The First Corps, commanded by General His Royal Highness the Prince of
ORANGE, was composed
of the First Division, under Major General COOKE;
of the Third Division, under Lieutenant General Sir CHARLES ALTEN;
of the Second Dutch-Belgian Division, under Lieutenant General DE
PERPONCHER;
and of the Third Dutch-Belgian Division, under Lieutenant General
Baron CHASSÉ.
The Left of this Corps rested upon Genappe, Quatre Bras, and Frasne,
on the high road leading from Brussels to Charleroi on the Sambre,
and communicated with the Right of the First _Corps d'Armée_ of the
Prussian Army, the Head Quarters of which Corps were at Charleroi. DE
PERPONCHER's Dutch-Belgian Division formed the extreme Left, having its
Head Quarters at Nivelles, on the high road from Brussels to Binche. On
its right was CHASSÉ's Dutch-Belgian Division, more in advance, in the
direction of Mons and Binche, and quartered principally in Roeulx, and
in the villages between the latter place and Binche. The next Division
on the right was ALTEN's, having its Head Quarters at Soignies, on
the high road from Brussels to Mons, and occupying villages between
this town, Roeulx, Braine le Comte, and Enghien. The Right Division,
COOKE's, had its Head Quarters at Enghien.
The Second Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Lord HILL, consisted
of the Second Division, under Lieutenant General Sir HENRY CLINTON;
of the Fourth Division, under Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir CHARLES
COLVILLE;
of the First Dutch-Belgian Division, under Lieutenant General
STEDMANN;
and of a Brigade raised for service in the Dutch Colonies, called the
Indian Brigade, under Lieutenant General Baron ANTHING.
The Second Division, which formed the Left of this Corps, communicated
with ALTEN's Right; its Head Quarters were at Ath, on the Dender, and
upon the high road leading from Brussels to Tournai, and one Brigade
(the Third), occupied Lens, situated about midway between Ath and Mons.
The Fourth Division was the next on the right, having its Head Quarters
at Audenarde on the Scheldt, and occupying also Renaix. One Brigade
of this Division (the Sixth Hanoverian) garrisoned the fortress of
Nieuport on the coast. The First Dutch-Belgian Division was cantoned in
villages bordering upon the high road connecting Grammont with Ghent;
and the so-called Indian Brigade occupied villages between this line
and Alost.
The Reserve consisted
of the Fifth Division, under Lieutenant General Sir THOMAS PICTON;
of the Sixth Division, under Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir LOWRY
COLE;
of the Brunswick Division, under the Duke of BRUNSWICK;
of the Hanoverian Corps, under Lieutenant General VON DER DECKEN;
and of the Contingent of the Duke of NASSAU, which comprised the 1st
Regiment of Nassau Infantry, containing three Battalions, and forming
a Brigade under the command of General VON KRUSE.
The Fifth and Sixth Divisions, and the Brunswick Division, were
quartered principally in and around Brussels, excepting the Seventh
Brigade, which together with VON DER DECKEN's Corps, the 13th Veteran
Battalion, the 1st Foreign Battalion, and the 2nd Garrison Battalion,
garrisoned Antwerp, Ostend, Nieuport, Ypres, Tournai, and Mons; and VON
KRUSE's Nassau Brigade was cantoned between Brussels and Louvain.
Of the fortresses already mentioned, those which had not been destroyed
by the French when they gained possession of the country in 1794,
namely, Antwerp, Ostend, and Nieuport, were strengthened, and each
rendered capable of holding out a siege. By taking every possible
advantage offered by the remains of the old fortifications, and by
the continued employment of 20,000 labourers, through requisitions on
the country, in addition to the military working parties, and by the
accession of artillery and stores from England and Holland, the towns
of Ypres, Tournai, Mons, Ath, and the Citadel of Ghent, were placed
in a state of defence, and a Redoubt was constructed at Audenarde to
protect the Sluice Gates, which afforded the means of inundating that
part of the country.
* * * * *
The Cavalry of the Anglo-Allied Army, commanded by Lieutenant General
the Earl of UXBRIDGE, consisted of seven Brigades, comprising the
British and the King's German Legion; of a Hanoverian Brigade; of five
Squadrons of Brunswick Cavalry; and of three Brigades of Dutch-Belgian
Cavalry.
The British and King's German Legion Cavalry, with the Hanoverian
Brigade, were stationed at Grammont and Ninove, and in villages
bordering upon the Dender. The Brunswick Cavalry was dispersed in
the vicinity of Brussels. The First Brigade of Dutch-Belgian Cavalry
was cantoned in the neighbourhood of Roeulx; the Second Brigade, in
villages between Roeulx and Mons; and the Third Brigade, partly on the
south side of Mons, in the direction of Maubeuge and Beaumont, and
partly between Binche and Mons.
* * * * *
The wide dissemination of the Duke of WELLINGTON's forces which the
advanced line of cantonments presented--a line forming a considerable
portion of a circle, of which Brussels was the centre, and the Tournai,
Mons, and Charleroi roads were the marked radii--tended greatly to
facilitate the means of subsisting the troops, and to render that
subsistence less burthensome to the country; while, at the same time,
it offered to the Duke, in conjunction with the interior points of
concentration, and with the efficient Reserve stationed around the
capital, full security for his being prepared to meet any emergency
that might arise. The main points of interior concentration were
(commencing from the right) Audenarde, Grammont, Ath, Enghien,
Soignies, Nivelles, and Quatre Bras. From whatever point, therefore,
offensive operations might be directed against that portion of the
Belgian frontier occupied by the Army under WELLINGTON--whether from
Lille, by Courtrai, or by Tournai, between the Lys and the Scheldt;
from Condé, Valenciennes, or Maubeuge, by Mons, between the Sambre
and the Scheldt; or from Maubeuge, Beaumont, or Philippeville, by
Charleroi, between the Sambre and the Meuse--the Duke, by advancing to
the threatened point with his Reserve, and placing the remainder of
his troops in movement, had it in his power to concentrate at least
two-thirds of his intended disposable force for the Field, upon the
line of the Enemy's operations, within twenty-two hours after the
receipt of intelligence of the actual direction and apparent object of
those operations.
* * * * *
The Prussian Army, under the command of Prince BLÜCHER VON WAHLSTADT,
amounted to nearly 117,000 men, and was thus composed:--
Infantry 99,715
Cavalry 11,879
Artillery, Waggon-Train, and Engineers 5,303
-------
116,897 men & 312 guns.
It was divided into four _Corps d'Armée_.
The First Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General ZIETEN,[6] consisted
of the First Brigade, under General STEINMETZ;
of the Second Brigade, under General PIRCH II.;[7]
of the Third Brigade, under General JAGOW;
of the Fourth Brigade, under General Count HENKEL;
of a Cavalry Reserve, under Lieutenant General RÖDER;
and of an Artillery Reserve, under Colonel LEHMANN.
The Right of this _Corps d'Armée_, the Head Quarters of which were at
Charleroi, communicated with the Left of the First Corps of the Duke
of WELLINGTON's Army. Its Right Brigade, the First, was cantoned in
and around Fontaine l'Evêque, which lies midway between Charleroi and
Binche; the Second Brigade, in Marchienne au Pont, on the Sambre; the
Third Brigade, in Fleurus; the Fourth Brigade, in Moustier sur Sambre;
the Reserve Cavalry in Sombref, and the Reserve Artillery in Gembloux.
The line of Advanced Posts of this Corps extended from Bonne Esperance
(two miles south-west of Binche) along the frontier of Lobbes, Thuin,
and Gerpinnes, as far as Sossoye.
The Second _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by General PIRCH I., consisted
of the Fifth Brigade, under General TIPPELSKIRCHEN;
of the Sixth Brigade, under General KRAFFT;
of the Seventh Brigade, under General BRAUSE;
of the Eighth Brigade, under Colonel LANGEN;
of a Cavalry Reserve, under General JÜRGASS;
and of an Artillery Reserve, under Colonel RHÖL.
The Head Quarters of this Corps were at Namur, situated at the
confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse, where also its first Brigade
(the Fifth) was stationed; the Sixth Brigade was cantoned in and
around Thorembey les Beguignes; the Seventh Brigade in Heron; the
Eighth Brigade in Huy; the Reserve Cavalry in Hannut; and the Reserve
Artillery along the high road to Louvain. The line of Advanced Posts
of this Corps extended from Sossoye as far as Dinant on the Meuse,
about midway between Namur and Givet.
The Third _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by Lieutenant General THIELEMANN,
consisted
of the Ninth Brigade, under General BORKE;
of the Tenth Brigade, under Colonel KÄMPFEN;
of the Eleventh Brigade, under Colonel LUCK;
of the Twelfth Brigade, under Colonel STÜLPNAGEL;
of a Cavalry Reserve, under General HOBE;
and of an Artillery Reserve, under Colonel MOHNHAUPT.
The Head Quarters of this Corps were at Ciney: the Ninth Brigade was
stationed at Asserre; the Tenth Brigade at Ciney; the Eleventh Brigade
at Dinant; the Twelfth Brigade at Huy, on the Meuse; the Reserve
Cavalry between Ciney and Dinant; and the Reserve Artillery at Ciney.
The line of Advanced Posts of this Corps extended from Dinant as far as
Fabeline and Rochefort.
The Fourth _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by General Count BÜLOW VON
DENNEWITZ, consisted
of the Thirteenth Brigade, under Lieutenant General HACKE;
of the Fourteenth Brigade, under General RYSSEL;
of the Fifteenth Brigade, under General LOSTHIN;
of the Sixteenth Brigade, under Colonel HILLER;
of a Cavalry Reserve, under General His Royal Highness Prince
WILLIAM of Prussia;
and of an Artillery Reserve, under Lieutenant Colonel BARDELEBEN.
The Head Quarters of this Corps were at Liege, where was also stationed
the Thirteenth Infantry Brigade; the Fourteenth Brigade was cantoned
in and around Waremme; the Fifteenth Brigade at Hologne; the Sixteenth
Brigade at Liers; the First Brigade of Reserve Cavalry at Tongern; the
Second Brigade at Dalhem, and the Third Brigade at Lootz; the Reserve
Artillery was cantoned in and about Gloms and Dalhem.
Prince BLÜCHER's Head Quarters were at Namur.
The points of concentration for the respective Corps were therefore
Fleurus, Namur, Ciney, and Liege. The four Corps were so disposed that
each could be collected at its own Head Quarters within twelve hours;
and it was fully practicable to form a junction of the whole Army at
any one of these points within twenty-four hours from the time of such
collection. At Namur, the most central point, it would of course be
accomplished in much less time.
BLÜCHER had decided, in the event of an advance by the French across
the line of the Sambre, by Charleroi, upon concentrating his Army in a
position in front of Sombref, a point upon the high road between Namur
and Nivelles, above fourteen miles from the former place, and only
seven miles and a half from Quatre Bras, the point of intersection of
this road with the one leading directly from Charleroi to Brussels, and
at which WELLINGTON had agreed, in that case, to concentrate as large
a force as time would admit, in order to check any advance in this
direction, or to join BLÜCHER's Right Flank, according to circumstances.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Should the Enemy advance along the left bank of the Meuse towards
Namur, this place would become the point of junction of the First,
Second, and Fourth Corps of the Prussian Army, whilst the Third,
collecting at Ciney, would, after presenting a stout resistance at
Dinant, operate as effectively as circumstances would admit, against
the Right of the line of attack; and should he advance by the right
bank of the Meuse towards Ciney, the Army would concentrate at this
point, with the exception of the Fourth Corps, which would assemble at
Liege as a Reserve, for the better security of the Left Flank and of
the communications with the Rhine.
* * * * *
Such were the dispositions of the Allied Commanders, who contemplated
no change in their arrangements until the moment should arrive of the
commencement of hostile demonstrations of a decided character, for
which they were perfectly prepared, and for which a vigilant look-out
was maintained along the general line of the Advanced Posts.
From the foregoing, however, it would appear that the concentration
of WELLINGTON's Army on its own Left, and that of BLÜCHER's Army on
its own Right, required longer time than that in which they could have
been respectively accomplished on other points; and further that the
distribution of the former was better calculated to meet the Enemy's
advance by Mons, and that of the latter to meet it by Namur, than to
oppose a line of attack by Charleroi. This peculiar feature in the
dispositions of the two Commanders did not escape the vigilance of
NAPOLEON, who, as will be seen in the sequel, made it subservient to
his hopes of beating their Armies in detail.
* * * * *
The French troops destined to constitute the Grand Army with which
NAPOLEON had decided upon taking the field against the allied forces in
Belgium, comprised the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth _Corps
d'Armée_; four Corps of Cavalry; and the Imperial Guard: amounting
altogether to 116,124 men:--
Infantry 83,753
Cavalry 20,959
Artillery, Waggon-Train, and Engineers 11,412
-------
116,124 men and 350 guns.
The First _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by Lieutenant General Count
D'ERLON, consisted
of the First Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General ALIX;
of the Second Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
DONZELOT;
of the Third Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
MARCOGNET;
of the Fourth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Count
DURETTE;
and of the First Light Cavalry Division, under Lieutenant General
JAQUINOT;
with 5 Batteries of Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery.
In the beginning of June, this Corps was stationed in and around Lille.
The Second _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by Lieutenant General Count
REILLE, consisted
of the Fifth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
BACHELU;
of the Sixth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Prince
JEROME NAPOLEON;
of the Seventh Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Count
GIRARD;
of the Ninth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Count
FOY;
and of the Second Light Cavalry Division, under Lieutenant General
Baron PIRÉ;
with 5 Batteries of Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery.
This Corps was stationed in and around Valenciennes.
The Third _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by Lieutenant General Count
VANDAMME, consisted
of the Eighth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron LE
FOL;
of the Tenth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
HABERT;
of the Eleventh Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General
BERTHEZENE;
and of the Third Light Cavalry Division, under Lieutenant General
Baron DOMON;
with 4 Batteries of Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery.
This Corps was assembled in and around Mézières.
The Fourth _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by Lieutenant General Count
GÉRARD, consisted
of the Twelfth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
PECHEUX;
of the Thirteenth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
VICHERY;
of the Fourteenth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General DE
BOURMONT;
and of the Sixth Light Cavalry Division, under Lieutenant General
MAURIN;
with 4 Batteries of Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery.
This Corps occupied Metz, Longwy, and Thionville, and formed the basis
of the Army of the Moselle; but it was now decided that it should
approach the Sambre, and unite itself with the Grand Army.
The Sixth _Corps d'Armée_, commanded by Lieutenant General Count LOBAU,
consisted
of the Nineteenth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
SIMMER;
of the Twentieth Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
JEANNIN;
of the Twenty-First Infantry Division, under Lieutenant General Baron
TESTE;
with 4 Batteries of Foot, and 1 of Horse, Artillery.
This Corps was assembled in and around Laon.
The four Corps forming the Reserve Cavalry were placed under the
command of Marshal Count GROUCHY.
The First, commanded by Lieutenant General Count PAJOL, consisted
of the Fourth Cavalry Division (Hussars), under Lieutenant General
Baron SOULT;
and of the Fifth Division (Lancers and _Chasseurs_), under Lieutenant
General Baron SUBERVIE;
with 2 Batteries of Horse Artillery.
The Second Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Count EXCELMANS,
consisted
of the Ninth Division (Dragoons), under Lieutenant General
STROLZ;
and of the Tenth Division (Dragoons), under Lieutenant General Baron
CHASTEL;
with 2 Batteries of Horse Artillery.
The Third Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Count DE VALMY
(KELLERMANN), consisted
of the Eleventh Division (Dragoons and _Cuirassiers_), under
Lieutenant General Baron L'HERITIER;
and of the Twelfth Division (Carabiniers and _Cuirassiers_), under
Lieutenant General ROUSSEL D'HURBAL;
with 2 Batteries of Horse Artillery.
The Fourth Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Count MILHAUD,
consisted
of the Thirteenth Division (_Cuirassiers_), under Lieutenant General
WATHIER;
and of the Fourteenth Division (_Cuirassiers_), under Lieutenant
General Baron DELORT;
with 2 Batteries of Horse Artillery.
The principal portion of the Reserve Cavalry lay in cantonments between
the Aisne and the frontier.
* * * * *
The Infantry of the Imperial Guard consisted
of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Grenadiers, under Lieutenant General
Count FRIANT;
of the 3rd and 4th Regiments of Grenadiers, under Lieutenant General
Count ROGUET;
of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of _Chasseurs_, under Lieutenant General
Count MORAND;
of the 3rd and 4th Regiments of _Chasseurs_, under Lieutenant General
Count MICHEL;
of the 1st and 3rd Regiments of _Tirailleurs_, under Lieutenant
General Count DUHESME;
and of the 1st and 3rd _Voltigeurs_, under Lieutenant General Count
BARROIS.
The Cavalry of the Guard consisted
of two Regiments of Heavy Cavalry (_Grenadiers à Cheval_ and
Dragoons), under Lieutenant General Count GUYOT;
and of three Regiments of Light Cavalry (_Chasseurs à Cheval_ and
Lancers), under Lieutenant General LEFÈBVRE-DESNOUETTES.
Attached to the Guard were 6 Batteries of Foot, and 4 Batteries of
Horse, Artillery, with 3 Batteries of Reserve Artillery; comprising
altogether 96 pieces of cannon, under the command of Lieutenant
General DESVAUX DE ST. MAURICE.
These troops were principally in Paris.
* * * * *
The French Emperor having, upon the grounds explained in a former
Chapter, determined to take the Field against the Allied Armies in
Belgium, the commencement of active operations could no longer be
deferred. When we reflect upon the disparity of force with which he was
going to contend against two such Generals as WELLINGTON and BLÜCHER,
we are bound to acknowledge that it was an undertaking daring and
perilous in the extreme, even for an individual of the dauntless and
adventurous character of NAPOLEON. A delay of only a few weeks would
have secured for him, by means of the vast organisation which was in
constant and rapid progress, a sufficient accession of disposable
troops to have enabled him to effect a powerful diversion upon either
WELLINGTON's Right, or BLÜCHER's Left, Flank, and thus to impart
an infinitely greater degree of weight and stability to his main
operations; but then, on the other hand, this delay would also have
brought the powerful Armies of the confederated Sovereigns across the
whole line of his eastern frontier, and have led to the consummation of
that combined movement upon the capital, the execution of which it was
his great aim to frustrate.
But it was not the first time that NAPOLEON had advanced against such
fearful superiority of numerical strength. In the previous year, when
nearly surrounded by the victorious forces of Prussia, Austria, and
Russia, when apparently overwhelmed by a succession of disasters, and
when his Army was daily diminishing by the desertion of newly raised
conscripts, and presenting the mere wreck of its former self, he was
at the very _acme_ of his mental energy, and in the full possession
of his determinate and all subduing will. His great genius seemed
to acquire additional vigour and elasticity, with the increasing
desperation of his position; and darting with electric suddenness and
rapidity, now upon one adversary and then upon another, maintaining
with the renowned leaders of his detached forces, a combination of
movements developing the highest order of strategy, he succeeded by his
brilliant triumphs at Champaubert, Montmirail, and Monterau, not only
in stemming the torrent of invasion, but in causing the resumption of
the diplomatic preliminaries of a Peace. This Peace, however, these
very triumphs induced him, as if by a fatality, to reject with scorn
and indignation, although the terms were honourable in the highest
degree under his then existing circumstances.
Hence, with such a retrospect, NAPOLEON might well indulge in
hope and confidence as to the result of the approaching Campaign,
notwithstanding the want of sufficient time for a greater development
of his resources. A finer or a more gallant Army, or one more complete
and efficient in every respect, than that which he was going to lead in
person, never took the Field.
[Illustration]
He had selected for the line of his main operations the direct road
to Brussels, by Charleroi, that being the road, as before remarked,
on which WELLINGTON's Left, and BLÜCHER's Right respectively rested,
and which he designed to maintain by first overcoming the Prussian
Army, which was the most advanced on that line, and then attacking
the Anglo-Allied troops before they could be collected in sufficient
strength to prevent his further progress; his grand object being to
impede the junction of the two Armies; to vanquish them in detail; to
establish himself in Brussels; to arouse the dense population in
Belgium, of which a vast proportion secretly adhered to his cause; to
reannex the country to the French Empire; to excite the desertion of
the Belgian soldiery from the service of Holland; to prevent a check
by these means to the operations of the invading Armies crossing the
Rhine; perhaps also to enter into negotiations; and, at all events, to
gain, what was to him of vital importance, _time_ for the advance and
co-operation of further reinforcements from France.
* * * * *
The necessary Orders were now despatched for the concentration of the
Grand Army; and in order to mask its movements as much as possible,
the whole line of the Belgian frontier was studded with numerous
Detachments of the National Guards furnished by the garrisons of the
fortresses, more especially along that part of the frontier which
passes in advance of Valenciennes, Condé, Lille, and even as far as
Dunkirk; all the _debouchés_ of which line were strongly occupied, the
Outposts tripled, and there was every apparent indication that either
the principal attack, or at least a formidable diversion, was in course
of preparation in that quarter.
These measures had the effect of strengthening the anticipations which
WELLINGTON had previously formed of offensive movements from the side
of Lille and Valenciennes, and consequently of placing him still more
upon his guard against any hasty and incautious junction of his forces
with those of BLÜCHER, until fully satisfied as to the true direction
and object of NAPOLEON's main operations.
* * * * *
On the 12th of June, Lieutenant Colonel WISSELL, whose Regiment,
the 1st Hussars of the King's German Legion, formed an extensive
line of Outposts in front of Tournai, reported to Major General Sir
HUSSEY VIVIAN, to whose Brigade the Regiment belonged, that he had
ascertained, from information on which he could rely, that the French
Army had assembled on the frontier, and was prepared to attack. VIVIAN
desired him to report upon the subject to Lord HILL, to whose Corps his
Regiment was attached while employed on this particular service.
The next morning, VIVIAN repaired in person to the Outposts, and found
that a French Cavalry Picquet which had previously been posted opposite
to Tournai, had a short time before marched to join the main Army,
and had been relieved by _Douaniers_. These, upon being spoken to by
VIVIAN, did not hesitate to say that their Army was concentrating,
and that if the Allies did not advance, their troops would attack.
On returning to his Quarters, VIVIAN communicated what he had seen
and heard both to Lord HILL and the Earl of UXBRIDGE, by whom the
circumstances were made known to the Duke of WELLINGTON. His Grace,
however, for reasons before stated, did not think the proper moment had
arrived for making any alteration in the disposition of his forces.
* * * * *
GÉRARD's Corps quitted Metz on the 6th of June, with Orders to reach
Philippeville by the 14th. The Imperial Guard began its march from
Paris on the 8th, and reached Avesnes on the 13th, as did also LOBAU's
Corps from Laon. D'ERLON's Corps from Lille, REILLE's Corps from
Valenciennes, and VANDAMME's Corps from Mézières, likewise arrived at
Maubeuge and Avesnes on the 13th. The four Corps of Reserve Cavalry
concentrated upon the Upper Sambre.
The junction of the several Corps on the same day, and almost at the
same hour (with the exception of the Fourth, which joined the next
day), displayed the usual skill of NAPOLEON in the combination of
movements. Their leaders congratulated themselves upon these auspicious
preparations, and upon finding the "Grand Army" once more assembled
in "all the pomp and circumstance of glorious war:" the appearance of
the troops, though fatigued, was all that could be desired; and their
enthusiasm was at the highest on hearing that the Emperor himself, who
had quitted Paris at three o'clock on the morning of the 12th, and
passed the night at Laon, had actually arrived amongst them.
Upon the following day, the French Army bivouacked on three different
points.
The Left, consisting of D'ERLON's and REILLE's Corps, and amounting to
about 44,000 men, was posted on the right bank of the Sambre at Solre
sur Sambre.
The Centre, consisting of VANDAMME's and LOBAU's Corps, of the Imperial
Guard, and of the Cavalry Reserves, amounting altogether to about
60,000 men, was at Beaumont, which was made the Head Quarters.
The Right, composed of GÉRARD's Corps and of a Division of Heavy
Cavalry, amounting altogether to about 16,000 men, was in front of
Philippeville.
The bivouacs were established in rear of some slight eminences, with a
view to conceal their fires from the observation of the Enemy.
The Army, while thus assembled, on the eve of opening the Campaign,
received through the medium of an _Ordre du Jour_ the following
spirit-stirring appeal from its Chief:--
"NAPOLEON, by the Grace of God, and the Constitutions of the Empire,
Emperor of the French, etc., to the Grand Army,
"At the Imperial Head Quarters,
Avesnes, June 14th, 1815.
"Soldiers! this day is the anniversary of Marengo and of Friedland,
which twice decided the destiny of Europe. Then, as after
Austerlitz, as after Wagram, we were too generous! We believed in
the protestations and in the oaths of Princes, whom we left on
their thrones. Now, however, leagued together, they aim at the
independence, and the most sacred rights of France. They have
commenced the most unjust of aggressions. Let us, then, march to meet
them. Are they and we no longer the same men?
"Soldiers! at Jena, against these same Prussians, now so arrogant,
you were one to three, and at Montmirail one to six!
"Let those among you who have been captives to the English, describe
the nature of their prison ships, and the frightful miseries they
endured.
"The Saxons, the Belgians, the Hanoverians, the soldiers of the
Confederation of the Rhine, lament that they are compelled to use
their arms in the cause of the Princes, the enemies of justice and
of the rights of all nations. They know that this Coalition is
insatiable! After having devoured twelve millions of Poles, twelve
millions of Italians, one million of Saxons, and six millions of
Belgians, it now wishes to devour the States of the second rank in
Germany.
"Madmen! one moment of prosperity has bewildered them. The oppression
and the humiliation of the French people are beyond their power. If
they enter France they will there find their grave.
"Soldiers! we have forced marches to make, battles to fight, dangers
to encounter; but, with firmness, victory will be ours. The rights,
the honour, and the happiness of the country will be recovered!
"To every Frenchman who has a heart, the moment is now arrived to
conquer or to die!
"NAPOLEON."
"THE MARSHAL DUKE OF DALMATIA,
Major General."
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 6: In order to avoid the constant repetition of the prefix
"von" to the names of the German Officers, I have omitted it altogether
in the present edition; an omission, however, which I feel persuaded
those Officers will not consider as involving any breach of courtesy or
respect.]
[Footnote 7: Prussian General Officers bearing the same family name,
are usually distinguished by the addition of the Roman numerals.
General VON PIRCH I. is named on the next page.]