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Contents 1 The reduction of the northern French Fortresses 2 Waterloo to Paris 2.1 Night 18 June 2.2 June 19 2.2.1 June 19 Grouchy Right Wing Army of the North 2.2.2 June 19 Second Prussian Corps 2.2.3 June 19 evening 2.2.4 Wellington's Army 2.2.5 Napoleon 2.2.6 Disposition of the armies 2.3 June 20 2.3.1 Political considerations

[edit] The reduction of the northern French Fortresses

The reduction of the Fortresses left in rear of the British and Prussian Armies, adjoining their main line of operations, and which was confided to Prince Augustus of Prussia, with the Second Prussian Corps d'Armee, assisted by the British Battering Train, was effected in the following manner : —

{ |- !Fortress!!Siege commencement!!Capitulation |- |Maubeuge ||8 July ||12 July |- |Landrocie ||19 July ||21 July |- |Marienberg ||27 July ||28 July |- |Philippeville ||7 August ||8 August |- |ZRocroy ||15 August ||16 August |}

Prince Augustus had made every preparation for commencing the siege of Charlemont and its connecting Forts, the two Givets and the Mont d'Hours, on the 8th of September, when the Commandant, General Burke, foreseeing that the occupation of the detached Forts would divide his force too much, entered into negotiations, and surrendered those works on the 10th, withdrawing his troops into Charlemont; the bombardment of which was to have opened on the 23rd of September: but, on the 20th, Prince Augustus received information from Paris that hostilities were to cease throughout the whole of France.

[edit] Waterloo to Paris

[edit] Night 18 June

The Prussians, kept up an energetic pursuit during the night, under the guidance of the indefatigable Gneisenau, helped to render the victory still more complete and decisive; and effectually deprived the Enemy of every opportunity of recovering himself on the Belgian side of the frontier. (Page 597)

It would be difficult to discover, in the whole history of the Wars of modern times, an instance in which so fine, so splendid, an Army as that of Napoleon, one composed almost exclusively of veterans, all men of one nation, entirely devoted to their Chief, and most enthusiastic in his cause, became so suddenly panic stricken, so completely disorganised, and so thoroughly scattered, as was the French Army when it lost the Battle of Waterloo. (p. 627)

A defeated Army usually covers its retreat by a Rear Guard, but here there was nothing of the kind: and hence that Army cannot be said to have retreated ; but truly to have fled, from the Field of Battle. No attempt to rally was made on the Belgian soil, and it was not until some of the scattered fragments of the immense wreck had been borne across the French frontier that their partial junction on different points indicated the revival of at least some portion of that mighty mass of warriors ; who, but three days before, had inarched across this same frontier in all the pride of strength, and in all the assurance of victory.(p 627)

The rearmost of the fugitives having reached the Sambre, at Charleroi, Marchienne, and Chitelet, by daybreak of the 19th, indulged themselves with the hope that they might then enjoy a short rest from the fatigues which the relentless pursuit by the Prussians had entailed upon them during the night ; but their fancied security was quickly disturbed by the appearance of a few Prussian Cavalry, judiciously thrown forward towards the Sambre from the Advanced Guard at Gosselies. They resumed their flight, taking the direction of Beaumont and Philippeville. (pp. 627-628)

It had been arranged by Wellington and Blucher, on the Field of Waterloo, that the Prussian Army, not having been so much crippled and exhausted by the Battle, should undertake the further pursuit, and proceed by Charleroi towards Avesnes and Laon ; whilst the Anglo-Allied Army, after remaining during the night on the Field, should advance by Nivelles and Binche towards Penmiiu.(p. 628)

[edit] June 19

On the following morning, the pursuing Cavalry belonging to the First, Fourth, and partly to the Second, Prussian Corps d'Armee, reached the vicinity of Frasne and Mellet.(p. 628)

The Fourth Corps marched at daybreak from Genappe, where it collected together the Brigades which had been so much broken up by the continued pursuit. The 8th Prussian Hussars, under Major Colomb, were detached from this Corps towards Wavre, to observe Marshal Grouchy. They were supported by the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry; and, shortly afterwards, the 2nd Silesiau Landwehr Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel Schill, also followed in the same direction. (p. 628)

After some hours' rest, the Fourth Corps d'Armee marched to Fontaine 1'Eveque, where it bivouacked. It had received Orders to communicate from this place with Mons. The Advanced Guard, under General Sydow, was pushed forward, as far as Lermes, on the road to Thuin ; it being intended that this Corps should proceed by the road to Maubeuge, along the Sambre. (p. 628)

The First Corps d' Amide, which had from the beginning followed the Fourth as a Reserve, now advanced in pursuit of the Enemy by the direct road to Charleroi. The Light Cavalry at the head of the Column reached the passages of the Sambre at Chatelet, Charleroi, and Marchiennc, without meeting any sort of opposition or impediment; nor did it perceive any thing of the Enemy on the other side of the river. The Corps halted for the night at Charleroi : having its Advanced Guard at Marchienne, and its Outposts occupying the line from Montigny by Lonvenil as far as Chatelet. Detachments from the Reserve Cavalry were sent in the direction of Fleurus, to secure the Corps from any molestation on the part of Grouchy; of whose proceedings nothing positive was then known at the Prussian Head Quarters. (pp. 628-629)

[edit] June 19 Grouchy Right Wing Army of the North

On the morning of the 19th Grouchy continued to engage Thielemann in the Battle of Warve. It was not until about eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 19th, when Grouchy was first made acquainted with the fact the Army under Napoleon, having been most signally defeated and completely scattered on the preceding evening, was flying across the frontier in the wildest confusion.(p. 625)

On receiving this latter intelligence, Grouchy's first idea was to march against the rear of the main body of the Prussian Army: but, calculating that his force was not adequate for such an enterprise, that the, victorious Allies might detach to intercept his retreat, and that he should be closely followed by that partition of the Prussians which he bad just defeated; he decided on retiring upon Namur, where he would regulate his further operations according to the intelligence he might gain in that quarter concerning the real sate of affairs.(p. 625)

[edit] June 19 Second Prussian Corps

On the evening of the 18th, Pirch I received Orders to march from the Field of Waterloo with his Corps d'Armee (the Second) in the direction of Namur ; for the purpose of turning Marshal Grouchy's Left Flank and intercepting his retreat upon the Sambre.(p 629)

Pirch I made this movement during the night, passing through Maransart, where he was joined by his Seventh Brigade ; and crossing the Genappe rivulet at Bousseval, as alao, subsequently, the Dyle, on his way to Mellery: which place he reached at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the following day. His Corps was much divided on this occasion. He had with him the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Infantry Brigades, and twenty four Squadrons of Cavalry : but the Fifth Infantry Brigade, and the remaining fourteen Squadrons, were with that portion of the Prussian Army which was pursuing the Enemy along the high road to Cliarleroi. The Corps being greatly fatigued by the night march and its exertions on the previous day, PIRCH ordered the troops to bivouac and to betake themselves to rest. (p 629-630)

During this march, Lieutenant Colonel Sohr had pushed on with his Cavalry Brigade, as an Advanced Guard ; and now he was required to gain intelligence concerning the Enemy's movements, and to seek a communication with Thielemann. He found the Defile of Mont St Guibert strongly occupied by the Enemy, but could obtain no information respecting Thielemann's Corps. (p 629-630)

When it is considered how very near to Mellery Gerard's Corps must have passed, in order to fall into the Namur road at Sombref; it seemed extraordinary to William Siborne that Pirch, who reached that place at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 19th, — the same hour at which Grouchy, then beyond Wavre, received the first intimation of the defeat of Napoleon, — should have permitted Gerard to continue his retreat unmolested. Siborne conceeds that Pirch's troops required rest; but comments that had Pirch maintained a good look out in the direction of Gembloux, he would, in all probability, after the lapse of a few hours, have been enabled to fulfil his instructions so far as to have completely intercepted the retreat of a considerable portion of Grouchy's Army. That part of the French force which Lieutenant Colonel Sohr observed at Mont St Guibert, was probably the Advanced Guard only of Garad's Corps since its Rear Guard remained at the Bridge of Limale until nightfall. Stilbourn comments that taking all the circumstances into consideration, more especially the express object of the detached movement of the Second Prussian Corps, it must be admitted that, on this occasion, there was a want of due vigilance on the part of General Pirch I.(p. 630-631)

[edit] June 19 evening

It was not until nearly five o'clock in the evening of the 19th, that General Borcke, whose Brigade, the Ninth, was still in the vicinity of St Lambert, discovered the retreat of Grouchy's troops. He immediately communicated the fact to General Thielemann, who ordered him to cross the Dyle the next day (the 20th) and march upon Namur. The French Rear Guard of Gerard's Corps d'Armee continued to occupy Limale until nightfall. Thielemann remained posted, during the night of the 19th, at St Achtenrode; having his Advanced Guard at Ottenburg.(p 629)

[edit] Wellington's Army

At daybreak of the 19th, that portion of the Duke of WELLINGTON'S Army which had fought the Battle of Waterloo, broke up from its bivouac, and began to move along the high road to Nivelles. Those troops which hadbeen posted in front of Hal during the 18th, consisting of Stedman's Dutch-Belgian Division, Anthning's Dutch-Belgian Indian Brigade, and Colonel Estorff's Hanoverian Cavalry Brigade, under Prince Fredrick of the Netherlands; as also of Johnstone's British Infantry Brigade, and Lyons's Hanoverian Infantry Brigade, under Lieutenant General Sir Charles Coville, were likewise directed to march upon Nivelles. (p. 631)

Wellington's army occupied Nivelles and the surrounding villages during the night of the 19th; in the course of which the Duke arrived from Brussels, and established his Head Quarters in the town.(p 631)

[edit] Napoleon

"ABIIT . EXCESSIT . EVASIT . ERUPIT." ("He has left, absconded, escaped and disappeared") — originally to describe the actions of Cataline — is inscribed over the centre of the archway of the Charleroi gate and William Siborne thought it a fitting epitaph for Napoleon's flight. (p. 632)

An hour's rest was all that the harassing pursuit by the Prussians permitted Napoleon to enjoy at Charleroi ; and he was compelled to fly across the Sambre, without the slightest chance of being enabled to check that pursuit on the Belgian side of the frontier.(p. 631)

From Charleroi, Napoleon proceeded to Philippeville ; whence he hoped to be able to communicate more readily with GROUCHY. He continued here four hours ; which he employed in expediting Orders to Generals RAPP, LECOURBE, and LAMARQUE, to advance with their respective Corps dArmtt by forced marches to Paris : and also to the commandants of fortresses, to defend themselves to the last extremity. He desired SOVLT to collect together all the troops that might arrive at this point, and conduct them to Laon ; for which place he himself started with post horses, at two o'clock in the afternoon.

[edit] Disposition of the armies

The general disposition of the respective Armies on the evening of the 19th, was as follows : —

• The Anglo-Allied Army, which constituted the Right Wing of the advancing forces, was at Xivelles and its vicinity. The Duke of Wellington's Head Quarters were at Nivelles.
• The Prussian Army, formed the Left Wing, its First Corps was at Charleroi;

Second Corps on the march to Mellery; Third Corps at St Achtenrode; Fourth Corps at Fontaine 1'Evcque; Fifth Brigade of the Second Corps at Anderlues, near Fontaine 1'Evlque. Prince Blucher's Head Quarters were at Qosselies.

• The disorganized force of the main French Army was in the vicinity of Beaumont, Philippeville, and Avesnen. Napoleon was travelling by coach towards Laon. The detached portion of the French Army under Grouchy was on

the march to Namur. (pp. 632,633)

[edit] June 20

[edit] Political considerations

The Duke of WELLINGTON, in whose character the highest military talents of the Warrior were so intimately blended with the most comprehensive views of the Statesman, did not allow the dazzling allurements which beset the path of a Conqueror to divert him for a single moment from that fixedness of purpose, or to dim that penetrating foresight which so peculiarly distinguished his proceedings on all great occasions of a similar nature, involving the peace, the honour, and the security of not only his own Sovereign and Country, but also of all the Allied Powers, in whose interests he was so actively engaged.

He did not view the great Battle he had gained in the light of an event to be followed up by an irruption into the Enemy's country, conducted in such a manner as to humble to the dust the national pride of the French people ; and to impose upon them the whole weight and burthen of the oppressions, ravages, and horrors which generally follow in the train of a victorious and lawless soldiery over the face of an Enemy's country. His sole aim was directed to the carrying out of the great object of the War, which comprised not only the annihilation of the power of Napoleon and of the adherents to his cause, but also the Restoration of the legitimate Sovereign to the Throne of France. With the latter Sovereign he had been in constant communication, devising means for his protection during his temporary exile in the Netherlands ; and now that the Armies were on the point of crossing the frontier, counselling him to hasten forward and show himself in the midst of his people : in order that by identifying his cause with the common object of the Allied Powers he might avail himself of all the influence and advantages to be derived from the recent victory ; and become, as it were, a participator in the brilliant successes which attended their arms on the glorious 18th of June.(633,634)

ln proof of the sincerity of his intentions, and as a first step towards securing the good will, if not the friendly disposition, of the French people, more especially of the Legitimists and the well and peaceably disposed; the Duke issued the following General Order to the whole of the troops under his command : —

Nivelles, 20th June, 1815. General Order. 1. As the Army is about to enter the French territory, the troops of the Nations, which are at present under the command of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, are desired to recollect that their respective Sovereigns are the Allies of His Majesty the King of France; and that France ought, therefore, to be treated as a friendly country. It is therefore required that nothing should be taken, either by Officers or soldiers, for which payment is not made. The Commissaries of the Army will provide for the wants of the troops in the usual manner; and it is not permitted either to soldiers or Officers to extort contributions. The Commissaries will be authorised either by the Field Marshal, or by the Generals who command the troops of the respective Nations, in cases where their provisions are not supplied by an English Commissary, to make the proper requisitions, for which regular receipts will be given; and it must be strictly understood that they will themselves be held responsible for whatever they obtain in way of requisition from the inhabitants of France, in the same manner in which they would be esteemed accountable for purchases made for their own Government in the several dominions to which they belong. 2. The Field Marshal takes this opportunity of returning to the Army his thanks for their conduct in the glorious action fought on the 18th instant, and he will not fail to report his sense of their conduct in the terms which it deserves to their several Sovereigns. Wellington.(pp. 634,635)

On the same day [20 June], the Duke, in consequence of a report received by him from Lieutenant General Lecoq, and of a previous communication made to him by the King of Saxony, consented to take command of the Saxon Corps d'Armee, amounting to nearly 17,000 men. He directed the above General to march these troops to Antwerp, and there await further Orders.(p 635)

The Anglo-Allied Army marched this day to Binche and Mons. The British Cavalry moved into villages between Roeulx and Mons. VIVIAN'S Hussar Brigade took the Outpost duties on the Sainbre. The Hanoverian Cavalry furnished Outposts towards Maubeuge. The Duke fixed his Head Quarters at Binche. (p.636)

Blucher, having secured the passage of the Sambre in the neighbourhood of Charleroi, continued his pursuit of the Enemy, and crossed the French frontier on the 20th. He directed Zieten to march the First Corps from Charleroi to Beaumont, to throw forward his Advanced Guard as far as solre le Chateau, to detach a Party of Observation to the left towards Florenne, and to watch the road from Philippeville to Beaumont.(p.636)

As the First Corps advanced, it discovered at every step fresh proofs of the extreme disorder in which the French Army had retreated; and found twelve pieces of Artillery which they had hitherto contrived to save from the great wreck at Waterloo, but had now abandoned to their pursuers. On arriving at Beaumont, the Corps took up a bivouac. Its Advanced Guard, under General Jagow, consisting of the Third Infantry Brigade, the 1st Silesian Hussars, and a Horse Battery, reached Solre le Chateau upon the road to Avesnes.(635,636)

The Prince, at the same time, ordered Bulow to move the Fourth Corps as far as Colleret, where the road to Thuin intersects the high road from Beaumont to Maubeuge, and to push on the Advanced Guard to Beaufort. Bulow accordingly directed General Sudow to proceed with an advanced Guard, consisting of a Cavalry Brigade, a Horse battery, and two Battalions of Infantry, which had the day before reached Lermes on the road to Thuin, and to ascertain very particularly whether the French had established themselves on the Sambre, to secure the Bridges both here and at Lobbes, and further, to restore these passages, should they have been destroyed by the Enemy. Another Detachment, under Colonel Eicke, consisting of two Fusilier Battalions, the two Squadrons attached to the Thirteenth Brigade, and of the 2nd Silesian Hussars, was sent forward to take possession, in the first instance, of the passages of the Sambre, and then to join General Sydow; who, proceeding by Colleret towards Beaufort, was to form both Detachments into an Advanced Guard on reaching the latter place. In the mean time, the mass of the Fourth Corps, headed by the Reserve Cavalry under Prince William of Prussia, followed in one Column. (p.636)

The progress made by this portion of the Prussian Army on the 20th was not so rapid as was desirable. Considerable delay arose in consequence of the degree of caution imparted to the movements by the impression which Bulow entertained that the Enemy would defend the passages, and endeavour to maintain himself along the opposite side of the river. Hence the Advanced Guard of the Corps only reached Ferriere la Petite; part of the main body proceeded as far as Montignies, and the remainder with the Reserve Artillery, did not get farther than the Bridges across the Sambre. (p637,637)

The Fifth Brigade (belonging to the Second Corps had started at daybreak from its bivouac at Anderlues, near Fontaine 1'Eveque ; and directed its march, by Binche, upon Villers, towards Maubeuge. The Brigade was reinforced by one hundred Dragoons under Major Busch, and half a Horse Battery; which Detachment arrived at Villers at five o'clock in the afternoon. This Cavalry was employed in observing the Fortress of Maubeuge, from the Mons road, as far as the Sambre ; and the Brigade bivouacked at Villers. A Hanoverian Regiment of Hussars also observed the Fortress on the right of the Prussian Cavalry upon the Bavay road.(p.637)

The Left Wing of the Prussian Army, comprising the Third, and part of the Second, Corps d'Armie, came into collision with the Enemy this day, when pursuing that part of the French Army which was under Grouchy. Thielemann, having learned that the latter had commenced his retreat upon Gembloux, marched at five o'clock in the morning from St Achtenrode to Wavre ; where he further ascertained that already on the afternoon of the 19th, the French had effected their retreat across the Dyle, leaving only a Rear Guard on the left bank of the river. (p. 637)

Grouchy, when he decided on retiring upon Namur, ordered General Bommemains to move on rapidly, by Gembloux, with the 4th and 12th Dragoons, as an Advanced Guard, and to reach that town as soon as possible, and secure the passage of the Sambre. They were followed by the remainder of Excelmans' Cavalry, and the Reserve Artillery, together with the wounded. The Infantry was put in motion in two Columns: the one, consisting of the Third Corps cCArmte, proceeding by Gembloux; and the other, comprising the Fourth Corps, passing more to the right, and falling into the Namnr road in rear of Sombref. The Light Cavalry was principally with the Rear Guard. To deceive Thielemann, Grouchy left his Rear Guard in Wavre and Limale, with Cavalry Picqnets thrown out towards the Prussians, until near evening : when it followed the main body to Namur. (pp. 637,638)

Thielemann, having placed the whole of his Cavalry, with eight pieces of Horse Artillery, at the head of his Column, now ordered them to move on nt a trot, for the purpose of overtaking the Enemy; but it was not until they had passed Gembloux that they discovered the Rear of Grouchy's force, consisting of a few Regiments of Cavalry. These, however, now made so rapid a retreat, that it was impossible to bring them to action. (p.638)

At length, on arriving near the Village of Fallize, within about three miles from Namur, the Prussians found Vamdamme's Rear Guard posted on the brow of the declivity at the foot of which lay the town, in the valley of the Meuse. It presented about two Battalions of Infantry, three Regiments of Cavalry, and four guns ; and was formed to cover the retreat of the French troops.(p.638)

The Prussian Battery immediately opened a fire; during which Colonel Marwitz, moving out to the right, with the First Cavalry Brigade, and Count Lottum to the left, with the Secood, turned the Enemy in both Flanks. The latter brought forward a Reserve of Cavalry, when the 8th Prussian Uhlans, under Colonel Count Dohna, at the head of the Column that turned the Enemy's Left, made a most gallant attack upon the French Dragoons ; who met it with a volley from their carbines, but were overthrown. The 7th Uhlans and a Squadron of the 12th Hussars also charged on this occasion, and captured three pieces of French Horse Artillery, (p.638)