Napoleon's letter to Grouchy, morning of 17 June 1815

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Napoleon's letter to Marshal Grouchy, morning of 17 June (1815)
by Napoleon Bonaparte
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The morning after the French victory over the Prussians at the Battle of Lingny, Napoleon Bonaparte gave Marshal Grouchy verbal instructions on how he wanted Grouchy to harry the Prussians. However shortly after giving these verbal instructions to Grouchy, which were based on the theory that Blücher had fallen back on Namur, Napoleon received a report from Jean-Baptiste Berton, who commanded the brigade which was sent out in support of Pajol (commander of a cavalry division attached Grouchy's command), to the effect that he had been led by the statements of the inhabitants to proceed to Gembloux, where he had seen, at 09:00, a Prussian corps of some 20,000 men.[1] This certainly looked as if the Prussians were not retiring on Namur. Therefore the first thing the French need to do, was to find out where the Prussian corps was going, and what it commanders were proposing to do. At Gembloux—so it now appeared—Grouchy would be sure to get on the track of the Prussians, and obtain news of their movements and designs. Accordingly Napoleon, in the temporary absence of Marshal Soult, dictated to General Bertrand the following order to Grouchy.

2275058Napoleon's letter to Marshal Grouchy, morning of 17 June1815Napoleon Bonaparte


Proceed to Gembloux with the cavalry corps of General Pajol, the light cavalry of the 4th Corps, the cavalry corps of General Exelmans, the division of General Teste, of which you will take particular care, it being detached from its own corps, and the 3d and 4th corps of infantry.

You will explore in the directions of Namur and of Maastricht and you will pursue the enemy. Explore his march, and instruct me respecting his manoeuvres, so that I may be able to penetrate what he is intending to do.

I am carrying my headquarters to Quatre Bras, where the English still were this morning. Our communication will then be direct by the paved road of Namur. If the enemy has evacuated Namur, write to the general commanding the second military division at Charlemont to cause Namur to be occupied by some battalions of the national guard and some batteries which he will organise at Charlemont. He will give the command to a brigadier-general.

It is important to penetrate what the enemy is intending to do; whether they are separating themselves from the English or whether they are intending still to unite, to cover Brussels or[2] Liege, in trying the fate of another battle. In all cases, keep constantly your two corps of infantry united in a league of ground, and occupy every evening a good military position, having several avenues of retreat. Post intermediate detachments of cavalry, so as to communicate with headquarters.

Dictated by the Emperor, in the absence of the major-general, to the Grand-marshal Bertrand.[3] Ligny, 17 June, 1815

Note
  1. ↑ Breton, pp. 47, 48. Breton supposed it to be the IV Prussian Corps (Bülow's) but it was the III Corps (Thielmann's).
  2. ↑ "The original is 'et', but this is plainly an error, very possibly caused by the fact that the letter was dictated" (Ropes).
  3. ↑ "There are other readings varying in unimportant points from the above" (Ropes).
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