What were Napoleon’s plans, and how sanguine were his expectations, will be placed beyond all doubt by the following letter, written to the prince de la Moskowa, the renowned Ney, who had joined the army but the evening before, and by his proclamation addressed to the Belgians. _To the Prince de la Moskowa._ “CHARLEROI, June 16th, 1815. “COUSIN, “I send you the present letter by my aide-de-camp, general Flahaut. The Major-General (Soult) must have already dispatched orders to you, but you will receive these sooner, because my officers are faster than his. You will receive the general order of the day; but I wish to write to you in detail, because it is of the very highest importance. “I advance marshal Grouchy with the third and fourth corps of infantry upon Sombreffe, and my guard upon Fleurus, where I shall be in person before mid-day. If I find the enemy there, I shall attack him, and drive everything before me as far as Gembloux. There I shall decide, according to the events of the morning, what is to be done. My decision will be made, perhaps at three o’clock, perhaps in the evening. My intention is, that the moment I have determined on my plan, you should be in readiness to march on Brussels. I will support you with the guard, which will be at Fleurus or at Sombreffe; and I should like to reach Brussels to-morrow morning. You should set forward this evening, if I can form my plan in time for you to hear from me to-day, and you should march three or four leagues before night, and be in Brussels at seven to-morrow morning. “You can dispose of your troops in the following manner: One division two leagues in advance of Quatre-Bras, if there should be no obstacle: Six divisions of infantry about Quatre-Bras, and one division at Marbais, in order that I may have its assistance, should I want it, at Sombreffe; but this is not to delay your march: Count de Valmy’s corps, which contains three thousand cuirassiers of _élite_, at the intersection of the Roman way with the Brussels road, in case I should need it; as soon as ever I have formed my plan, you will order this division to rejoin you. “I should like to have with me the division of the guard which is commanded by general Lefebvre-Desnouettes, and I send you in exchange the two divisions of count de Valmy’s corps. But, according to my plans at this moment, I prefer posting count de Valmy in such a manner as to have him within reach if I want him, and to avoid causing general Lefebvre-Desnouettes any false marches; for it is probable that I shall resolve upon marching with the guard this evening upon Brussels. “Nevertheless, cover Lefebvre’s division by the two divisions of cavalry belonging to D’Erlon and Reille, in order to spare the guard; for if there should be any hot work with the English, it is better that it should be with our line than the guard.