“I have adopted as a general principle of this campaign, to divide my army into two wings, and a reserve. “Your wing will consist of the four divisions of the first corps, of the four divisions of the second corps, of two divisions of light cavalry, and the two divisions of count de Valmy’s corps. The number of these troops cannot be much less than forty-five or fifty thousand men. Marshal Grouchy will have nearly an equal number, and will command the right wing. The guard will form the reserve, and I shall bring it up in support of the one wing or the other, according to circumstances. The Major-General will issue the most precise orders, in order to secure obedience to you, when you have a separate command: whenever I am present, the commanders of corps will receive orders directly from me. I shall draw troops, according to circumstances, from either wing, to strengthen my reserve. “You well understand the importance attached to _the taking of Brussels_. It may also produce important results; for a movement of such promptitude and daring will cut off the English troops at Mons, Ostend, etc. “I wish your measures to be so taken, that, at the first order, your eight divisions may be able to march rapidly on Brussels, without any difficulty. “NAPOLEON.” PROCLAMATION TO THE BELGIANS AND INHABITANTS OF THE LEFT BANK OF THE RHINE[84]. ... “The ephemeral success of my enemies detached you for a moment from my Empire: in my exile upon a rock in the sea, I heard your complaints. The God of battle has decided the fate of your beautiful provinces; Napoleon is among you. You are worthy to be Frenchmen. Rise in mass, join my invincible phalanxes, to exterminate the remainder of those barbarians, who are your enemies and mine; they fly with rage and despair in their hearts. “(Signed) NAPOLEON. “By the Emperor: “The major-general of the army, “Count BERTRAND. “At the Imperial Palace of Laeken.” Little comment need be made upon this letter and proclamation. They are characteristic of Napoleon. A most able plan of operations is developed with his usual recklessness of human life: we see him prepared to sacrifice his troops of the line to save his guard; and either wing, so that with the other he might make a dash at Brussels. His overweening confidence of being there even early on the 17th, and his sanguine expectations that the population would support him, are clearly shown by the above documents.