[462] This mistake could not have been made, as Ollech points out (p. 172) if the battle had been decided before nightfall. [463] As a matter of fact, these troops were not a part of a column in retreat for Namur; but, of course, this could not be known at once. See Siborne, vol. 1, pp. 286, 287. Clausewitz, ch. 37, p. 92. [464] Jomini states (p. 150, n.) that General Monthion reconnoitred in the direction of Tilly and Mont St. Guibert in pursuance of orders given him by the Emperor on the morning of the 17th. Siborne, vol. 1, p. 317, states that Domon’s cavalry division of the 3d Corps, which had been temporarily attached to the main column, reconnoitred the country between the Brussels road and the Dyle. This must have been, however, in the afternoon of the 17th. [465] Grouchy, Obs., p. 12 _et seq._ [466] Fragments Hist., Lettre à MM. Méry et Barthélemy; pp. 4, 5. Grouchy Mem., vol. 4, p. 44. [467] Grouchy, Obs. p. 13. [468] Ollech, p. 171. _Cf._ Clausewitz, ch. 51. [469] This subject will be treated of in Appendix B; _post_, p. 355. [470] Charras, vol. 1, p. 240. [471] Berton, pp. 47, 48. Berton supposed it to be the corps of Bülow, but it was really that of Thielemann. Ollech, p. 157. [472] Pascallet, p. 79. Charras, vol. 1, p. 241. Appendix B; _post_, p. 358. [473] This division belonged to the 6th Corps. [474] Namur lay nearly south-east and Maestricht nearly north-east from Sombreffe. [475] The italics are ours. [476] The original is “_et_,” but this is plainly an error, very possibly caused by the fact that the letter was dictated. [477] The italics are ours. [478] There are other readings varying in unimportant points from the above. [479] Whether it was wise under these circumstances for Napoleon to detach such a large force as that which he intrusted to Grouchy, is a question which will be discussed in the notes to Chapter XV. [480] Charras, vol. 1, p. 242. [481] Ib., vol. 1, p. 238. [482] Gérard: Dernières Obs., p. 15; Charras, vol. 1, p. 244; Siborne, vol. 1, p. 297. Of the mutilations in the text affecting the significance of this letter, contained in the Grouchy Memoirs, notice will be taken in Appendix B, _post_, p. 359, where a full copy of it will be given. [483] The italics are ours. [484] Charras, vol. 1, p. 249. [485] Ib., pp. 236, 237. [486] Charras, vol. 1, p. 250. [487] _Cf._ Napoléon à Waterloo, p. 181. [488] Charras, vol. 1, p. 250. [489] Gourgaud, pp. 77, 78; Corresp., vol. 31, p. 214. [490] _Ante_, p. 47. [491] Le Maréchal Drouet, p. 96. [492] Napoléon à Waterloo, pp. 185, 186. [493] _Cf._ Gourgaud, pp. 78, 79. _Cf._ Mercer’s Diary, vol. 1, p. 269. _NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII._