Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Elba and the Hundred Days, 1814-1815; Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
On the 14th of June, the Dutch-Belgian General VAN MERLEN, who was
stationed at St Symphorien, near Mons, and who commanded the Outposts
between the latter place and Binche which formed the extreme Right
of the Prussians, ascertained that the French troops had moved from
Maubeuge and its vicinity by Beaumont towards Philippeville, that there
was no longer any hostile force in his front, except a Picquet at
Bettignies, and some National Guards in other villages. He forwarded
this important information to the Prussian General STEINMETZ, on his
left, with whom he was in constant communication, and by whom it was
despatched to General ZIETEN at Charleroi.
The Prussian General PIRCH II., who was posted on the left of
STEINMETZ, also sent word to ZIETEN that he had received information
through his Outposts that the French Army had concentrated in the
vicinity of Beaumont and Merbes le Château; that their Army consisted
of 150,000 men, and was commanded by General VANDAMME, JEROME
BUONAPARTE, and some other distinguished Officers; that since the
previous day all crossing of the frontier had been forbidden by the
French under pain of death; and that a Patrol of the Enemy had been
observed that day near Biercée, not far from Thuin.
During the day, frequent accounts were brought to the troops of
ZIETEN's Corps, generally corroborative of the above, by the country
people who were bringing away, and seeking some place of safety
for, their cattle. Intelligence was also obtained of the arrival of
NAPOLEON, and of his brother, Prince JEROME.
ZIETEN immediately transmitted the substance of this information to
Prince BLÜCHER and to the Duke of WELLINGTON; and it was perfectly
consistent with that which the latter had received from Major General
DÖRNBERG, who had been posted in observation at Mons, and from General
VAN MERLEN (through the Prince of ORANGE) who, as already mentioned,
commanded the Outposts between that place and Binche. Nothing,
however, was as yet positively known concerning the real point of
concentration, the probable strength of the Enemy, or his intended
offensive movements, and the Allied Commanders therefore refrained from
making any alteration in their dispositions, and calmly awaited the
arrival of reports of a more definite character concerning the Enemy's
designs.
* * * * *
ZIETEN's troops were kept under arms during the night, and were
collected by Battalions at their respective points of assembly.
Later in the day ZIETEN ascertained, through his Outposts, that strong
French Columns, composed of all Arms, were assembling in his front, and
that every thing portended an attack on the following morning.
ZIETEN's communication of this intelligence reached BLÜCHER between
nine and ten o'clock on the night of the 14th.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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