CHAPTER XIX.
On the 26th, the main body of the Anglo-Allied Army moves to Vermand 689
Capture of Peronne 689
COLVILLE's Division rejoins the main Army 690
WELLINGTON's reply to the French Commissioners 690
La Fère holds out against the Prussians 692
The First and Fourth Prussian Corps advance by forced marches towards Compiegne and Pont St Maxence 694
Disposition of the respective Armies on the evening of the 26th 695
Early on the morning of the 27th, the Advanced Guard of ZIETEN's Corps secures the Bridge and Town of Compiegne; when the French, under D'ERLON, are within half an hour's march of that point 695
The latter, after an unsuccessful attempt to take the place, retire upon Soissons 696
Movements of ZIETEN's and THIELEMANN's Corps upon Soissons, Villers Cotterets, and Crespy 697
BÜLOW secures the Bridge over the Oise at Creil 699
Affair at Senlis 700
BLÜCHER succeeds in securing the line of the Oise 701
GROUCHY endeavours to effect his retreat to Paris by forced marches 702
The main body of WELLINGTON's Army crosses the Somme and marches to Roye 702
The Duke's anger and indignation excited by the conduct of the Dutch-Belgian troops on the march 703
Disposition of the respective Armies on the evening of the 27th 704
Affair at Villers Cotterets between the Advanced Guard of ZIETEN's Corps and the French Troops under GROUCHY and VANDAMME 705
Affair at Nanteuil between part of ZIETEN's Corps and REILLE's Corps 708
REILLE succeeds in effecting a junction with D'ERLON 709
Direction of the retreat of the Imperial Guard and Sixth Corps; also of the Third and Fourth French Corps 709
The Advanced Guard and the Reserve Cavalry of ZIETEN's Corps, under Prince WILLIAM of Prussia, fall upon REILLE's troops in full retreat, attack them, and make 2,000 prisoners 709
The main body of THIELEMANN's Corps moves on to Crespy in support of ZIETEN 710
The Prussian operations have the effect of cutting off the retreat of the French troops to Paris by the great Soissons and Senlis roads 711
The French Provisional Government sends another Deputation to request the Allied Commanders to agree to a Suspension of Hostilities 711
Disposition of the respective Armies on the evening of the 28th 713
On the 29th, BÜLOW's and ZIETEN's Corps take up a position in front of Paris 714
The remains of the French Grand Army of the North retire within the lines of the capital 714
The Anglo-Allied Army reaches different points between Gournay and Pont St Maxence 715
Positions of the respective Armies on the evening of the 29th 715
Composition of the garrison of Paris 716
Its means of defence 717
Policy of the Provisional Government 718
NAPOLEON quits Paris for Rochefort 720
His narrow escape from falling into the hands of the Prussians 720
New Commissioners appointed by the Government to wait upon the Duke of WELLINGTON for the purpose of negotiating a Suspension of Hostilities 720
Sound judgment and extraordinary foresight evinced in his Grace's Reply to their Proposals 721