On the left of the Infantry, was posted the Light Cavalry attached to the Corps, namely, the Second Cavalry Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Baron Piré. Its First Brigade, under General Baron Hubera, consisted of the 1st and 6th Chasseurs; and its Second Brigade, under General Mathieu, of the 5th and 6th Lancers. It stood across the Nivelles high road, in three deployed Lines, rather under the crest of the ridge, on its reverse slope; and threw out Picquets in the direction of Braine l'Alleud, as also more to its left, thus keeping up a vigilant look out around this Flank of the Army.
The Second general Line of the French Army was formed in the following manner:—
In the Centre, close along the west side of the Charleroi high road, stood the Sixth Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Count Lobau. Only two of its Divisions, the Nineteenth and Twentieth, were present; the Twenty First was with the Army under Marshal Grouchy. Each of the two Divisions formed a Close Column of Battalions by Grand Divisions; the head of the Column of the Nineteenth Division being distant about a hundred yards in rear of the right of the Second Corps, and an interval of about two hundred yards was preserved between the rear of the Nineteenth Division and the head of the Column of the Twentieth Division.
The former was commanded by Lieutenant General Baron Simmer; and its First Brigade, under General Baron de Bellair, consisted of the 5th and 11th Regiments of the Line, the former comprising two, the latter, three, Battalions. Its Second Brigade, under General Simmer, consisted of the 27th and 84th Regiments of the Line, comprising two Battalions each.
The Twentieth Division was commanded by Lieutenant General Baron Jeannin: its First Brigade, under General Bony, consisted of the 5th Regiment of Light Infantry, and of the 10th Regiment of the Line; and its Second Brigade, under General Tromelin, of the 107th Regiment of the Line; all three Regiments comprising two Battalions each.
There were three Batteries of Foot Artillery, of eight guns each, attached to the Divisions, including one of reserve; as also a Horse Battery of six guns. They were posted on the Left Flank of the Corps.
On the right of these two Divisions of the Sixth Corps, and separated from them by the high road only, were stationed the Third Light Cavalry Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Baron Domon, and the Fifth Light Cavalry Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Baron Subervie (belonging to the First Cavalry Corps, commanded by General Count Pajol). They were formed in Close Column of Regiments by Squadrons. The First Brigade of the former, under General Baron Dommanget, consisted of the 4th and 9th Chasseurs; and the Second Brigade, under General Baron Vinot, of the 12th Chasseurs. The First Brigade of the Fifth Division, under General Count Colbert, consisted of the 1st and 2nd Lancers; and the Second Brigade, under General Merlin, of the 11th Chasseurs.
The two Batteries of Horse Artillery attached to these two Divisions, comprising six guns each, were posted on the Right Flank of the Column.
The Right Wing of the Second French general Line was composed of the Fourth Cavalry Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Count Milhaud, which was posted on a parallel ridge, in rear of the two central Divisions of the First Infantry Corps, and distant from them about two hundred yards. It was deployed in two Lines, the second at a distance of sixty yards in rear of the first.