The Corps consisted of two Heavy Cavalry Divisions—the Thirteenth, commanded by Lieutenant General Wathier St Alphonse, and the Fourteenth, under Lieutenant General Baron Delort. The First Brigade of the Thirteenth Division, under General Dubois, consisted of the 1st and 4th Cuirassiers; the Second, under General Baron Travers, of the 7th and 12th Cuirassiers. The First Brigade of the Fourteenth Division, under General Baron Farine, consisted of the 5th and 10th Cuirassiers; and the Second, under General Baron Vial, of the 6th and 9th Cuirassiers.
The two Batteries of Horse Artillery attached to this Corps, comprising six guns each, were stationed, one in the Centre, and the other on the Left Flank.
The Left Wing of the French Second general Line, composed of the Third Cavalry Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General Kellermann (Count de Valmy), was posted about two hundred yards in rear of the Centre of the Second Infantry Corps. It was deployed in two Lines, the second at a distance of sixty yards in rear of the first.
The Corps consisted of two Heavy Cavalry Divisions: the Eleventh, commanded by Lieutenant General Baron L'Heritier; and the Twelfth, under Lieutenant General Roussel d'Hurbal. The First Brigade of the Eleventh Division, under General Baron Picquet, consisted of the 2nd and 7th Dragoons; and the Second, under General Gniton, of the 8th and 11th Cuirassiers. The First Brigade of the Twelfth Division, under General Baron Blancard, consisted of the 1st and 2nd Carabiniers; and the Second, of the 2nd and 3rd Cuirassiers.
The two Batteries of Horse Artillery attached to this Corps, comprising six guns each, were posted one upon each Flank.
The Third general Line, forming the Grand Reserve of the whole Line of Battle, and comprising the entire force of the Imperial Guards, Cavalry and Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant General Count Drouot, was thus formed.
The Infantry of the Imperial Guard constituted the Centre of the Reserve. It consisted of four Regiments of Grenadiers, four Regiments of Chasseurs, two Regiments of Tirailleurs, and two Regiments of Voltigeurs; each Regiment divided into two Battalions. The 1st and 2nd Regiments of Grenadiers, and the 1st and 2nd of Chasseurs, formed the Old Guard, under Lieutenant General Count Friant; the 3rd and 4th Regiments of Grenadiers, and the 3rd and 4th of Chasseurs formed the Moyenne, or Middle, Guard, under Lieutenant General Count Morand; the four Regiments of Tirailleurs and Voltigeurs constituted the Young Guard under Lieutenant General Count Duhesme. This force was posted somewhat in advance of the Farm of Rossomme, in six Lines of four Battalions each, at a distance of twenty yards from one another, and so disposed that the Charleroi high road alone separated the two Right, from the two Left, Battalions of each Line. To each description of the Infantry of the Imperial Guard; the Old, the Middle, and the Young, Guard, two Batteries, of eight guns each, were attached. These were stationed on either Flank; and the Reserve Artillery of the Guard, consisting of twenty four guns, was posted in rear of these Lines.
The Right Wing of the Third Line, or Reserve, consisted of the Light Cavalry of the Imperial Guard, commanded by Lieutenant General Lefèbvre Desnouettes, namely, the Chasseurs and Lancers of the Guard. It was posted at a distance of about two hundred yards in rear of the Fourth Cavalry Corps and deployed in two Lines, the second at a distance of sixty yards in rear of the first. The two Batteries of Horse Artillery belonging to the Corps, comprising six guns each, were posted in its centre.
The Left Wing of the Third Line, or Reserve, consisted of the Heavy Cavalry of the Imperial Guard, commanded by Lieutenant General Count Guyot, namely, the Grenadiers and Dragoons of the Guard. It was stationed in rear of the Third Cavalry Corps, and deployed in two Lines, the second at a distance of sixty yards in rear of the first. Its two Batteries of Horse Artillery, comprising six guns each, were posted in the centre.