Louis XVIII., acting on the advice so urgently tendered to him by the Duke of Wellington, arrived at Le Cateau late in the evening, followed by a numerous train; and only awaited the surrender of the Citadel of Cambray to fix his temporary residence in the latter town.
The Prussian Army renewed its operations on the 24th, according to the plan agreed upon the day before by the Allied Commanders. At break of day, Lieutenant Colonel Schmiedeberg was despatched with the Silesian Regiment of Uhlans, and some Horse Artillery, towards Laon; for the purpose, in conjunction with the Detachments already sent from the First Corps d'Armée, of watching and deceiving the Enemy. Blücher disposed his three Corps d'Armée in two Columns. The Left Column, which was the one nearest to the Enemy, consisted of the First and Third Corps; and was to move close along the Oise—the Third Corps remaining half a march in rear of the First. The Right Column, formed by the Fourth Corps d'Armée, was to advance along a parallel road, keeping on a line with the former, and at the distance of about half a march. The Left Column moved upon Compiegne, the Right upon Pont St Maxence.
At nine o'clock, the First Corps d'Armée (Zieten's) commenced its march from Etroeungt towards Guise. The Advanced Guard, under Major General Jagow, to which were attached the 8th Foot Battery, and two ten pounder howitzers, halted when opposite to St Laurent, a suburb of Guise, in order to observe the Fortress on this side; whilst Zieten sent an Infantry Brigade, a Regiment of Cavalry, together with a Horse, and a Foot, Battery, by St Germain and La Bussière, across the Oise, to menace the place from the other side.
The Enemy, on finding himself completely invested, withdrew his troops into the Citadel; whereupon preparations were immediately made by the Prussians to open their Batteries against that part: but previously to giving the Order to commence the cannonade, Zieten sent a summons to the Commandant to surrender; with which the latter did not hesitate to comply. The garrison, consisting of eighteen Officers and three hundred and fifty men, laid down their arms on the glacis, and were made prisoners of war. The Prussians found in the place, fourteen pieces of cannon, three thousand muskets, two million musket ball cartridges, a quantity of ammunition, and considerable magazines; and gained, what was of more importance, another strong point in their new base of operations, without having fired a single cannon shot.
Major Müller, with the two weak Fusilier Battalions of the 28th Regiment, and of the 2nd Westphalian Landwehr, remained to garrison the place.
As soon as the remainder of Zieten's Corps arrived near Guise, which was before the place surrendered; the Advanced Guard, consisting of the Third Brigade, moved on, but did not reach Origny before nine o'clock in the evening. The 1st Regiment of Silesian Hussars pushed on as far as Ribemont. Parties were also detached from the Reserve Cavalry towards Crecy, Pont à Bussy, and La Fère, to observe the Serre.
Thielemann, with the Third Corps d'Armée, moved from Avesnes upon Nouvion; which he reached about four o'clock in the afternoon. The Detachments of Observation which had been previously sent out to the left from this Corps, to endeavour to gain intelligence concerning Grouchy's Army, reached Hirson and Vervin in the evening. Scouring parties were also sent towards the road leading from Mézières by Montcornet towards Laon.
Bülow, with the Fourth Corps d'Armée, which formed the Right Prussian Column, marched from Ferny to Aisonville and Bernonville. Parties of Cavalry, detached from the Corps, reached Chatillon sur Oise, and found St Quentin unoccupied. This circumstance having been made known to General Sydow, upon his arrival at Fontaine Notre Dame with the Advanced Guard, he pushed on, and took possession of that important town. A Detachment of from five hundred to six hundred French Cavalry had marched from this place on the previous day towards Laon. The troops which had been employed in the investment of Landrecies rejoined the Fourth Corps on this day.
By means of these movements, and of the halt of the Duke of Wellington at Le Cateau, the Prussians were a day's march in advance of the Anglo-Allied Army.