Soult, who had been indefatigable in collecting at Laon the remains of the defeated portion of the French Army, marched the latter, on the 25th, to Soissons; where it was to be joined by the force under Grouchy: who, having preceded his troops which were yet a march and a half distant, had arrived in that town, to take the command of the whole Army, according to instructions conveyed to him from the Provisional Government.
Soult, as soon as he found himself thus superseded in the command, quitted the Army, and repaired to Paris; disgusted with the abrupt and uncourteous manner in which he had been treated.
The position of the respective Armies, on the evening of the 25th, were as follows:—
Of the Anglo-Allied Army, the Advanced Guard (Vivian's Brigade) was at Crisour, near St Quentin.
The Second Division, the Nassau troops, and the British Cavalry, were encamped in the vicinity of Joncour.
The First and Third Divisions, the Dutch-Belgian Infantry attached to the First Corps, and the Dutch-Belgian Cavalry, were encamped near Serain and Premont.
The Fourth Division, with Grant's Light Cavalry Brigade, was at Cambray.
The Fifth and Sixth Divisions, the Brunswick Infantry and Cavalry, and the Reserve Artillery, were encamped at, and in the vicinity of, Marets.
The Duke of Wellington's Head Quarters were at Joncour.
The First Prussian Corps d'Armée was at Cérisy; the Third at Homblières; and the Fourth at Essigny le Grand.
Prince Blücher's Head Quarters were at St Quentin.
The Right Wing of the French Army, led by Vandamme, was at Rheims; the Left, with Grouchy, at Soissons.
On the 25th, Napoleon withdrew from the capital to the country Palace of Malmaison, whence he issued the following Address to the Army:—
"Soldiers!
"While obeying the necessity which removes me from the French Army; I carry with me the happy assurance that it will justify, by the eminent services which the country expects from it, the praises which our Enemies themselves have not been able to refuse it.
"Soldiers! I shall follow your steps, though absent. I know all the Corps; and not one of them will obtain a single advantage over the Enemy, but I shall give it credit for the courage it may have displayed. Both you and I have been calumniated. Men, very unfit to appreciate your labours, have seen in the marks of attachment which you have given me, a zeal of which I was the sole object. Let your future successes convince them that it was the Country above all things, which you served in obeying me; and that if I had any share in your affection, I owe it to my ardent love for France—our common mother.
"Soldiers! Some efforts more, and the Coalition will be dissolved. Napoleon will recognise you by the blows which you are about to strike. Save the honour, the independence, of France! Be, unto the last, the same men which I have known you for these twenty years; and you will be invincible.
"Napoleon."
"De la Malmaison, le 25 juin 1815."