This Order, however, was not strictly followed by Zieten, who marched the main body of his Corps, including the Reserve Cavalry, and the Reserve Artillery, through the Wood of Compiegne to Gillicourt, detaching only his Second Brigade, reinforced by the Brandenburg Dragoons and five pieces of Horse Artillery, towards Villers Cotterets. The 1st Silesian Hussars were pushed forward upon the road from Compiegne to Soissons, to cover the Left Flank during this movement. The Reserve Cavalry, in front of the Column of the main body, reached Gillicourt just as the Enemy (under Count d'Erlon) had crossed the Defile formed by a tributary stream of the Oise in which that place is situated. The 1st West Prussian Dragoons and the Brandenburg Uhlans, together with a Horse Battery, went on in pursuit; and the Third Brigade was ordered to follow the latter in support. The Fourth Brigade was directed to maintain the Defile of Gillicourt.
The Enemy's Rear Guard was overtaken on this side of Crespy by the two Regiments of Cavalry, which threw it back in disorder upon that town. The French quickly retired from the place; whereupon the Third Brigade, with a Cavalry Brigade, bivouacked there, throwing out parties of Dragoons in the direction of the Enemy's retreat.
The Fourth Brigade, the other Cavalry Brigade, and the Reserve Artillery, bivouacked at Gillicourt. The Second Brigade, with the additional force attached to it, as before mentioned, reached Longpré, not far from Villers Cotterets, in the middle of the night. The long march which the troops of the First Corps d'Armée made this day from Noyon, and the probability of their coming into collision with the Enemy on the following day, rendered a few hours' rest absolutely necessary.
Separated from one another as Zieten's Brigades thus were, a strong Support was essentially requisite; and this was supplied in good time by the Third Prussian Corps d'Armée which marched on this day from Guiscard to Compiegne. Prince Blücher directed its Commander, Thielemann, to detach strongly towards Soissons; for the purpose of observing the Enemy, and of molesting him should he be retiring. The Cavalry thus detached presenting the means of covering Zieten's Left Flank; the 1st Silesian Hussars, which had been previously posted on the Soissons road, were directed to rejoin their own Corps. The Third Corps bivouacked on the left bank of the Oise, with the exception of the Twelfth Brigade which remained on the right bank at Venette.
On the same day, the Fourth Prussian Corps d'Armée, forming the Right Column, marched from Ressons and its vicinity, with Orders to cross the Oise lower down the stream, at Verberie, Pont St Maxence, or Creil. Bülow formed his Advanced Guard with the 3rd Neumark Landwehr, a Battalion of the 1st Silesian Landwehr, the 8th Hussars, the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry, and half the Horse Battery No. 12, and desired General Sydow, who commanded the Advanced Guard, to move off with a Detachment, at the first break of day, and secure the Bridge over the Oise at Creil.
This General, aware of the importance of attaining the object in view, proceeded himself, at the head of a Squadron of the 8th Hussars, and of one hundred Infantry, the latter being transported in carts, and reached Creil with his small Detachment just as the French were on the point of entering the place. The latter were immediately attacked and repulsed: and the Prussian Infantry occupied the Bridge; which, on the arrival of the Advanced Guard, was given over to the 1st Silesian Landwehr, whilst the remainder of the troops, after a short halt, commenced their march upon Senlis.
Another striking instance was thus again afforded of the vast importance of a correct calculation of time in military operations. The Prussians, on this morning, reached the Bridge of Compiegne, only half an hour before the French approached it; and had they arrived at Creil but a few minutes later, they would have found the French in possession of the Bridge at this point.
Major Blankenburg was detached in advance, with the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry, from Creil towards Senlis. They had but just reached this town, and had begun to bivouack on the great market place; when, towards nine o'clock in the evening, Kellermann, with the First Cuirassier Brigade of French Cavalry, approached on the opposite side, and made a dash at the very spot occupied by the Prussians. Major Blankenburg had barely time to mount; nevertheless, with such of his men as were accoutred and prepared, he attacked the French horsemen, and drove them back to the Gates of the town. The latter, however, collecting their strength, renewed their attack, overpowered the Prussians; and forced them to retire along the road to Pont St Maxence. Kellermann's Brigade then resumed its march along the prescribed line of retreat. In the mean time, his Second Cuirassier Brigade, and d'Erlon's French Corps d'Armée, were retiring along the same road towards Senlis.
Upon this point also General Sydow was moving from Creil, with the Advanced Guard of the Fourth Prussian Corps; following, as it was supposed, the detached 1st Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry. On reaching Senlis at ten o'clock in the evening, with the head of the Column, consisting of the 8th Hussars and the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Neumark Landwehr, and finding the place unoccupied, he took possession of it. The French troops had already approached close to the town, from the side of Crespy. The Prussian Infantry were immediately posted in the houses nearest to the Gate: and as soon as the Enemy's Cavalry came fully within the effective range of musketry, they suddenly opened upon the latter a sharp fire; which compelled it to go about.