The head of d'Erlon's Corps now came up; but was forced, along with the Cavalry, to take another direction. Sydow, having collected the whole of the Advanced Guard, followed the French some little distance; and bivouacked, about midnight, somewhat in advance of Senlis. The latter, however, reached, next morning, the road leading through Gonesse to Paris.
During the operation of the Advanced Guard of the Fourth Prussian Corps d'Armée, another Detachment of the latter was sent to occupy Pont St Maxence and Verberie. The French having partially destroyed the Bridge at the former point, the 2nd Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry were ferried to the opposite bank of the river, and Detachments were immediately pushed on to Verberie and Senlis. The Fourteenth Brigade followed the Cavalry, and was passed over the river in a similar manner; after which it occupied the Heights on both sides of the great Paris road. These troops bivouacked for the night on their position; whilst the main body of the Corps, on reaching Pont St Maxence, remained on the right bank of the river. The greatest activity was used in repairing the Bridge sufficiently for the passage of Artillery.
In this manner Blücher had effectually secured the line of the Oise; and, by pushing forward his Advanced Troops as far as Villers Cotterets, had closed so much upon the Flank of the retiring Enemy, that he had every reasonable expectation of succeeding in cutting off the line of retreat of the latter upon the capital.
Grouchy, on discovering that the Detachments he had thrown out to gain the passages of the Oise, on his left, had been thwarted by the rapidity of the Prussian movement, and had been compelled to fall back, now employed them in covering his retreat by means of partial combats. Hence arose the engagements at Compiegne, Crespy, and Senlis; but such was the feebleness of the French resistance, and so frequent were the desertions of the soldiers, who threw away their arms, and fled to their homes, that it was evident the reorganisation of the Army, and the reanimation of its former spirit, were far from having been thoroughly effected. It has been said that a cry of alarm spread through its ranks of, "Our retreat is cut off!" as soon as it was known that the Prussians were upon its Right Flank. At all events it appears tolerably certain that the Army was not in that state which would have warranted Grouchy in risking any serious stand against the Prussians. To succeed in reaching the capital by means of forced marches; and to secure his troops, as far as practicable, from molestation, was all that he could hope to accomplish.
On the 27th, the main body of the Anglo-Allied Army, crossing the Somme at Willecourt, marched through Nesle upon Roye.
The Fourth Division marched through Peronne, towards Roye.
Two Battalions of the Dutch-Belgian Brigade at Peronne were ordered to remain in occupation of that place: the remainder of the Brigade, and the Brigade of Guards at Peronne, marched through Nesle to the village of Crescy, and joined the First Corps.
The Fifth Division, the Brunswick Cavalry, and the Reserve Brigade of Howitzers, moved upon Ham.