Having received this explicit declaration on the part of his Grace, the Commissioners withdrew.
The following were the positions of the respective Armies during the night of the 2nd of July:—
The troops of the Anglo-Allied Army continued in position in front of the lines of St Denis. Detachments were at Asnières, Courbevoie, and Suresnes, on the left hank of the Seine.
The First Prussian Corps d'Armée had its Right on the Height of Clamard, its Centre on that of Meudon, its Left at Moulineau, and its Advanced Guard at Issy; in rear of which point was the Reserve Cavalry of the Corps.
Of the Third Corps, the Ninth Brigade was at Chatillon, the Tenth and Eleventh Brigades were in front of Vélizy, the Twelfth Brigade was at Chatenay and Sceaux. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps bivouacked about Plessis Piquet.
Of the Fourth Corps, the Sixteenth Brigade was at Montreail, in advance of Versailles; the Thirteenth Brigade bivouacked near Viroflay; the Fourteenth Brigade bivouacked at Le Chesnay Bel Air, not far from Rocquencourt. The Reserve Cavalry of the Corps was partly in front of Versailles, and partly on the left of Montreail.
The troops composing the Right Wing of the French Army occupied the lines on the right bank of the Seine, whence they were watching the British. Some troops were posted in the Bois de Boulogne, and several Posts were established along both banks of the river.
The Left Wing extended from the Seine as far as the Orleans road. It held Vaugirard strongly occupied, the main body was posted between the Barrières de l'Ecole Militaire and de l'Enfer.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 3rd of July, Vandamme advanced in two Columns from Vaugirard to the attack of Issy. Between Vaugirard and the Seine, he had a considerable force of Cavalry, the front of which was flanked by a Battery advantageously posted near Auteuil on the right bank of the river. The action commenced with a brisk cannonade: the French having brought twenty pieces of cannon against the front of the Village, which was then vigorously assailed by his Infantry. The Prussians had constructed some barricades, and other defences, during the night; but these did not protect them from the sharp fire of case shot which was poured upon them by the French Batteries, the guns of which enfiladed the streets. The 12th and 24th Prussian Regiments, and the 2nd Westphalian Landwehr, supported by a half Battery of twelve pounders, fought with great bravery. There was much loss on both sides. At length the French withdrew; but only to advance again, considerably reinforced.
The Second Prussian Brigade was immediately ordered to join the First, and the whole of the troops of the First Corps stood to their arms. Zieten sent a request to Prince Blücher for the support of two Brigades of Bülow's Corps; and, at the same time, begged Thielemann to advance (in conformity with instructions conveyed to him from Head Quarters) from Chatillon, and threaten the Enemy's Left Flank.
In the mean time, the French renewed their attack upon Issy; which, however, again proved unsuccessful. This was followed by a heavy cannonade and by further assaults, without any decided advantage having been gained over the defenders. The French did not appear disposed to venture upon a more general attack, which would have offered them a much greater chance of forcing back the Prussian Advanced Guard; probably considering that, if unsuccessful, it might end in the suburbs of Paris being easily carried by storm: and hence, after four hours' continued but fruitless attempts upon Zieten's Advanced Position, they fell back upon Paris; the Prussian Tirailleurs following them until they came within a very short distance of the Barriers.
At a Council of War, which had been held during the previous night in Paris, it was decided that the defence of the capital was not practicable against the Allied Armies. Nevertheless, Davoust was desirous that another attempt should be made on the Prussian Army: but now that this had failed in the manner described, that the two Allied Armies were in full communication with each other, and that a British Corps was likewise moving upon the left of the Seine towards Neuilly, a Capitulation was determined upon.