Waterloo campaign: Waterloo to Paris (25 June – 1 July) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waterloo campaign: Waterloo to Paris (25 June – 1 July)
Part of The Waterloo campaign
Part of France engraved by J. Kirkwood, showing the invasion routes of the Seventh Coalition armies in 1815. Red: Anglo-allied army; light green: Prussian Army; orange: North German Federal Army; yellow: Army of the Upper Rhine; dark green: Army of Italy.
Date 25 June – 1 July 1815 Location From La Belle Alliance (Waterloo) towards Paris, Result The French army retreats and the Coalition armies advance
Belligerents
France	Seventh Coalition:  United Kingdom  Netherlands Hanover  Nassau Brunswick  Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Marshal Davout Marshal Grouchy	Duke of Wellington Prince Blücher
Strength
French Army order of battle	Prussian Army order of battle

After their big defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte's French army was in chaos. They quickly retreated back towards France. The two main leaders of the Seventh Coalition forces, the Duke of Wellington (who led the British and allied army) and Prince Blücher (who led the Prussian army), agreed to chase the French closely.

For a week after Waterloo (June 18–24), the French army, even with some fresh troops joining them, couldn't get organized. The Coalition generals kept pushing them back towards Paris. By June 24, the French forces were split, with some at Laon and others at Rethel. The Prussian and Anglo-allied armies were close behind, with their leaders, Blücher and Wellington, setting up headquarters nearby.

The next week (June 25 – July 1) saw the French army reach Paris. The Coalition forces were only about a day's march behind them. By July 1, Wellington's army faced the French in the northern parts of Paris. Blücher's Prussians had crossed the river Seine and were getting ready to attack Paris from the southwest.

In the following week (July 2–7), the French army would give up and agree to leave Paris. The Coalition armies would then take over the city. On July 8, the French King Louis XVIII was put back on the throne, and a new peace treaty was signed in November of that year.

June 25: Armies on the Move

Cambrai Falls and Allies Advance

The strong town of Cambrai surrendered to Wellington's Anglo-allied army. It was then given to King Louis XVIII. The main part of Wellington's army moved forward to Joncourt. Other parts of the army spread out to nearby towns like Cambrai and Maretz.

Prussians Push Towards Paris

The Prussian army also kept moving. One group, the I Corps, marched towards Cerizy and sent its lead troops to Fargniers. They worked to cut off the French fortress at La Fère. Another group, the III Corps, moved to Homblières, securing river crossings. They also learned that Marshal Grouchy's French troops were heading towards Soissons.

The IV Corps, another Prussian group, made a long march to Essigny-le-Grand. Their cavalry pushed ahead to Montescourt.

Politics and Blücher's Plans

At Saint-Quentin, Blücher received a letter from French officials. They told him that Napoleon had given up his power and that his son, Napoleon II, was now in charge. They wanted to stop the fighting.

Blücher told them he would only stop if Napoleon was handed over and if France gave up some border forts. He also said Wellington had to agree.

Blücher learned that the French army was at Laon and Grouchy's troops were still a few days away. He wanted to make a fast march to capture river crossings on the river Oise to block the French retreat to Paris through Soissons. However, he soon found out the French had already moved from Laon to Soissons. This meant the Prussians had to hurry to secure key bridges, especially at Compiègne, because they didn't have their own bridge-building equipment.

French Retreat to Soissons

Marshal Soult had gathered the defeated French soldiers at Laon. On June 25, he marched them to Soissons, where they were supposed to meet Marshal Grouchy's forces. Grouchy arrived in Soissons to take command of the entire army. Soult was unhappy with how he was treated, so he resigned and left for Paris.

Napoleon himself left Paris and went to the Palace of Malmaison. From there, he gave a final message to his army.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, June 25)

• Prussians: I Corps at Cerisy, III Corps at Homblieres, IV Corps at Essigny-le-Grand. Blücher's headquarters were at Saint-Quentin.
• Anglo-allies: Main army near Joncourt, Serain, and Prémont. Wellington's headquarters were at Joncourt.
• French: Right wing at Rheims, left wing (with Grouchy) at Soissons.

June 26: Péronne Falls and No Peace Talks

Wellington's Army Moves On

On June 26, Wellington's main army marched to Vermand.

Péronne Surrenders

Major General John Byng was ordered by Wellington to capture the strong fortress of Péronne. Wellington arrived as Byng's troops were getting there. He saw that the fortress could be taken by force.

Wellington ordered an attack on a part of the fortress called the hornwork. Lord Saltoun quickly led his troops and captured it with few losses. Wellington, seeing it would be an easy win, went back to Vermand.

Dutch cannons were brought up, and after a short fight, the town leaders convinced the French soldiers inside to surrender. About 1,500 French National Guard soldiers gave up their weapons and were allowed to go home.

Other Movements

The 4th Division of Wellington's army rejoined the main force, as Cambrai was now controlled by the King of France's troops. Other reserve units moved to Bellicourt and Bellenglise.

Wellington Refuses to Stop Fighting

Back at his headquarters, Wellington received a letter from Blücher, who had received it from the French officials. Wellington immediately replied that he would not stop fighting until the French army completely gave up its weapons.

Blücher's Army Pushes Hard

Blücher was determined to capture the crossings over the Oise River at places like Compiègne and Pont-Sainte-Maxence.

He ordered his lead troops to make a very fast march towards Compiègne. They marched about 15 miles and reached Noyon, but still had a long way to go. They kept marching even into the night. Around midnight, they learned that a French group was also heading for Compiègne.

Another Prussian brigade began to surround the fortress of La Fère. They fired cannons at it, but the French inside would not surrender. Since a serious attack wasn't planned, the Prussians left a small force to watch the fortress and moved on.

The Prussian III Corps marched to Guiscard. One of their groups found the town of Ham occupied by the French. After firing a few cannon shots, the French opened the gates, and the Prussians passed through.

The IV Corps also made a long march, reaching Ressons-sur-Matz. Their lead troops pushed ahead to secure bridges over the Oise River.

French Movements

While the Prussians were rushing towards Compiègne, a French general, d'Erlon, was also marching his 4,000 men towards the same spot from Soissons.

Other French corps were moving from Rheims towards Soissons, but it was too far to do in one day.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, June 26)

• Prussians: I Corps near Chauny and marching to Compiègne. III Corps at Guiscard. IV Corps at Ressons-sur-Matz. Blücher's headquarters were at Genvry.
• Anglo-allies: Main army near Vermand, Beauvois-en-Vermandois, and Lanchy. A British Guards brigade was at Péronne. Wellington's headquarters were at Vermand.
• French: D'Erlon's troops near Compiègne. III and IV Corps between Rheims and Soissons. Grouchy's headquarters were at Soissons.

June 27: Skirmishes and Prussian Progress

Prussians Clash at Compiègne

At 4:30 AM on June 27, the lead Prussian troops reached Compiègne after a tough 25-mile march. They quickly set up defenses. Just half an hour later, French troops under d'Erlon appeared. If the Prussians had been any slower, the French would have taken the important bridge at Compiègne.

French skirmishers (light troops) started firing from a nearby forest. Prussian cannons fired back, forcing the French to hide. The French tried to trick the Prussians into thinking they were attacking a weaker part of the town, but they were actually retreating. The Prussians chased them.

This fight lasted about an hour and a half. The French failed to secure Compiègne and stop the Prussian advance along the Oise River.

After the Compiègne Skirmish

The Prussian troops were very tired from their long marches. This allowed d'Erlon's French corps to retreat more easily. Blücher arrived at Compiègne and ordered his troops to push towards Villers-Cotterêts to cut off the French retreat.

However, the Prussian commander, Zieten, didn't follow the order exactly. He sent only a smaller force towards Villers-Cotterêts, while the main part of his army went to Gilocourt.

At Gilocourt, the Prussian cavalry caught up with d'Erlon's retreating French. They chased the French, who were forced to retreat quickly.

Skirmish at Crépy-en-Valois

The Prussian cavalry continued to chase the French rear guard, pushing them back into Crépy-en-Valois. The French quickly left the town. The Prussians then camped there for the night.

After the Crépy-en-Valois Skirmish

The Prussian troops were very tired from their long marches. Blücher ordered the III Corps to move to Compiègne to support the I Corps and watch the French towards Soissons.

Prussians Secure Oise Crossings

On the same day, the Prussian IV Corps marched from Ressons-sur-Matz with orders to cross the Oise River at places like Verberie, Pont-Sainte-Maxence, or Creil. Their lead general, Sydow, rushed ahead with a small group.

Skirmish at Creil

Sydow reached Creil just as the French were about to enter the town. The Prussians attacked and pushed the French back, securing the bridge. This was a very close call, showing how important timing was in these battles.

Skirmish at Senlis

A Prussian cavalry group was sent ahead to Senlis. As they were resting in the town square, French cavalry under Kellermann suddenly attacked. The Prussians fought back but were eventually forced to retreat. Kellermann's brigade then continued its march.

Later, General Sydow arrived at Senlis with more Prussian troops. He found the town empty and took it over. French troops were approaching, and the Prussians opened fire, forcing them to turn back. Sydow's troops camped near Senlis.

Blücher Secures the Oise Line

Other Prussian groups secured bridges at Pont-Sainte-Maxence and Verberie. Even though the French had damaged the bridge at Pont-Sainte-Maxence, the Prussians managed to get troops across.

By securing these river crossings and pushing their troops forward, Blücher had successfully cut off the French army's main retreat route to Paris.

Weak French Resistance

Grouchy realized that his attempts to block the Prussians at the Oise River had failed. The French resistance was weak, and many soldiers were deserting, throwing away their weapons and fleeing home. It was clear the French army was not ready for a serious fight. Grouchy's main goal was just to reach Paris and keep his troops safe.

Anglo-Allied Army Crosses the Somme

On June 27, Wellington's main army crossed the Somme River at Villecourt and marched towards Roye.

Some Dutch-Belgian troops were ordered to stay at Péronne, while others joined the main army. Other divisions moved to Ham and between Douilly and Villers-le-Sec.

Pillaging by Some Dutch-Belgian Troops

Wellington had given strict orders for his soldiers to behave well and treat the French people as friends. However, some Dutch-Belgian troops ignored these orders. They stole from towns, even from Wellington's own headquarters! They even freed prisoners from the military police Wellington had set up.

Wellington was very angry. He ordered the general in charge to make sure all officers and soldiers were present at all times. The two officers who encouraged the bad behavior were arrested and sent to the King of the Netherlands for punishment. Wellington wrote a strong letter, saying he didn't want to command officers who acted like "raiders" instead of soldiers.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, June 27)

• Prussians: I Corps main body at Gilocourt, with parts at Longpré and Crépy-en-Valois. III Corps at Compiègne. IV Corps at Pont-Sainte-Maxence, with lead troops at Senlis. Blücher's headquarters were at Compiègne.
• Anglo-allies: Main army near Roye, Cressy-Omencourt, and Ham. Wellington's headquarters were at Nesle.
• French: Remains of I and II Corps retreating. Imperial Guard and VI Corps at Villers-Cotterêts. III and IV Corps at Soissons. Grouchy's headquarters were at Villers-Cotterêts.

June 28: Battle of Villers-Cotterêts and Pursuit

Battle of Villers-Cotterêts

Prussian Surprise Attack

At 1:00 AM on June 28, General Pirch II of the Prussian I Corps arrived near Villers-Cotterêts. He learned the town wasn't strongly guarded, so he decided to attack by surprise. In the darkness, his troops found a French group with 14 cannons and 20 ammunition wagons. They captured them.

The area around Villers-Cotterêts was full of French troops, who were resting before moving again at 2:00 AM. The Prussians pushed into Villers-Cotterêts, taking many prisoners. Grouchy himself barely escaped, quickly riding out of town. He managed to gather his troops on a nearby hill.

Pirch set up his defenses, placing infantry in the garden of the Château de Villers-Cotterêts.

French Counterattack

Pirch was still setting up when he heard that more French troops were coming from Soissons. They had a lot of cavalry and cannons.

Meanwhile, Marshal Grouchy had gathered about 9,000 French soldiers on the Windmill Heights. He seemed ready to fight.

Pirch found himself surrounded by two larger French forces. He decided to retreat. This was made easier when the French III Corps, seeing the Prussians on the main road to Paris, thought the Prussian force was much larger. They panicked, shouting, "We are cut off from Paris!" Most of them rushed into the woods towards La Ferté-Milon. About 2,000 men and some cannons, led by Vandamme, attacked Villers-Cotterêts to cover their retreat. The Prussians were pushed back, and Pirch slowly pulled his troops out of the town.

Prussian I Corps Advances

Pirch wanted to move parallel to Grouchy's retreat, but decided against it due to difficult terrain. He chose to retreat along the Compiègne road. He reached Fresnoy-la-Rivière by midday, rested his troops, and then continued to Nanteuil, arriving around 9:00 PM. His troops had marched 63 miles in 38 hours and fought for six of those hours. He had managed to confuse the French and slow Grouchy's retreat, allowing another Prussian general, Zieten, to reach Nanteuil first.

Zieten wanted to gather his scattered brigades at Crépy-en-Valois. But when he heard about Pirch's fight at Villers-Cotterêts, he decided not to send direct help because it was too far. Instead, he advanced with his 3rd Brigade and cavalry towards Lévignen on the main Paris road, hoping to get there before the French.

Fighting on the Lévignen–Nanteuil Road

The Prussians found the French marching through Lévignen. Zieten immediately ordered cannons to fire into the town. Prussian cavalry attacked the French.

The French retreated so fast that the Prussians didn't catch them until halfway between Lévignen and Nanteuil. There, the French rearguard, including Reille's II Corps, turned to fight. Prussian cavalry charged but were pushed back. However, the 1st Silesian Hussars then made a successful attack, scattering the French and capturing two cannons. The Prussians chased the fleeing French beyond Nanteuil.

French Movements

Despite the pressure from the Prussians, the remains of the French I and II Corps managed to join up.

Prussians Chase the French Hard

The French Imperial Guard and VI Corps, under Grouchy, had retreated through Villers-Cotterêts. They reached Lévignen after Zieten had passed through. Realizing the danger, they turned off the main road to retreat through Acy-en-Multien, Meaux, and Vincennes.

General Vandamme, with the French III and IV Corps, was further behind. He also turned off the main road at Villers-Cotterêts and retreated through La Ferté-Milon and Meaux, crossing the Marne River at Lagny-sur-Marne to reach Paris.

Prussian IV Corps Captures 2,000 French

Bülow, leading the Prussian IV Corps, sent a strong advance force under Prince William of Prussia. In the afternoon, Prince William attacked French groups retreating from Nanteuil. He scattered many of them and captured over 2,000 prisoners.

Prussians Close to Paris

By evening, the IV Corps' lead troops reached Gonesse and pushed detachments close to Le Bourget and Stains, which were held by the French. The main body of the corps arrived at Marly-la-Ville.

Thielmann's III Corps marched towards Crépy-en-Valois. When he heard the I Corps was fighting, he brought his cavalry closer to support.

By the evening of June 28, the Prussian army had successfully cut off the main French retreat route to Paris. They had caused great confusion, captured 16 cannons, and taken 4,000 prisoners. The Prussians now held the main roads and had their advanced troops within 5 miles of Paris.

Parisians Hear the Guns

When the sound of cannons reached Paris, the citizens were very worried. They had already heard exaggerated stories from fleeing soldiers. The defenses built on the north side of Paris seemed strong enough to stop the Coalition armies from a quick attack. But Paris needed time to organize its defenses, for the defeated army to arrive, and to gather all available resources.

The only hope was that Paris would be too hard to capture, forcing the Coalition to negotiate a peace that would let the French choose their own government.

Napoleon's Passport Refused

The French government still wanted to negotiate. They sent another group of officials to ask for a stop to the fighting and a safe passage for Napoleon to go to the United States.

Blücher refused to even reply, saying his earlier answer was enough. Wellington referred them to his previous letter and said he had no authority to give Napoleon a passport.

Napoleon Almost Captured

Napoleon himself barely escaped being captured by the Prussians at the Palace of Malmaison. Blücher heard he was there and sent troops to capture a bridge at Chatou that led directly to the palace. Luckily for Napoleon, Marshal Davout had ordered the bridge destroyed when he heard the Prussians were close. So, the Prussians were disappointed to find no way across, even though they were only 800 yards from the palace where Napoleon still was.

Anglo-Allied Army Advances

Wellington's army advanced on June 28, moving its right side behind Saint-Just-en-Chaussée and its left behind Lataule. Different corps moved to Crèvecœur-le-Petit, Couchy, and Roye.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, June 28)

• Prussians: IV Corps nearest to Paris at Marly-la-Ville, with lead troops near Le Bourget and Stains. I Corps behind Nanteuil. III Corps at Crépy-en-Valois. Blücher's headquarters were at Senlis.
• Anglo-allies: Right behind Saint-Just-en-Chaussée, left behind Lataule. Reserve at Roye. Wellington's headquarters were at Orvillers-Sorel.
• French: Remains of I and II Corps reached Paris suburbs. Imperial Guard and VI Corps retreating from Meaux. III and IV Corps retreating from Lagny-sur-Marne.

June 29: Prussians Reach Paris Defenses

Prussians Arrive at Saint-Denis

On the morning of June 29, the lead Prussian IV Corps moved from Gonesse to Le Bourget, which the French had left. However, the French were strongly positioned at Saint-Denis, so the Prussians sent battalions to watch them. They also took over Stains and La Courneuve. The main part of the IV Corps camped near Le Bourget.

The lead Prussian I Corps pushed on to Le Blanc-Mesnil and sent troops to scout the French defenses. The main part of this corps set up between Le Blanc-Mesnil and Aulnay-sous-Bois. They sent out troops towards Livry-Gargan, the Ourcq Canal, Bondy, and Pantin. They also occupied Nonneville.

The Prussian III Corps marched from Crépy-en-Valois to Dammartin-en-Goële and camped there.

The Reserve Cavalry was sent to Tremblay to support the I Corps.

Wellington's Anglo-allied army arrived at different points between Gournay-sur-Aronde and Pont-Sainte-Maxence. Their lead troops crossed the Oise at Pont-Sainte-Maxence and reached Senlis.

French Army Reaches Paris Suburbs

The French I and II Corps had reached the Paris suburbs on the Gonesse road during the night and held Le Bourget until the morning of June 29. The Imperial Guard and VI Corps, along with new reinforcements, were on the main road by Claye-Souilly and Pantin, under Grouchy's command. They were ordered to defend several points.

The French III and IV Corps, under Vandamme, reached Paris at noon on June 29 by the Lagny road. They passed through the capital and took up positions on the heights of Montrouge on the south side.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, June 29)

• Prussians: I Corps near Aulnay-sous-Bois and Savigny, with detachments along the Ourcq Canal. III Corps at Dammartin-en-Goële. IV Corps between Le Bourget and Saint-Denis, which it surrounded. Blücher's headquarters were at Gonesse.
• Anglo-allies: Lead troops at Senlis. British cavalry at Pont-Sainte-Maxence. Other divisions at Clermont and Saint-Martin-Longueau. Wellington's headquarters were at Le Plessis-Villette.
• French: All French troops from the Army of the North had entered Paris.

French Defenses of Paris

The French forces in Paris, after the defeated army arrived, totaled about 60,000 to 70,000 men, plus many cannons. Some were at Montmartre, Saint-Denis, and behind the Ourcq Canal. Others, under Vandamme, were on the heights of Montrouge.

There were also about 30,000 National Guards, but their loyalty was uncertain. Another 17,000 veteran soldiers, called Fédéral Tirailleurs, were raised from the suburbs.

Marshal Davout was in charge of defending Paris. He had about 80,000 to 90,000 men, plus many cannons, not counting the National Guard.

Paris had strong defenses, including trenches around Montmartre, Monfauçon, and Belleville. The Ourcq Canal, which was 30 feet wide and filled with water, formed a strong defensive line. It had a high bank with holes for cannons. Saint-Denis was heavily fortified and formed a key point on this line.

The area north of Saint-Denis was flooded to make it harder to cross. The village of Aubervilliers was an advanced post. Strong batteries and barricades protected the entrances to Paris.

Vincennes was strengthened, and bridges over the Marne River were protected or destroyed. All boats on the Seine and Marne were moved to the left bank. The bridge at Neuilly was partly destroyed, and a wooden bridge at Bessons was burned. Many villages, parks, and gardens were turned into defensive positions.

On the south side of Paris, defenses were weaker, mainly limited to the heights of Montrouge.

For the main defenses, 300 large cannons were brought in, manned by 20 companies of marine artillery. The I, II, and VI Corps defended the line between Saint-Denis and Vincennes. The Imperial Guard was held in reserve. The cavalry was in the Bois de Boulogne. The III and IV Corps defended the south side of Paris.

Battle of Aubervilliers

Before the Fight

Blücher had seen how well the French had defended the north side of Paris. He wanted to test the French soldiers' spirit. So, he ordered Bülow to attack the village of Aubervilliers on the evening of June 29. He also told Zieten to cause as much trouble as possible at Bondy and Pantin.

Before the attack, Wellington joined Blücher. He told Blücher about the peace proposals from the French. Blücher refused to stop fighting. Both commanders agreed they wouldn't stop operations as long as Napoleon was near Paris, and they would demand he be handed over. Wellington immediately wrote a letter to the French officials stating this.

Prussians Storm Aubervilliers

Blücher ordered General Sydow to attack Aubervilliers with nine battalions and two cavalry regiments. Four battalions advanced in a column. The attack started at twilight. The Prussians, using bayonets, fought their way into the large village from three sides, breaking through barriers. The village was held by 1,000 of Davout's best troops. The Prussians captured 200 prisoners and chased the rest to the Saint-Denis Canal.

General Sydow quickly checked the Saint-Denis Canal and saw that the other side was heavily guarded with infantry and cannons. He tried to advance but was met with heavy fire. It was clear the French position was too strong to take easily. So, Sydow decided to just hold the captured village.

A simultaneous attack was made on the left of Aubervilliers, but the Prussians eventually pulled back to their original positions.

Aftermath

This fight showed that the Saint-Denis Canal line could not be taken without a major assault and heavy cannon fire. Wellington and Blücher discussed their next steps.

Blücher and Wellington's Plan

Blücher and Wellington decided it would be better to go around the strong French defenses at Saint-Denis and Montmartre. One army would pretend to attack these lines, while the other would move to the right, cross the Seine River downstream from Paris, and attack from the left bank.

This plan would split their armies, which could be risky if the French decided to attack them. However, the advantages were greater. It would cut off Paris's supplies from Normandy, a major source. It would also allow them to attack Paris from different directions at the same time, keeping up the pressure. They knew the French government wanted to gain time by asking for peace talks, so they needed to act quickly.

Bridges Over the Seine Captured

They also learned that while the right bank of the Seine was well-defended, the left bank was not. Major Colomb, who had tried to capture Napoleon, reported that although the bridge at Chatou was destroyed, he had secured the bridge at Saint-Germain-en-Laye just as the French were trying to destroy it. The bridge at Maisons-Laffitte was also captured.

With this information, the two commanders agreed to the plan. Blücher immediately ordered his army to use these captured bridges to cross the Seine.

Prussian Cavalry to Block Roads

Lieutenant Colonel Eston von Sohr was ordered to take his cavalry brigade and cross the Seine at Saint-Germain-en-Laye the next morning. From there, he was to appear on the Orléans road from Paris on July 1. His job was to stop traffic, add to the confusion, and block supplies coming from the west and south.

Prussian Army to Cross the Seine

The Prussian army was ordered to move to its right to cross the Seine downstream from Paris. To hide this movement, the lead troops of the I and IV Corps would stay in their positions until Wellington's army arrived on the evening of June 30.

The I Corps was to march at 10:00 PM, moving south of Gonesse through several towns, and cross the Seine at Maisons-Laffitte. The III Corps was to march at 5:00 AM on June 30 towards Saint-Germain-en-Laye, hiding its movements until dark. The IV Corps was to move at daybreak on July 1, bombarding Saint-Denis as it marched to Argenteuil to join the other corps. The lead troops of the I and IV Corps would stay until the British arrived, then follow the rest of the army.

June 30: Prussians Move, Allies Arrive

Battle of Saint-Denis

Before the Fight

The Prussian movements ordered by Blücher went as planned. As the I and III Corps moved away, Bülow strengthened the outposts of the IV Corps to be ready if the French attacked from Saint-Denis.

Battle

Around 3:00 PM, Prussian outposts reported that French columns were advancing from Saint-Denis. Colonel Hiller sent out sharpshooters and cavalry. A lively skirmish began. The French also sent troops towards Épinay-sur-Seine and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, but they were forced to retreat without pushing back the Prussian outposts.

Aftermath

The main part of the IV Corps stayed at Le Bourget on June 30. Its lead troops were sent towards Argenteuil to connect with the III Corps. The Prussians kept up skirmishes to distract the French and hide their main army's movement to the right. They even kept their campfires burning at night to make the French think they were still there.

Anglo-Allied Advances

Wellington's lead troops reached Vaudherland. The British cavalry moved to Louvres.

The Hanoverian cavalry crossed the Oise at Creil and went to Luzarchesa. The infantry of this corps marched from Clermont to Chantilly.

The I Corps crossed the Oise at Pont-Sainte-Maxence and advanced towards La Capelle. The reserve moved from Gournay-sur-Aronde to Fleurines.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, June 30)

• Prussians: I Corps began its march towards Saint-Germain-en-Laye. III Corps marched towards Saint-Germain-en-Laye. IV Corps remained at Le Bourget to cover the army's movement. Sohr's cavalry crossed the Seine and was heading towards Versailles. Colomb's cavalry occupied the bridge at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Blücher's headquarters remained at Gonesse.
• Anglo-allies: Lead troops at Vaudherland. British cavalry near Louvres. Hanoverian cavalry at Luzarches. Other divisions on the roads to Senlis and Pont-Sainte-Maxence. Wellington's headquarters were at Louvres.
• French: The French army remained inside the defenses of Paris.

July 1: Final Approaches to Paris

Even though the French officials kept trying to get the Coalition generals to agree to a ceasefire, the military operations continued without stopping.

French Attack at Argenteuil

On the morning of July 1, Bülow's IV Corps moved to its right towards Argenteuil. During this movement, the French attacked Aubervilliers from the Saint-Denis Canal, pushing into the center of the village. However, Prussian reinforcements arrived and stopped them.

The French kept up a long skirmish and fired howitzers, but Bülow's corps continued its march. The 14th Brigade stayed behind to support the advanced posts until Wellington's Anglo-Allied troops arrived.

British Light Troops Take Aubervilliers

In the afternoon, Wellington's army reached Le Bourget and took over the positions the Prussians had left. Three companies of British Light Infantry were sent into Aubervilliers. The Prussians had only fired occasionally from their part of the village to hide their army's main movement.

The British Light Companies, however, were free to attack. Their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sir Neil Campbell, decided to take the entire village. He gained control of the highest houses, then fought his way through other buildings. The French didn't put up a strong fight, likely because they knew the Prussians were moving and the British had arrived. Campbell succeeded in taking most of the village. The French officer in command then proposed a truce, which was accepted.

The remaining outposts were taken over from the Prussians without any trouble. The main Anglo-allied army took up positions with its right on the Height of Eichebourg and its left on Bondy Wood.

Battle of Rocquencourt

A Prussian cavalry group of 500-600 men, led by Lieutenant Colonel Eston von Sohr, was ordered by Blücher to ride ahead of the main army. Their goal was to reach the Orléans road from Paris to stop traffic and add to the confusion.

However, near Rocquencourt, the Prussian group was ambushed by a much larger French force of about 3,000 dragoons and infantry, led by General Exelmans. The Prussians retreated from Versailles but were blocked at Vélizy. They couldn't get back into Versailles and headed for Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Their first squadron was attacked at the entrance of Rocquencourt and tried to escape through fields. They were forced into a narrow street and were either killed or captured. Sohr himself was badly wounded and taken prisoner.

Prussian 9th Infantry Brigade Captures Rocquencourt

The lead troops of Thielmann's Prussian III Corps, the 9th Infantry Brigade, were marching from Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Marly. They then heard that Sohr's cavalry had been completely defeated at Rocquencourt. The brigade commander, General Borcke, rushed forward. His advance troops soon met French skirmishers from Versailles. The Prussians immediately attacked and pushed the French back to Rocquencourt. As it got dark, Borcke carefully set up his forces. His Fusilier Battalion attacked so strongly that the French quickly retreated towards the nearest Paris suburb. Borcke's troops then camped at Rocquencourt.

Two French Corps on Paris's South Side

Besides Exelmans' cavalry, the remains of the French III and IV Corps were sent to the south of Paris. Vandamme, who commanded them, set up defenses with his right on the Seine River, his left at Montrouge, and his center behind Issy. He placed troops in the villages of Vanves and Issy, using their houses and walls for defense. His lead troops occupied Châtillon, Clamart, Meudon, Sèvres, and Saint-Cloud. In the evening, the Imperial Guard joined him for support.

Where Armies Stood (Evening, July 1)

By the evening of July 1, most of the Prussian army had moved from north of Paris to the southwest, on the left bank of the Seine. Wellington's Anglo-allied army had taken over the Prussian positions north of Paris. Most of the French army remained inside Paris, but two corps were positioned just south of the city.

• Prussians: I Corps and III Corps were on the left bank of the Seine, near Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The III Corps' lead troops were at Rocquencourt. IV Corps was marching to Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Blücher's headquarters were at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
• Anglo-allies: II Corps was in the position previously held by the Prussian IV Corps, with lead troops at Aubervilliers and in front of Saint-Denis. I Corps was in the position previously held by the Prussian I Corps, with lead troops along the Ourcq Canal. Reserve was between Louvres and Vaudherland. Wellington's headquarters were at Gonesse.
• French: III and IV Corps and the Imperial Guard were on the south side of Paris, with lead troops at Châtillon, Clamart, Meudon, Sèvres, and Saint-Cloud. Davout's headquarters were at Villette. The rest of the French army remained inside Paris.

Aftermath

In the next week (July 2–7), after more fighting, the French army would finally give up and agree to leave Paris under a ceasefire. The Coalition armies would then occupy Paris. On July 8, Louis XVIII was put back on the throne as King of France, and a new peace treaty was signed in November of that year.