The cavalry, with the exception
of the Brunswick brigade, were posted at Grammont, Mons, and Roeulx,
their outposts being thrown forward as far as Maubeuge and Beaumont.
The Prussians were on the left of Wellington's force, and extended
from Ligny through Namur toward Liege, their advanced posts being at
Charleroi, where Zieten's division had their headquarters. But
although the allied armies thus formed together the arc of a large
circle covering Brussels, they were entirely distinct. The British
drew their supplies from Ostend, on the right of their position, while
Liege on the extreme left was the base of the Prussians.
Napoleon's movements were uncertain. He might either advance upon
Namur and cut off the Prussians from their base, or between Grammont
and Oudenarde, by which measure he would similarly cut the British off
from Ostend; or he might advance from Charleroi direct upon Brussels,
breaking through at the point where Wellington's left joined the
Prussian right. The Duke of Wellington believed that he would attempt
the second of these alternatives, as in that case he would fall upon
the British before the Prussians could come up to their assistance,
and if successful would not only cut them off from the base of
supplies, but would be able to march straight upon Brussels. It was to
defeat this plan that the duke posted the largest proportion of his
British troops along the frontier, holding, however, two British
divisions and the Brunswick and Nassau troops in and round Brussels,
where they were nearly equidistant from any point that could be
attacked, and could be moved forward as soon as the enemy's intentions
became manifest.
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