Paris, June 5, 1815

Marshall, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that according to the orders of the Emperor, I have just made Lieutenant General Gérard aware that His Majesty’s plan is that he begin the march of the Army de la Moselle which he commands, upon receipt of my order, that is to say the seventh of June, and that he move, following the itinerary a copy of which I am attaching here toward Rocroy, where it must be on the thirteenth of this month. General Gérard will determine the days, without subjecting himself to stages, but by war marches; he will first have his infantry divisions leave taking with them their artillery, ambulances, etc as well as their military transports, the artillery Park will follow the infantry divisions and the Cavalry will leave only last.

General Gérard will remain in person, until the tenth on the line, in order to have the national guards placed and given the necessary instructions, after that, he will rejoin his army at post.

This general will ensure that his movements are hidden as much as possible and will announce that the army is proceeding to Lunéville; he will furthermore take new measures to prohibit all forms of communication with the border.

I advise General Gérard to ensure that before departure, his troop is well provided with an advance of four days of bread and a half-cup of rice per man, he must independently have brought in the caissons subsistence to be distributed en route, or at Rocroy upon his arrival, in order that the advance not be  undermined; he will moreover have a War Commissary officer precede his divisions in order to prepare the provisions along the way.

General Gérard has the order to bring with him the artillery battery that is coming from the 5th division of Cavalry Reserve, in order that it be ready upon his arrival in Rocroy.

The Emperor has furthermore instructed me, Marshall, to order General Rouyer, upon receipt of my order that is to say the seventh of June, to have the 2nd Division of National Guard Reserves leave Nancy to go without stopping between Metz and Thionville where General Rouyer will receive orders from Lieutenant General Gérard on the service for which his division will be responsible.

General Rouyer will bring the artillery battery that is attached to his division, and, if it is not completely organized, on his passage by Metz he will be supplied with what is missing; his Division will also receive in this Place the arms that may be lacking, as well as the camping utensils and other necessary materials.

General Rouyer’s division is intended to relieve, on the line of the Moselle, the army of Count Gérard, and to supply the positions necessary at the principle outlets; all of the positions of National Guards, Customs, forestry officials and Corps francs of partisans already established on the line, will remain there under the orders of General Rouyer; General Lanusse commanding the 3rd military division will endeavor to reinforce it as much as possible. I am alerting General Rouyer that he will be with his troops, and for the details of the service, under the orders of General Lanusse.

I made Generals Lanusse and Rouyer aware that the majority of the 2nd division of National Guard Reserves with the artillery battery that is attached to it, must maintain a column between Thionville and Metz, in order to be able to support and protect the posts and detachments that are on the line, and that they must even, if the enemy should conduct demonstrations, have it camp in a position that is good defensively; but if the enemy should cross the border and come to attack it with great force that General Rouyer had no hope to contain or to push back, nor even that of covering Thionville and Metz effectively, this General, in supporting as long as possible this Place, should manoeuvre in the direction of the Vosges, so as to support the left of the Army du Rhin; General Rouyer would report on his movements to General Rapp, from whom he should, in this case, take orders.

I have informed Lieutenant General Count Rapp, as well as the General commanding the 4th Military division of these arrangements advising these Generals to keep these instructions very secret.

I pray your Excellency to give the orders he considers appropriate so that the plans of His Majesty be exactly fulfilled in this regard.

Accept, Prince, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Le Maréchal d’Empire

Major Général

duc de dalmatie

An interary was attached.

Itinéraire de Metz à Rocroy:

  • De Metz à Jarny

  • Etain

  • Damvillers

  • Stenay

  • Sedan

  • Mezières

  • Rocroy