Chapter I: The Plan of Campaign 1

The general military situation 2

Reasons for taking the offensive 2, 3

Napoleon decides to move against Wellington and
Blücher 3

Positions of the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian Armies 3, 4

Napoleon’s plan 4

As stated in Gourgaud’s Narrative 4

And in the “Memoirs” 5

The other plans which were open to him 6

His expectation that Blücher would accept battle
single-handed 7, 8

NOTE TO CHAPTER I 9

Napoleon’s plan distinguished from certain other
plans attributed to him 9

Alison’s view that he threw himself between the
two allied armies 10

Condemned by Wellington and Clausewitz 10

But adopted by Hooper and Quinet 11

Rogniat’s theory, that Napoleon ought to have aimed
at seizing both Quatre Bras and Sombreffe on
the first day 12

Jomini’s belief, that he did have this intention 12

Adopted by La Tour d’Auvergne 13

And by Charras 13

Their view opposed to that of Napoleon, Wellington
and Clausewitz 13

Napoleon desired and expected a battle with the
Prussians 14, 15