After their defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June , the French Army of the North , under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte retreated in disarray back towards France.
During the following week 18β24 June , although the remnants of the main French army were joined by the undefeated right wing of the Army of the North, the French were not given time to reorganise by the Coalition generals and they steadily retreated towards Paris. By the end Saturday 24 June the end of the first week after the defeat at Waterloo the French who had fought at Waterloo were at Laon under the command of Marshal Soult , while those of the right wing who had fought at the simultaneous Battle of Wavre , under the command of Marshal Grouchy , were at Rethel.
The next week 25 June β 1 July would see the French reach Paris with the Coalition forces who were about a days march behind them also arrive in the Paris area. By July 1 the Anglo-allied army were facing the French, who were positioned behind a strong defensive line in the northern suburbs of Paris, while the Prussians had seized two bridges downstream of Paris and had crossed the river Seine and were about to approach Paris from the south west. In the following week 2β7 July the French army would capitulate and agree to leave Paris under a ceasefire.
The Coalition armies would occupy Paris. The main body of the Anglo-allied army advanced to Joncourt. The 4th Division continued at Cambrai and the reserve moved on to Maretz.
An officer and 30 dragoons were detached across the river Oise to cut off the communication between this fortress and Laon, by which means the investment of the place was effected. On this account, preparations were made in the night to cross the river below the place, and gain the heights which command the fortress on the Laon side.
