The seven letters and reports provide a highly detailed description of the preparations made by the French army and the early stages of the Waterloo campaign. In his report of the 17th June 1815, Comte Reille described the fighting at Les Quatre Bras: ‘The 5th Division formed in columns by battalions close to the advanced post of Gémioncourt, and the 1st Brigade of the 9th Division moved to that farm. The 5th Division then crossed the ravine and marched to the position of Les Trois Bras, with great unity, despite the fire from the line of enemy skirmishers and his artillery. But having arrived on the plateau it could not resist a charge of a line of enemy infantry. The English and Scottish forced them to retreat into the ravine. General Foy deployed the 100e Régiment in rear of the advanced post of Gémioncourt, and the good countenance of the corps protected the retrograde movement and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.’

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