Riding with Gassion across from one road to another along which the army was advancing, he was able to see much of the movements of bodies of troops through a country wholly different from that with which he was familiar.
He saw how careful the general was to maintain communication between the heads of the different columns, especially as he approached the enemy.
"De Malo ought," he said, "to have utilized such a country as this for checking our advance.

In these woods he might have so placed his men as to annihilate one column before another could come to its assistance.

I can only suppose that he relies so absolutely upon his numbers, and the valour and discipline of his soldiers, that he prefers to fight a pitched battle, where a complete success would open the road to Paris, and thus lay France at his feet and bring the war to a conclusion at one stroke.".