The Marshal's action in sending that message must be pronounced one of the most fatal in the whole war.

It led the Emperor and MacMahon to a false belief as to the position at Metz, and furnished a potent argument to the Empress and Palikao at Paris to urge a march towards Montmedy at all costs.
Doubtfully MacMahon led his straggling array from Reims in a north-easterly direction towards Stenay on the Meuse.

Rain checked his progress, and dispirited the troops; but on the 27th August, while about half-way between the Aisne and the Meuse, his outposts touched those of the enemy.

They were, in fact, those of the Prussian Crown Prince, whose army was about to cross the northern roads over the Argonne, the line of hills that saw the French stem the Prussian invasion in 1792.

Far different was the state of affairs now.