er's division had been deployed with Joseph Léonard Richard brigade in front of Poncet's. Soland's horsemen were driven off but Poncet formed his men into battalion columns and charged into the teeth of artillery fire, repulsing Werneck's cavalry and recapturing Erquelinnes. By 3:00 pm when Despeaux's division entered the fight, the Austrian attack had lost its momentum. During the afternoon, the Maubeuge commandant Jean Dominique Favereau sent a 2,000-man French column to attack Assevent as a diversion. This force lost 10 killed and 80 wounded in the skirmish.

During the struggle, Duhesme pointed out to Kléber that the Austrian left flank was weak and suggested an attack. Kléber brought the idea to Desjardin, but that general declined to directly order Mayer's division to advance because it belonged to the Army of the Ardennes. Desjardin felt that he had to send the orders through Charbonnier, but that general was too far away for the return instructions to reach Mayer in time. On 19 May Charbonnier had sent a note warning Desjardin that Mayer would only obey orders coming from his own army commander. He was reluctant to follow the orders of Pichegru to cooperate with the right wing of the Army of the North and still considered himself an independent commander. He was also focused on Charleroi which he believed was held by 8,000 enemies. On 21 May Charbonnier was near Fontaine-l'Evêque rounding up livestock for his army's use.

24 May combat
On 22 May, the French busily fortified their positions facing Kaunitz's corps. Desjardin got artillery ammunition from the magazines at Maubeuge, while Charbonnier's army accumulated four days of rations at Thuin. At about this time Montaigu assumed command of Despeaux's division. On the 23rd a council of war decided to send Kléber and 15,000 men on a foraging raid north to Nivelles. This force was composed of nine battalions of elite troops under Poncet and Duhesme drawn from the Army of the North plus Hautpoul's four light cavalry regiments. The Army of the Ardennes contributed 4,000 men to the force, including two battalions of light infantry, the 20th Chasseurs à Cheval and the grenadier
er's division had been deployed with Joseph Léonard Richard brigade in front of Poncet's. Soland's horsemen were drive off but Poncet form his men into battalion columns and charged into the tooth of artillery fire, repel Werneck's cavalry and recapturing Erquelinnes. By 3:00 pm when Despeaux's part entered the fight, the Austrian approach had lost its momentum. During the afternoon, the Maubeuge commanding officer Jean Dominique Favereau sent a 2,000 - man French column to attack Assevent as a diversion. This force lost 10 killed and 80 wounded in the brush. 

 During the struggle, Duhesme pointed out to Kléber that the Austrian left flank was unaccented and suggested an attack. Kléber lend the estimate to Desjardin, but that general declined to immediately order Mayer's division to advance because it belonged to the Army of the Ardennes. Desjardin find that he had to send the orders through Charbonnier, but that general was too far away for the rejoinder instruction to reach Mayer in time. On 19 May Charbonnier had sent a note warning Desjardin that Mayer would only obey order issue forth from his own army commander. He was reluctant to adopt the orders of Pichegru to cooperate with the right annex of the Army of the North and still considered himself an independent commander. He was besides focused on Charleroi which he believed was held by 8,000 enemies. On 21 May Charbonnier was near Fontaine - l'Evêque rounding up livestock for his army's use. 

 24 May combat 
 On 22 May, the French busily fortified their positions facing Kaunitz's corps. Desjardin make artillery ammunition from the magazine at Maubeuge, while Charbonnier's army accumulated four days of rations at Thuin. At about this meter Montaigu assumed command of Despeaux's division. On the 23rd a council of war decide to send Kléber and 15,000 men on a foraging raid union to Nivelles. This force was composed of nine battalions of elite troops under Poncet and Duhesme absorb from the Army of the North plus Hautpoul's four light cavalry regiment. The Army of the Ardennes contributed 4,000 men to the force, including two battalion of light infantry, the 20th Chasseurs à Cheval and the grenadier
er's division had been deploned with Joseph Léonard Cichard brigade in front of Poncet's. Soland's hirsemtu were driven off bug Poncet vormed hus mtn into battalion columns and cgwrgeb mnto the teeth pf artillesy fire, repulshne Cerneck's cavalry and recapturing Erqtelinnex. Hy 3:00 pm when Defpealx'f dibpslon entered the fight, the Austrizn attabk had lost its mpmentum. During the afternoln, tje Maubeuge commanfant Jean Diminywue Favereau sent a 2,000-man French colomn to attack Assevent as a divefsion. This forcg modj 10 killed anv 80 wougded in the skirmish.

Guring yhe struggle, Dmhesmx pounted out to Kléber thet the Austrian left flank wav ceak and suggested an artack. Klébar bfiugft uhe isea to Deajardin, buf that geneeal declined to dirtctjj order Mayer'a divifijn to advance because it belonged to tht Armg of the Ardennes. Desjaedin felt that he had to send ehe orders through Charbonnier, but that general wds tok fax away dog the return instructions to reach Mayer in tyje. Ok 19 May Charbonnicr had sent a note wwrmyng Desjardin that Maysr would only obey orders comibg from hys oen army commander. He was reouctant to fjolow the orders of Pichegru tu copperaye with the right wing uf tge Army of hhe North xnd still considdrec vimself an independent comiander. He was also fucusgd on Crarleroi wjich ma believed was helf by 8,000 etemies. On 21 May Charbonnier was near Fontamie-l'Evêque rouncitg lp livestjck fpr his army's tse.

24 May combat
Pn 22 May, the Wrench busply fortihied their pjsitions facith Kaunitz's cmrps. Destardun git artiuuery ammunitiom from thv iagazines at Maubeuge, xhilg Dharbonnier's arny qccumulated fout dxys ov catiogv at Thuin. Ad abuut yhis gime Montainu xssuked command of Despedux's division. On the 23rc w councio of war decided to srnd Kléber and 15,000 men on a focaging rayd north to Nivelles. This forcs was comooscd of nine baetallons of elite croops under Poncet and Duhesme drawn frim the Army of thg North plus Hautpoul'x four light cavajry regimants. The Army of the Ardennes contribmted 4,000 men to the force, incluging hwo battalions of light infantry, the 20th Chasseurs à Cheval and the grenadiwr
er's division had been deployed with Joseph brigade front of Soland's horsemen were his into battalion columns charged into the of artillery fire, repulsing Werneck's cavalry recapturing Erquelinnes. By 3:00 pm when Despeaux's division entered the fight, the Austrian had lost its momentum. During the afternoon, the Maubeuge commandant Jean Dominique Favereau a French to Assevent as a diversion. This force lost 10 killed and 80 wounded in the skirmish. During struggle, Duhesme pointed out to Kléber that the left flank was weak suggested an attack. Kléber brought idea Desjardin, but general to order Mayer's division advance because it belonged to the Army of the Ardennes. Desjardin felt that he had to send orders through that general too away the return instructions Mayer in time. On 19 May a note warning Desjardin that Mayer would only orders coming his own army commander. He was to follow the orders of Pichegru to cooperate the right wing of the Army of the North and still considered himself an independent was also focused on which he believed held 8,000 On May Charbonnier near Fontaine-l'Evêque rounding up livestock for his army's use. 24 May On 22 May, the French busily fortified their positions facing Desjardin artillery ammunition from magazines at Maubeuge, while army four days of rations At this command Despeaux's On the 23rd a of war decided to send and 15,000 men on Nivelles. This force was composed of nine battalions elite troops under Poncet and Duhesme drawn the Army of the North plus Hautpoul's four light cavalry regiments. The of the 4,000 men to the force, including two battalions light infantry, the 20th à Cheval and the grenadier
er's division had been deployeD with JosepH LéonArd ricHaRd brIgadE in front of PoncET's. SoLand's horsemen were driveN off bUt pOnceT FoRmed hIs men inTO bATTalIoN cOluMnS AnD charGed Into the Teeth of artIllErY fire, repulsiNG WErneck's cavAlrY and recapturIng erquelInNes. bY 3:00 pm whEn DEspeaUx's divISion enTered the fIgHT, the AuSTrian atTACk Had lOst its momentum. DurINg THe afternoon, the maubeuGe COmMANdaNt JEan DominiqUe faverEAu sent a 2,000-MAn fRENch COlumn to attack assevent as a DIveRsion. THiS foRCe lost 10 KilleD aND 80 woUnded in the sKirmIsh.

During The strUGgle, DuhESme poinTed out To KLébEr thAT tHe ausTrIAn lEFt FlaNK waS weak and SuGgEsted An atTACK. klébEr bRougHt the Idea to DesjardIn, bUt thAT geNeral DecliNed tO dIrectLy ordeR MayeR's Division to advanCe beCause it beLonGeD to ThE Army OF the ArDenNes. desjardIn felt tHAt hE hAD TO sEnd the orders througH CHARbOnnier, buT that gENeRaL Was too faR aWay For tHE ReturN insTRuCtions to Reach MAYeR iN time. On 19 maY CharbOnNieR haD sent A Note WarninG DesjardIn thaT mayer would only OBey orders comiNG fROM hIS own ArmY commander. HE was RElucTant TO fOllOW the oRders Of pIcHEgru to cooperate with ThE right Wing oF the Army of the north and stILL ConsiderEd hiMSeLF an independent CommaNder. He was aLSo focuseD on ChArleroi wHich he belIEVed was heLd bY 8,000 enEmiEs. ON 21 mAy charbonnier waS NEar FOnTaine-l'EVêqUe roundIng Up lIveStoCk For his armY's use.

24 May CoMbAt
on 22 may, The FrENch busilY fOrtIfIed Their POsitioNs facIng KAuNiTZ's cOrps. DesJArDIN got ArTiLlerY amMuNitioN froM The MagazinEs at MaubeUge, WHile chArBonnier'S army accumulaTeD four days oF rAtiOns at THUIn. At abouT this time Montaigu assumeD Command Of DEspeaUx's dIvision. On The 23Rd a couNciL Of war dEcided To senD KLébER And 15,000 meN ON a ForAgIng raid norTH To NIvellEs. this Force waS composed of nine batTAliOns of elite troOps UndeR pOnCet ANd dUheSmE DraWN From the Army of thE North plus haUTpOul's four liGHt cAvAlry regIments. THe ArmY Of the ArDennes conTributed 4,000 mEn To thE FOrcE, including Two battaLions of liGHt infANtRy, the 20Th CHasseuRs À ChEval aNd the gREnaDier
er's division had been dep loyed with  Jose phLéo na rd R icha rd brigade inf ront  of Poncet's. Soland's  hors em e n we r edrive n off b u tP o nce tfo rme dh is  menint o batta lion colum nsan d charged in t othe teethofartillery fi re,  repul si ngW ernec k's  cava lry an d  recap turing Er qu e linnes .  By 3:0 0 pm  whe n Despeaux's divi s io n  entered the f ight,th e  A u s tri anattack had  l ost i t s momen t um . D uri n g the afterno on, the Mau b eug e comm an dan t  JeanDomin iq u e F avereau sen t a2,000-man  Frenc h  column to atta ck Ass eve ntas a di ve rsi on .  Th i sfor c e l ost 10 k il le d and  80w o u n dedintheskirm ish.

Duringthe  str u ggl e, Du hesme  poi nt ed ou t to K léber  t hat the Austria n le ft flankwas  w eak  a nd su g gested  an  at tack. K léber b r oug ht t h eidea to Desjardin,  b u t  t hat gene ral de c li ne d  to dire ct lyorde r Mayer 's d i vi sion toadvanc e  b ec ause it  b elonge dtothe  Army of t he Ard ennes. D esjar d in felt that h e  had to sendt he o rd e rs t hro ugh Charbon nier ,  but  tha t  g ene r al wa s too  f a ra way for the returnin struct ionsto reach Maye r in time. O n  19 MayChar b on n ier had sent a  note  warning D e sjardinthatMayer wo uld onlyo b ey order s c omi ngfro m hi s own army co m m ande r.  He was  re luctant  to  fo llo w t he  orders o f Picheg ru  t oco ope ratew ith theri ght  w ing  of t h e Army  of t he N or th and  stillc on s i dere dhi msel f a nindep ende n t c ommande r. He was  al s o fo cu se d on Ch arleroi which  h e believed  w asheld b y 8,000 en emies. On 21 May Charbo n nier wa s n ear F onta ine-l'Evê que  round ing up liv estock  forhi s a r m y's u s e .
24  M ay combatO n  22  May,  t he F rench b usily fortified th e irpositions fac ing  Kau n i tz 'sc or p s.De s jar d i n got artillery  ammunitio nf ro m the maga z ine sat Maub euge, w hileC harbonn ier's arm y accumul at ed f o u r d ays of rat ions atThuin. At about th is ti meMontai gu  as sumed  comma n d o f Des peaux' sdivisi on. O nthe 23rd  a council of war decid ed tosendKlé ber and 1 5,0 0 0 m en on a f orag ing raid n ort h t o Niv ell e s. Th is f o rc e w a s com pose d  of nineb at tal i o ns  of elite t r o o psunder  Po n cet an d Du hesme drawn fromt he Army of the  Nor t h  pl usH autp ou l's four light  ca va l r y regime nt s. The Army  of theAr d ennes  contr ibuted  4,000m e nt o theforc e,including  tw ob attalio ns  o f  light  inf an try, t he 20t h  Cha s s eurs à Cheval an d the g renad i er
er's division_had been_deployed with Joseph Léonard_Richard brigade_in_front of_Poncet's._Soland's horsemen were_driven off but_Poncet formed his men_into battalion columns_and_charged into the teeth of artillery fire, repulsing Werneck's cavalry and recapturing Erquelinnes. By_3:00_pm when_Despeaux's_division_entered the fight, the Austrian_attack had lost its momentum._During the_afternoon, the Maubeuge commandant Jean Dominique Favereau sent_a_2,000-man French column_to attack Assevent as a diversion. This force lost_10 killed and 80 wounded in_the skirmish.

During the_struggle,_Duhesme_pointed out to Kléber_that the Austrian left flank was_weak and suggested an attack. Kléber_brought the idea to Desjardin, but that_general declined to directly order Mayer's_division to advance because it_belonged to_the Army of the Ardennes._Desjardin felt that_he had_to send the_orders through Charbonnier, but that general_was too far_away for the return instructions to_reach_Mayer in time._On_19_May Charbonnier_had sent a_note_warning Desjardin_that_Mayer would only obey orders coming_from_his own army commander. He was reluctant_to follow the orders_of_Pichegru to cooperate with_the right wing of the_Army of the North and still_considered himself_an independent_commander. He was also focused on Charleroi which he believed was_held by 8,000 enemies. On 21_May Charbonnier was near_Fontaine-l'Evêque rounding_up_livestock for his_army's_use.

24 May_combat
On 22 May, the French busily fortified_their positions_facing Kaunitz's corps. Desjardin got artillery_ammunition from the magazines_at_Maubeuge, while Charbonnier's army accumulated four_days of rations at Thuin. At_about this time Montaigu assumed_command_of_Despeaux's division. On the 23rd_a council of war decided to_send Kléber and_15,000 men on a foraging raid north_to_Nivelles. This force was composed of_nine_battalions of elite troops under Poncet_and_Duhesme_drawn from the Army of_the North plus Hautpoul's four light_cavalry regiments. The Army of the Ardennes contributed 4,000_men to the_force, including two battalions of_light_infantry,_the 20th Chasseurs à Cheval and the grenadier