Not fully aware of the issues that caused the Prussians to send out an emissary and start some 'peace' negotiations, Napoleon promulgated a set of orders:
Direct quote from the orders:
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Orders and despatches from Napoleon and others
Written at 23.30hrs on the day of our Lord the August 27, 1813
Napoleon with the Polish Lancers (at 22/29) to move on road to Lubben (22/29) & then by road to 18/26
Guard Light Cavalry under Dejean escorting the prisoner Bernadotte to Torgau, please report when you reach Torgau. Also be prepared to move the prisoner to Wittenberg, using your initiative, should events transpire against us in the area around Lubben / Luckau / Cottbus.
New orders from Napoleon
The Imperial Guard (at 18/26), under Mortier, continue your march to reach Lubben as quickly as possible.
Despatch to be sent to Latour-Maubourg and Flahault “I have arrived at Lubben and am awaiting the arrival of the Old Guard. Maintain your cavalry on recce duty. You should advance no further than Luckau and await my further orders. Please report all enemy activity to Imperial HQ at Lubben”
Oudinot (at 27/29)
Meeting with Prussian delegation headed by Julius August Reinbold von-Grawert: to ascertain the reason for their seeking a meeting with Napoleon.
Napoleon has been notified of your presence at my HQ.
A temporary truce be put into effect between the forces under the command of General Blucher (Russian, Prussian and Austrian) in the area around Grossraschen and Elsterwerda. Neither side to move towards the other.
Further it must be stressed to them that Berlin will fall into French control within the next 24 hours.
Also that Bernadotte has been captured and is held captive.
Orders
The troops under Drouot, to regroup and collect in all stragglers at Luckau
Orders to VII Corps and the II Cavalry Corps (at 29/30); move towards Luckau, using the roads if possible, away from the enemy (at 28/32). VII Corps Cavalry to cover their movement and provide a rearguard.
Despatch to Napoleon: “Sire, today a delegation from the Allied forces arrived at my HQ, about 10km to the south of Luckau, seeking an audience with you.
I am hoping to meet with them this evening to ascertain the reason behind their appearance.
The news that Berlin will fall to the French within a day or two will not sit well with General der Kavallerie Blücher, commander of the Army of Silesia currently at Grossrascen.
Also they will have the news of Bernadotte’s capture confirmed by me.
As to your whereabouts, and that of the Imperial Guard, they will not be divulged to the Allied delegation. What I will tell them is that an ADC has been sent to inform you of there presence here at my HQ and their desire to meet.
Should I glean anything from them this evening then another ADC will be sent to you poste haste.
My command is partly at Luckau and the remainder here with me . I await your further orders.”
Davout HQ (at 7/9) to advance, with XIII Corps, along the road to Parchim (9/12)
Davout (at 8/7) sends out the following orders:
To the Danish Auxillary force en route to Schwerin (7/9): continue your advance to Schwerin with utmost haste; then, unless you have received other orders from me follow XIII Corps and my HQ along the road from Schwerin to Pritzwalk.
To V Cavalry Corps (at 9/11) move directly to Parchem (9/12)
To XIII Corps (at 7/9) to advance towards Pritzwalk (10/14) via Parchim (9/12)
To 9th Light Cavalry now at 3/12 continue as ordered - move, along roads, to Rostock (3/13) and then to Gustrow (6/12) you are to recce for any enemy formations in that area. Should the enemy move against you then you may retreat, if faced by overwhelming numbers: the enemy at Schwerin has moved eastwards, we think they are moving toward Berlin, but cannot be sure at the moment. Report any enemy sightings post haste to my HQ which will be on the road between Schwerin and Parchim.
To 30th Light Cavalry now at 10/10, continue as ordered - advance towards Pritswalk via Karstadt using the existing road system; you are to recce for any enemy formations in that area. Should the enemy move against you then you may retreat, if faced by overwhelming numbers: the enemy at Schwerin has moved eastwards, we think they are moving toward Berlin, but cannot be sure at the moment. Report any enemy sightings post haste to my HQ which will be on the road between Schwerin and Parchim.
Despatch to Commander of French forces around Potsdam /Berlin (Marechal Ney’s successor) – “Your Exellency, It appears that events elsewhere have contributed to the Royal Swedish Army and the Corps of the Lower Elbe moving, retreating eastwards from Schwerin. My cavalry scouts have reported their infantry to the east of Parchim. The local populace say that a large (??) Swedish cavalry division has entered Pritzwalk. I am following them with XIII Corps and V Cavalry Corps along the Schwerin to Pritzwalk road. Two Cavalry Regiments are scouting out the roads to the north and south of this road. These cover Rostock to Gustrow and Domitz to Karsstadt.
I have sent further orders for the Danish Auxillary to join with XIII Corps as soon as possible.”
These orders would leave the field map for the French looking like this at the end of 28 August:
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