About 3 P.M. on Sunday, the 23d, reports began coming in to the effect
that the enemy was commencing an attack on the Mons line, apparently in
some strength, but that the right of the position from Mons and Bray was
being particularly threatened.

The commander of the First Corps had pushed his flank back to some high
ground south of Bray, and the Fifth Cavalry Brigade evacuated Binche,
moving slightly south; the enemy thereupon occupied Binche.

The right of the Third Division, under Gen. Hamilton, was at Mons, which
formed a somewhat dangerous salient; and I directed the commander of the
Second Corps to be careful not to keep the troops on this salient too
long, but, if threatened seriously, to draw back the centre behind Mons.
This was done before dark. In the meantime, about 5 P.M., I received a
most unexpected message from Gen. Joffre by telegraph, telling me that
at least three German corps, viz., a reserve corps, the Fourth Corps and
the Ninth Corps, were moving on my position in front, and that the
Second Corps was engaged in a turning movement from the direction of
Tournay. He also informed me that the two reserve French divisions and
the Fifth French Army on my right were retiring, the Germans having on
the previous day gained possession of the passages of the Sambre
between Charleroi and Namur.

3. In view of the possibility of my being driven from the Mons position,
I had previously [Transcriber: original 'previouly'] ordered a position
in rear to be reconnoitred. This position rested on the fortress of
Maubeuge on the right and extended west to Jenlain, southeast of
Valenciennes, on the left. The position was reported difficult to hold,
because standing crops and buildings made the siting of trenches very