French dispositions and reconnaissance

On 1 October 1793 Jourdan's large army was distributed across a broad front in four great masses, starting at the North Sea and running southeast. He held a two-to-one superiority, though Coalition generals were also anxious about the 20,000 French soldiers inside Maubeuge. On 13 October the French enjoyed initial success in a sortie against the Bois du Tilleul, but troops sent out to help mistakenly fired on their own friends and the French were compelled to retreat. On 14 October, Jourdan and Committee of Public Safety member Lazare Carnot reconnoitered the Coalition front south of Maubeuge. According to Carnot, he argued that Wattignies on the Austrian left was the key to the position, while Jourdan preferred attacking the Austrian right.