After the fighting at Quatre Bras (16 June 1815) the two opposing commanders Marshal Ney and the Duke of Wellington initially held their ground while they obtained information about what had happened at the larger Battle of Ligny. They received intelligence that the Prussian army under the command of Prince Blücher had been defeated by the French Army of the North under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

Waterloo campaign: Quatre Bras to Waterloo
Part of The Waterloo campaign
A portion of Belgium with some places marked in colour to indicate the initial deployments of the armies just before the commencement of hostilities on 15 June 1815: red Anglo-allied, green Prussian, blue French
Date 17 June 1815 Location From Quatre Bras through Genappe to Waterloo in, Belgium Result The Anglo-allied army retreats and the French advance
Belligerents
France	Seventh Coalition:  United Kingdom  Netherlands Prussia Hanover  Nassau Brunswick
Commanders and leaders
Napoleon, Marshal Ney	Duke of Wellington and Earl of Uxbridge
Strength
French Army order of battle	Anglo-allied army order of battle

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Upon receiving this news Wellington organised the retreat of the Anglo-allied army to a place he had identified a year before as the best place in Belgium for him to be able to employ his reverse slope tactics when fighting a major battle: the escarpment close to the village of Waterloo.

On the 17th, aided by thunderstorms and torrential rain and before the arrival of Napoleon, Wellington's army successfully extricated itself from Quatre Bras and passed through the defile of Genappe. The infantry marched ahead and were screened by a large cavalry rearguard. The French harried Wellington's army, but were unable to inflict any substantial casualties before night fell and Wellington's men were ensconced in bivouacs on the plain of Mont-Saint-Jean.

After the fighting at Quatre Bras, the two armies settled down for the night. The Anglo-allied army on the field of battle and the French just to the south. The bivouac on the battle field of Quatre Bras, during the night of 16 June, continued undisturbed until about an hour before daylight, when a cavalry patrol having accidentally got between the adverse pickets near Piermont, caused an alarm in that quarter that was quickly communicated to both armies by a rattling fire of musketry, which, rapidly augmenting, extended itself along the line of the advanced posts. Among the first who hastened to ascertain the origin and nature of the engagement was Picton, who, together with other staff officers, as they arrived in succession, on discovering that no advance had been attempted or intended on either side, soon succeeded in restoring confidence. Similar exertions were successfully made on the part of the French officers, and as day began to break upon the scene, both parties resumed their previous tranquillity. In this untoward affair, the pickets furnished by the 1st Hanoverian Brigade (Kielmansegg's), and by the 3rd Brunswick Light Battalion (Ebeling's) were sharply engaged, and a pickets of the Field Battalion Bremen (Langrehre's) suffered considerably.^[1]

It was not long before Wellington, who had slept at Genappe, arrived at Quatre Bras, where he found Major General Sir Hussey Vivian, whose Brigade of Light Cavalry, consisting of the British 10th Hussars (Quentin's), of the British 18th Hussars (Murray's), and of the 1st Hussars of the King's German Legion (KLG, Wissell's), was posted on the left of that point with two strong pickets thrown out; one, of the 18th Hussars (under Captain Croker) on the Namur road, and the other, of the 10th Hussars, under Major Frederick Howard, in front — with a picket from the latter, under Lieutenant Arnold, on the right of the Namur road.^[2]

Vivian, on being asked what account he could give of the French, communicated to Wellington the result of his observations, which were necessarily very limited, as, with the exception of the firing that had taken place, as before mentioned, along the line of pickets, the French had continued perfectly quiet, and had as yet given no indication of any offensive movement.^[3]

Wellington then took a general survey of the battle field, and while sweeping the horizon with his telescope, he discovered a French vedette on some rising ground, in the direction of Fleurus, and a little to the right of the high road leading to Namur, apparently belonging to some picket thrown out from Marshal Ney's extreme right on the previous night, after the battle had ceased; or to some detached Corps placed in that quarter for the purpose of observation, and for the maintenance of the communication between Napoleon and Ney. Wellington had received no intelligence of Blücher; and, probably, judging from the advanced position of the vedette in question that whatever might have been the result of the Battle of Ligny, the Prussians could not have made any forward movement likely to endanger Ney's right, he came to the conclusion that it was quite possible that, on the other hand, Napoleon might have crossed the Namur road, and cut off his communication with Blücher, with the design of manoeuvring upon his left and rear, and causing him to be simultaneously attacked by Ney. Wellington therefore desired Vivian to send a strong patrol along the Namur road to gain intelligence respecting the Prussian Army.^[4]

A troop of the 10th Hussars, under Captain Grey, was accordingly despatched on this duty, accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. Sir Alexander Gordon, one of Wellington's aides de camp. As the patrol advanced along the road, the French vedette began to circle, evidently to give notice of the approach of an enemy, and then retired. This induced the patrol to move forward with great caution, so as to guard against the possibility of being cut off.^[5]

Nevertheless, it continued, but with all due precaution, advancing along the road, until after passing a few scattered cottages, comprising a hamlet called Petit-Marbais^{[lower-alpha 1]} it reached, about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) further on, some rising ground, about 8.0 kilometres (5 mi) from Quatre Bras, and beyond which was another height. A vedette was observed posted upon the latter, but who had evidently not yet noticed the approach of Captain Grey's troop. Down in the intervening hollow was an isolated house, at the door of which stood a dismounted sentry, and some horses were standing in an adjoining yard.^{[5][lower-alpha 2]}

Captain Grey directed Lieutenant Bacon to patrol towards the house, while he remained with the remainder of the troop, concealed from the French, a disposition favoured by the nature of the ground, and the trees in the hedges, on both sides of the road. When Lieutenant Bacon's party moved forward, it was discovered by the vedette, who began circling, and fired his carbine. The French pocket posted in the house instantly rushed out; several of the men had their jackets and accoutrements off; and the post could easily have been captured, had the special duty on which the British patrol was engaged admitted of an attack. The French turned out very quickly and galloped to the rear along the high road, while Bacon's party was recalled. A few French cavalry galloped up to the vedette on the heights, but evinced no disposition to advance.^[7]

It had now become sufficiently evident that, commencing from this point, that the French were in possession of the Namur road; but the principal object which Sir Alexander Gordon had in view was yet to be attained. The patrol now retired a little until it reached a cross road, which a peasant pointed out as the Prussian line of retreat. Pursuing this track, the patrol, within an hour, reached Tilly; where General Zieten, who had been placed in temporary command of the Prussian cavalry, was covering the retreat of the Prussian army.^[8]

After remaining there about a quarter of an hour, during which Sir Alexander Gordon obtained from General Zieten the most ample information respecting the movements of the Prussians, the patrol commenced its return, at a quick pace, striking into a cross road, which joined the high road at a point nearer to Quatre Bras than the one whence it had left it. The patrol reached Quatre Bras at 7:30; and Sir Alexander Gordon immediately reported to Wellington that the Prussians had retreated towards Wavre, that the French occupied the ground on which the Battle of Ligny had been fought; but that they had not crossed the high road, along which the patrol had proceeded almost into the immediate vicinity of their advanced posts.^[8]

Napoleon's lack of movement was very notable, and served to satisfy Wellington that, either Napoleon's victory had not been followed up with a vigour by which the safety of his own army would have been imperilled, or, that the victory had not been of a character sufficiently decisive to have enabled Napoleon to avail himself of such an advantage.^[9]

Having ascertained that the contingency for which he was fully prepared had actually taken place, Wellington decided upon retreating along the Brussels road until he reached a position in front of the point of junction of the roads leading from Charleroi and Nivelles upon Brussels: the Mont-Saint-Jean escarpment near the village of Waterloo. On this position he might rely upon the aid of a sufficient portion of Blücher's forces from Wavre which combined with his own would enable the Coalition to confront Napoleon and his main army with a numerical superiority at a decisive point.^[10] Wellington was familiar with the topography of the position having identified it as a possible battle site a year previously while surveying the territory around Brussels.^{[lower-alpha 3]}

Shortly after the departure of the patrol of the 10th Hussars, along the Namur road, Wellington received some despatches from England, to which he gave his attention; and now that he had satisfied himself as to the real state of things, he issued his orders for the movements of his distant units:^[13]

• The 2nd division of British infantry (Clinton's) to march from Nivelles to Waterloo at 10:00
• The Brigades of the 4th Division (Colville's) at Nivelles were to march on Waterloo at 10:00
• The Brigades of the 4th Division at Braine-le-Comte, and on the road from Braine-le-Comte to Nivelles, to collect and halt at Braine-le-Comte
• All the baggage on the road from Braine-le-Comte to Nivelles was to return immediately to Braine-le-Comte, and to proceed from there to Hal and Brussels.
• The spare musket ammunition was to be immediately parked behind Genappe.
• The Corps under the command of Frederick, Prince of Orange was to move from Enghien on that evening of 17 June, and take up a position in front of Hal, occupying Braine-le-Château with two battalions.
• Colonel Estorff was to fall back with his Brigade on Hal, and place himself under the orders of Prince Frederick.

Having issued order for those units present on the battle field and in the vicinity were to retreat, Wellington lay down on the ground near Quatre Bras, covered his head with one of the newspapers he had been reading (which had accompanied those despatches from England), and appeared to fall asleep. After remaining some time in this state, he again rose, mounted his horse, and rode a little distance down the battle field in front of Quatre Bras. He then looked about through his telescope, and expressed to those about him his astonishment at the perfect stillness of the French, remarking at the same time, "What if they should be also retiring? It is not at all impossible".^[14]

A second officer, Lieutenant Massow ^[de], had been despatched from the Prussian to the Anglo-allied headquarters; and it was about this time that he reached Wellington. He informed Wellington of the Prussian retreat upon Wavre, and the position Blücher intended to be assumed in that quarter. It was of a nature which, taken altogether, was so far satisfactory, that Wellington immediately asked Lieutenant Massow to inform Blücher, that he intended to retreat and take up a position south of Waterloo where he proposed to stand and fight, provided Blücher would detach two corps to his assistance.^[14]

The following is the manner in which the retreat of the Anglo-allied infantry, then in full operation, was executed.^[14]

It was an important matter to mask the retreat as much as possible, so as to gain time for the free and unimpeded movement of the army along the high road leading to the position in front of Waterloo. For this purpose, the light troops continued to maintain the line of outposts, until their respective supports, which had remained stationary sufficiently long to conceal the retreat of the troops in their rear, began also to retire.^[15]

The British 1st (Cooke's) and 5th (Picton's) Divisions, and the Dutch-Belgian 2nd Division (Sedlnitsky's), and also the Brunswick Corps (commanded by Olfermann The Duke of Brunswick having been killed the previous day), effected their retreat in excellent order, notwithstanding the delay that was created by the narrowness of the bridge and street of Genappe. Their retreat was covered by the 3rd Division (Alten's), to which were added for this purpose, the 1st Battalion of the British 95th Rifles (Barnard's, the Brunswick 2nd and 3rd light battalions (Brandenstein's and Ebeling's), the Brunswick Advanced Guard Battalion (Rauschenplatt's), and the light companies of British Brigade of Guards(Byng's).^[15]

The main body of Alten's Division commenced its retreat about 11:00 the 2nd Brigade, King's German Legion (Ompteda's) was withdrawn to Sart-à-Mavelines, which it immediately occupied, as also the Wood of Les Censes in its front. The British 5th Brigade (Colin Halkett's) then retired secretly until it reached some favourable ground, a little distance in rear of Ompteda's Brigade, upon which it was immediately drawn up. The 1st Hanoverian Brigade (Kiblmansegge's) was withdrawn still further to the rear, and occupied a third position. Thus posted, the Division was ordered, in the event of being attacked, to retire by Brigades alternately.^[15]

It was a little before midday when the light troops of Alten's Division began to retire. They occupied the advanced line, commencing from the southern extremity of the Wood of Bossu on the right, extending along Gemion-court and the enclosures of Piermont, and crossing the Namur road on the left: from which line they gradually and slowly fell back upon Ompteda's Brigade, in a manner evincing admirable skill, steadiness, and regularity.^[16]

In order more effectually to mask the movements on the allied side of the Namur road, the whole of the cavalry was drawn up in two lines immediately contiguous to, and in rear of, that road; the heavy cavalry forming the second line, and pickets being thrown out from the First line, to relieve those of the retiring infantry.^[17]

The main body of Alten's Division now commenced its further retreat; but not by alternate brigades, this mode having been directed only in the event of an attack; the latter retired successively in the order in which they stood, preserving their relative distances, so that they might commence the alternate system of retreat, if attacked. To facilitate the passage of other portions of the army through the narrow defile of the bridge and town of Genappe, this division retired by Baisy-Thy ^[nl], and crossed the Dyle, lower down the stream, by the bridge at Ways, Belgium ^[nl].

In the early part of the morning, Marshal Ney had, like his opponent, been ignorant of the result of the Battle of Ligny; but he was aware that the Anglo-allied army had been considerably reinforced during the night, principally by the arrival of its cavalry.^[17]

Ney calculated that if Napoleon had gained a victory, and crossed the Namur road, the longer Wellington remained in the position of Quatre Bras, the greater the danger he incurred of having not only his communication with Blücher effectually cut off, but also his main line of retreat upon Brussels intercepted; and that in such a case it was wiser not to advance against the British general, as the latter might then retire, and thus elude the effect of a combined operation between Napoleon's and his own forces.^[18]

Ney also judged that if, on the other hand, the French Emperor had been defeated, an attack made on his own part, upon the Anglo-allied army, might subject himself to the risk of having to contend against a combined operation between Wellington and Blücher; and thus expose both his own and Napoleon's forces to the probability of being defeated in detail.^[19]

In this uncertainty, Ney sent a message by General Count Flahaut, who happened to be still with him, and who was returning to rejoin Napoleon wherever he might be found, expressive of his anxiety to learn the result of the action of the preceding day. In the meantime, he kept his troops in a state of perfect quietude; his main body was posted in reserve on the Heights of Frasne, between which and the outposts there were intermediate columns of support; but no movement whatever was attempted.^[19]

Ney at length received the information he had solicited, in a despatch from Marshal Soult, wherein the result of the Battle of Ligny was briefly described. It also stated that Napoleon was proceeding, with the principal portion of his forces, to the Mill of Bry, close to which the high road leads from Namur to Quatre Bras, and that therefore it would not be practicable for the Anglo-allied army to act against him (Ney); but that, should such a case happen, the Emperor would march directly upon it by that road, while Ney should attack it in front, and in this manner that army would at once be destroyed. The despatch required from Ney a report of the exact position of his forces, and an account of all that was going on in his front.^[19]

Hence it is evident that Ney's opinion, that a victory at Ligny ought to be followed up by a combined attack upon Wellington, perfectly coincided with Napoleon's views. The military historian William Siborne states that while Ney was thus justified in remaining inactive during the early part of the day, the fact of Napoleon's not moving directly upon Genappe with the morning's dawn, and his excessive delay in breaking up his bivouac at Ligny, are inexplicable. A glorious opportunity had presented itself for the attainment of his original design of defeating both Armies in detail, but which was completely lost by a most extraordinary and fatal want of energy and vigour in seizing upon the advantages which the victory of Ligny had placed within his reach.^[20]

Ney, having ascertained that Napoleon's forces were in motion, had commenced the advance of his own troops, when a second despatch reached him, dated, "in front of Ligny, at noon",^[21] intimating that Napoleon had just posted a corps of infantry and the Imperial Guard in advance of Marbais, that he wished him to attack the Anglo-allied army at Quatre Bras, and force Wellington from his position; and that his operations would be seconded by the corps at Marbais, to which point Napoleon was proceeding in person.^[21]

Upon discovering that the Anglo-allied Infantry had retired, and that the troops around, and in rear of, Quatre Bras, consisted of cavalry covering the retreat, Ney brought forward his own cavalry in advance, and appeared to regulate its movements so that its attack might be directed against the front of the British simultaneously with that of the cavalry which he now perceived advancing along the Namur road against its flank.^[21]

About this time, the 10th Hussars were moved across the Namur road, and down the slope in front where they were halted, in echelon of squadrons; and while they were thus posted, Wellington and his Staff came to the front of the regiment. From this spot Wellington was attentively watching, through his telescope, the dispositions and movements of the French, whom he could discover as soon as they reached the Quatre Bras side of Little Marbais; when all at once at a distance of about 3.2 kilometres (2 mi), masses were seen forming on the side of the Namur road, conspicuously glittering in the sun's rays; by which Wellington was at first induced to believe that they were infantry, whose bayonets were so brilliantly reflected; but it was soon discovered that they were French cuirassiers.^[22]

After a short time, these were observed to advance, preceded by Lancers, and it was not long before the pickets of the 18th Hussars, posted on that road, began skirmishing, as did also the picket of the 10th Hussars, more in the front of the position, and likewise, still further to the right, in front of Quatre Bras, a picket consisting of a squadron of the British 11th Light Dragoons (Sleigh's), detached from the 4th Cavalry Brigade (Vandeleur's). The 10th Hussars then fell back again into their proper place in the line. 6th Cavalry Brigade (Vivian's) now took up a new alignment, moving back its left so as to present a front to the advancing French, and to protect the left of the position. Vandeleur's brigade was then in right rear of Vivian's and close to Quatre Bras.^[22]

The Anglo-allied infantry having, some time previously, entirely crossed the Dyle,^{[lower-alpha 4]} with the exception of the light companies of the 2nd Brigade of Guards (Byng's) on the right, and of the 1st Battalion 95th Rifles, on the left, which troops had been directed to remain until the last moment, and were now retiring to Genappe (where they were subsequently drawn up at the entrance of the town).^[24]

Wellington having satisfied himself that a formidable body of the French cavalry was endeavouring to fall upon him and to molest his retreat, it became a question for Wellington, at that moment, how far it might be advisable to offer any serious resistance to their advance; but Lieutenant General the Earl of Uxbridge, the Commander of the Anglo-allied cavalry, having remarked that, considering the defiles in the rear, and the distance to which the great mass of the infantry had already retired and from which it could offer no immediate support, he did not think the cavalry was favourably situated for making such an attempt, a view which Wellington agreed, and requested Uxbridge at once to organise the retreat of the cavalry.^[25]

Wellington who had, from the commencement of the campaign, considered it very possible that Napoleon would advance by the Mons road, still entertained apprehensions of an attempt on the part of his opponent to turn him by Hal, and seize Brussels by a coup de main. For this, however, he was fully prepared, having made his dispositions for the security of that flank, in the manner pointed out in the following instructions, which he issued to Major General Sir Charles Colville^[57]

17th June 1815.

The Army retired this day from its position at Quatre Bras to its present position in front of Waterloo.

The Brigades of the 4th Division, at Braine le Comte, are to retire at daylight tomorrow morning upon Hal.

Major General Colville must be guided by the intelligence he receives of the Enemy's movements in his march to Hal, whether he moves by the direct route or by Enghien.

Prince Frederick of Orange is to occupy with his Corps the position between Hal and Enghien, and is to defend it as long as possible.

The Army will probably continue in its position in front of Waterloo tomorrow.

Lieutenant Colonel Torrens will inform Lieutenant General Sir Charles Colville of the position and situation of the armies.^[58]

In the course of the evening, Wellington received from Blücher a reply to the request he had made for his support in the position he was now occupying. It was highly characteristic of the old man, who had written it, in the following terms, without previously conferring with, or addressing himself to any one:

I shall not come with two Corps only, but with my whole army; upon this understanding, however, that should the French not attack us on the 18th, we shall attack them on the 19th.^[57]

The respective lines of pickets and vedettes had scarcely been taken up along the low ground that skirted the front of the Anglo-allied position, and the last gun had just boomed from the heights, when loud thunder accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning, i^in peeled forth in solemn and awful grandeur; while the rain, pouring down in torrents, imparted the utmost gloom and discomfort to the bivouacs, which the opposing armies had established for the night, upon the ground destined to become the famous battle field of Waterloo.^[59]