Jean. The Prince of Orange had paused in his
advance when he saw how strong was the French force round Frasnes, and
Ney was not yet ready to attack. Therefore from eleven until two there
was a cessation of operations, and the ardor of the troops flagged
somewhat as they tramped along the dusty road between Mount St. Jean
and Genappe.
The Prince of Orange was having an anxious time while the British
column was pressing forward to his assistance. As the hours went by he
saw the enemy's forces in front of him accumulating, while he knew
that his own supports must be still some distance away Nevertheless,
he prepared to defend Quatre Bras to the last. He had with him six
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two infantry and sixteen cannon,
while Ney had gathered seventeen thousand men and thirty-eight guns to
attack him. The latter should have had with him D'Erlon's corps of
twenty thousand men, and forty-six guns, but these were suddenly
withdrawn by Napoleon when the latter found that the Prussian force
was stronger than he had expected. They had just reached the field of
Ligny when an order from Ney again caused them to retrace their steps
to Quatre Bras, where they arrived just after the fighting there had
come to an end. Thus twenty thousand men with forty-six guns were
absolutely thrown away, while their presence with either Napoleon or
Ney would have been invaluable.
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