CHAPTER VIII: THE MORNING OF THE SIXTEENTH

OF JUNE: NEY 116

Ney returns from Charleroi to Gosselies at 2 A.M. 116

And at first orders Reille to set out at once for Frasnes 116

But afterwards changes his mind, and allows Reille, with the divisions of Jerome and Foy, to remain in Gosselies 117

He ought to have sent them to Frasnes at once 117

And to have filled their places at Gosselies with the divisions of the 1st Corps 118

He does nothing to bring up the 1st Corps till late in the forenoon 119

Soult’s first order to him on the 16th 120

Received about 6 A.M., and answered before 7 A.M. 120

Ney then returns to Frasnes, leaving Reille at Gosselies, with instructions to march to the front at once on receipt of orders from army headquarters 120

About 9 A.M. Reille receives word from Girard that the Prussians are massing at Fleurus 121

And at 10 A.M. he reads the Emperor’s letter to Ney, brought by Flahaut 121

But defers his march to Frasnes till he gets further orders from Ney 122

He gets further orders, and leaves Gosselies at 11.45 A.M. 122

Soult’s second order directs Ney to march on Quatre Bras 122

The Emperor’s letter to Ney 123

The 1st and 2d Corps and Kellermann’s cavalry are all put at Ney’s disposal 123

The third order to Ney from Soult that morning 123, 124

Its peremptory character 124

Ney refuses fully to obey his orders 124

His unwillingness to take the risks which they involve 124

He proposes to keep half his force in reserve 125

NOTES TO CHAPTER VIII 126

1. Summary of Ney’s conduct on the morning of the 16th 126

2. He evidently did not intend to obey his orders strictly 127

3. The light his conduct on the 16th throws on his failure to seize Quatre Bras the day before 127

4. No criticism can be made on Napoleon and Soult 128

5. Why Napoleon did not send Ney an earlier order to seize Quatre Bras, answered in Chapter IX 128