Just at this time, a message from Reille reached Ney, stating that Girard (not Gérard, who commanded the Fourth Corps) had sent in a report that strong columns of Prussians were moving along the Namur-Nivelles road, with heavy masses behind them. (These were Pirch’s I. troops deploying at St Amand and Ligny.) Reille had seen Napoleon’s letter to Ney, and read its contents, but he wrote to Ney that he would wait the latter’s instructions, while he prepared his troops for instant march. Another order from Napoleon reached Ney at this moment. It stated that the Marshal was to unite the First and Second Corps with Kellermann’s Cavalry, and drive the enemy from Quatre-Bras, thus distinctly emphasising the previous order. The Emperor, who thought that Ney would then have an ample force to crush any troops which could be in front of him, stated that Grouchy was about to move on Sombreffe. Girard’s report as to the Prussian columns on the Namur road made Ney doubly anxious for his position. He therefore again sent urgent orders to Reille and d’Erlon to hasten up. At 2 P.M., in the belief that d’Erlon must be close behind, he moved to the attack of the Anglo-Dutch position with three infantry divisions (Bachelu’s, Foy’s and Jerome’s, of Reille’s Corps) and Piré’s Division of Light Cavalry, with 5 batteries--a strength of 18,000 men and 40 guns. Opposed to him were the 7,000 infantry and 16 guns of the Prince of Orange. It is not proposed to give an account of the battle of Quatre-Bras. It has been shown what an opportunity Ney had lost by not attacking earlier, and what his reasons were for not doing so. Picton’s Division and the Duke of Brunswick’s Division arrived early in the afternoon, and Wellington took over the command. These reinforcements, to which were added towards the close of the day, Alten’s Division, Cooke’s Division, two more Brunswick battalions and a battery of Brunswick artillery, gave Wellington a superiority in numbers over Ney, who was only reinforced by Kellermann’s Cavalry Corps during the battle. D’Erlon’s Corps had, in the meantime, been wandering between Ligny and Frasnes.