Napoleon had no reason for delay 197 He had a disposable army composed almost entirely of fresh troops 197 Reasons for thinking that the Prussians might soon recover from the defeat of Ligny 198 Opportunity open to Napoleon of overwhelming that part of Wellington’s army which was at Quatre Bras 199 Napoleon’s inactivity on this morning 200 Probably the result of fatigue 200 Ney sends no report to the Emperor 200 Soult’s first order to him to move on Quatre Bras 201 Napoleon presumes that Wellington has long since fallen back 201 Napoleon’s lack of energy and activity this morning 202 Before noon, however, the 6th Corps and the Guard are ordered to Marbais 203 Second order to Ney at noon 203 Girard’s division of the 2d Corps left at Ligny 203 Napoleon’s reasons for supposing that Blücher had retired on Namur 203, 204 Of which the principal was that he had on the day before employed so large a part of his army in holding the Namur road 204 Pajol captures some prisoners and a battery on the road to Namur 205 Napoleon’s neglect to send out cavalry to explore the country to the north 205 Napoleon determines to send Grouchy with the 3d and 4th Corps to pursue the Prussians 206 His verbal orders to Grouchy, and Grouchy’s remonstrances 207 Grouchy’s points not well taken 207 Grouchy’s denial that he ever received on that day a written order 208 Berton reports a whole Prussian corps at Gembloux 209 The Emperor, then, in the absence of Soult, dictates to Bertrand an order to Grouchy 209 Full text of this order 209, 210 This order changes entirely the task assigned to Grouchy 210 He is to ascertain whether the Prussians intend to separate from the English or to unite with them to cover Brussels or Liége in trying the fate of another battle 211 And is left full discretion as to his course in either event 211 Strength and composition of his command 212 He reaches Gembloux that evening 212