In conclusion, we may say that the evidence as to this matter is not entirely satisfactory. D’Erlon says the order he saw was addressed to Marshal Ney. Reille says the same. D’Erlon says the order was brought by General Labedoyère; Heymès, by Colonel Laurent. Heymès says that Colonel Laurent, after turning the 1st Corps off the turnpike, informed Ney what he had done;[446] Baudus says that Ney told him[447] that he never received any advice of the sort at all, and that he only learned that the corps had gone off by sending to Frasnes for it, and there being no troops there. It is idle to seek to reconcile these minor contradictions. They are not important. FOOTNOTES: [424] Doc. Inéd., X, p. 32; App. C, xviii; _post_, pp. 377, 378. [425] Ib., VIII, p. 27; App. C, xxi; _post_, pp. 380, 381. [426] Ib., IX, p. 31; App. C, xxii; _post_, p. 381. This refers to the prior order in distinct terms. [427] Charras, vol. 1, p. 205. [428] Ib., p. 206. [429] Hooper, p. 127. [430] Even in regard to this division, Soult’s order plainly implies that Ney might make use of it. Doc. Inéd., VIII, p. 28; App. C, xxi.; _post_, pp. 380,381. [431] Corresp., vol. 31, p. 209. [432] Doc. Inéd., XVII, p. 46; App. C, xxvii; _post_, pp. 384, 385. [433] Life of General Sir W. Napier, vol. 1, p. 505. [434] Siborne, vol. 1, p. 146, n. [435] Jomini, pp. 219, 221. [436] Ib., p. 226. [437] Charras, vol. 2, pp. 242 _et seq._ [438] Vol. 1, pp. 210 _et seq._ Paris: 1841. [439] This is exactly what was enjoined on Ney by the 3.15 P.M. order. It is to be noted that, while the 2 P.M. order expressly directed Ney to attack the English, and only after having vigorously pushed them, to turn back and operate against the Prussians, the 3.15 P.M. order directed him to manœuvre _at once_,—that is, without waiting until he should have driven the English,—so as to surround the Prussian right wing. This is precisely what Baudus says the Emperor and Soult desired him so strongly to urge upon Marshal Ney. [440] See note 16, on page 194. [441] Charras, vol. 1, pp. 206-208. [442] Heymès, Ney’s aide-de-camp, says (Doc. Inéd., pp. 9, 10) that it was just when Kellermann’s cuirassiers had been routed that Colonel Laurent arrived and told Marshal Ney that he had ordered d’Erlon to turn off the main road in the direction of St. Amand. Baudus came up a little later, evidently, as he met the cuirassiers some distance from the field of battle. But as Baudus saw nothing of the troops of the 1st Corps, we think Heymès must be mistaken, as to Laurent’s having just turned off the head of the column to the right. If so, Baudus must have passed at least half the corps on the road. [443] According to Gourgaud, p. 57, Colonel Forbin-Janson carried this order. [444] Charras, vol. 1, p. 206. [445] Doc. Inéd., p. 42. [446] Ib., pp. 9, 10. [447] Baudus, vol. 1, p. 212. CHAPTER XIII. THE SEVENTEENTH OF JUNE: NAPOLEON.