It is named after a hamlet in Brabant, Belgium, 32 km/20 mi southeast of Brussels.
The Emperor’s plan was to advance in three columns. The centre and right columns would attack the Prussian army, while Marshal Ney, commanding the left column, was to seize the Quatre Bras crossroads to prevent Wellington coming to Blücher’s assistance. Ney would then attack the Prussians in the rear completing the destruction of Blücher’s army.
Napoleon expected Ney to occupy the Quatre Bras cross-roads during the afternoon of the 15th June 1815. Ney failed to do so. A squadron of Polish lancers from Ney’s Corps reconnoitred the cross-roads, finding it unoccupied, but withdrew. Soon after the departure of the lancers, one of Wellington‘s officers, the Prince of Saxe-Weimar, arrived at Quatre Bras with a small force of infantry and some guns. Recognising the importance of the cross-roads Saxe-Weimar remained there.
During the night of 15th June 1815, Napoleon formulated his plan of attack on the Prussian army which was forming up around Ligny in Napoleon’s line of advance. Napoleon re-emphasised to Ney the importance of seizing the Quatre Bras cross-roads the next day.
In the morning the French army began its attack on the Prussian positions around Ligny. If Ney complied with his orders he would take the cross-roads and then launch a devastating attack on the rear of the Prussian right wing at the point when Blücher’s men would be fully committed dealing with the heavy French frontal assaults.
In spite of his instructions, Ney failed to act with urgency and it was not until late morning that he began his move on the cross-roads. By this time a substantial number of allied units had arrived from the Brussels area. Ney found himself unable to make any headway against the troops holding Quatre Bras. The fighting continued for the rest of the day. At one point Ney launched a charge by a brigade of Kellerman’s cuirassiers. The British 69th, 30th and 33rd Regiments of Foot were swept aside in the assault, suffering significant casualties, but in turn the French cuirassiers, unsupported, were repelled and retreated in confusion taking much of Ney’s force with them. The struggle was long and desperate and had Ney attacked earlier and with vigour he might have won. Trusting to his superiority in cavalry and artillery the French leader hurled his full force against the British battalions, each of which in turn bore the shock of an army. So furious was the assault that the Cuirassiers rode upon the solid lines of bayonets with shouts of "Down with the English! No Quarter!". Picton's division coming on to the field in hot haste found the Belgians retiring in confusion before the enemy. Without halt or pause the Black Watch dashed forward to the rescue, forcing a path through a field of rye that rose to the tops of their bonnets. The French were checked, but the gallant highlanders had pushed on too far, and mistaking the French Lancers for Brunswickers, were attacked, few escaping death or wounds. Rallying they formed in line with other regiments to receive and to repulse another charge of Cuirassiers who fell upon their shattered ranks with heavy horse and steel armour. The fight had lasted an hour before Wellington came upon the scene and ordered the Gordons to charge and Ney was unable to secure the position on which so much depended. Wellington's advantage, dearly bought, had to be abandoned. Blucher had fallen back and Wellington had no choice but to follow in order that the allies might no longer be exposed to separate attack.
The Emperor’s plan was to advance in three columns. The centre and right columns would attack the Prussian army, while Marshal Ney, commanding the left column, was to seize the Quatre Bras crossroads to prevent Wellington coming to Blücher’s assistance. Ney would then attack the Prussians in the rear completing the destruction of Blücher’s army.
Napoleon expected Ney to occupy the Quatre Bras cross-roads during the afternoon of the 15th June 1815. Ney failed to do so. A squadron of Polish lancers from Ney’s Corps reconnoitred the cross-roads, finding it unoccupied, but withdrew. Soon after the departure of the lancers, one of Wellington‘s officers, the Prince of Saxe-Weimar, arrived at Quatre Bras with a small force of infantry and some guns. Recognising the importance of the cross-roads Saxe-Weimar remained there.
During the night of 15th June 1815, Napoleon formulated his plan of attack on the Prussian army which was forming up around Ligny in Napoleon’s line of advance. Napoleon re-emphasised to Ney the importance of seizing the Quatre Bras cross-roads the next day.
In the morning the French army began its attack on the Prussian positions around Ligny. If Ney complied with his orders he would take the cross-roads and then launch a devastating attack on the rear of the Prussian right wing at the point when Blücher’s men would be fully committed dealing with the heavy French frontal assaults.
In spite of his instructions, Ney failed to act with urgency and it was not until late morning that he began his move on the cross-roads. By this time a substantial number of allied units had arrived from the Brussels area. Ney found himself unable to make any headway against the troops holding Quatre Bras. The fighting continued for the rest of the day. At one point Ney launched a charge by a brigade of Kellerman’s cuirassiers. The British 69th, 30th and 33rd Regiments of Foot were swept aside in the assault, suffering significant casualties, but in turn the French cuirassiers, unsupported, were repelled and retreated in confusion taking much of Ney’s force with them. The struggle was long and desperate and had Ney attacked earlier and with vigour he might have won. Trusting to his superiority in cavalry and artillery the French leader hurled his full force against the British battalions, each of which in turn bore the shock of an army. So furious was the assault that the Cuirassiers rode upon the solid lines of bayonets with shouts of "Down with the English! No Quarter!". Picton's division coming on to the field in hot haste found the Belgians retiring in confusion before the enemy. Without halt or pause the Black Watch dashed forward to the rescue, forcing a path through a field of rye that rose to the tops of their bonnets. The French were checked, but the gallant highlanders had pushed on too far, and mistaking the French Lancers for Brunswickers, were attacked, few escaping death or wounds. Rallying they formed in line with other regiments to receive and to repulse another charge of Cuirassiers who fell upon their shattered ranks with heavy horse and steel armour. The fight had lasted an hour before Wellington came upon the scene and ordered the Gordons to charge and Ney was unable to secure the position on which so much depended. Wellington's advantage, dearly bought, had to be abandoned. Blucher had fallen back and Wellington had no choice but to follow in order that the allies might no longer be exposed to separate attack.
Ney was unable to take Quatre Bras and his attack deprived Napoleon of a significant force that would have enabled him to defeat the Prussians conclusively, thereby preventing them from taking any part in the Battle of Waterloo.
Size of the armies: Approximately 25,000 allied troops against 24,000 French troops.
Casualties: 4,700 allied casualties against 4,300 in Ney’s force.
At Ligny on the same day (about 7 miles from Quatre Bras) Prussian Field Marshall Blucher with 84,000 men faced Napoleon with 64,000 men. The Prussian's held onto the line of the Ligny Brook for most of the afternoon until they eventually broke under a final attack by the Guard. Because their retreat was not cut off by Ney who was still at Quatre Bras, the Prussian's retreated northwards and were able to intervene, decisively, at Waterloo.
Reference: http://www.britishbattles.com/waterloo/waterloo-june-1815.htm and http://www.britishbattles.com/waterloo/quatre-bras.htm
Costello (who was a real life example of one of Sharpe's 'Chosen men') was at he rear of the Battle of Quatre Bras having arrived, with his Company, about 3 pm.
"It is curious to observe the confusion and uproar that generally exists in the rear of an army in battle, while all in front is order and regularity. Many people imagine the reverse. This, 
however, is generally to be imputed to the soldiers' wives and camp followers of all descriptions, who crowd in great numbers, making inquiries after their husbands, friends, &c., for whom they generally are prepared with liquors and other refreshments, I had no such ties, save my comrades, who now were too busily occupied watching their enemies, and with their own personal considerations, to have either time or opportunity to inquire after mine. The crowds of carts, horses, &C~ which thickly thronged the roadway, were greeted on all sides by anxious faces and earnest inquiries. But now and then as one of the vehicles hurried along, a burst of laughter hailed it, and indeed, it seemed to bear a load of a more enlivening nature than that which characterised the others. My sound legs, for my arm only was wounded and hung suspended in a sling, enabled me to approach the cart and scrutinise its contents. My surprise was soon dissipated, and wounds almost forgotten, in the merry features of my old friend, Josh Hetherington, who, having received a flesh wound in the leg. was now being borne to the hospital with other fellow sufferers."
The wives and camp followers were willing to approach close to the battle lines in order to ensure the safety of their men. Costello had just found one woman dead with her son beside her, killed by a stray bullet.
however, is generally to be imputed to the soldiers' wives and camp followers of all descriptions, who crowd in great numbers, making inquiries after their husbands, friends, &c., for whom they generally are prepared with liquors and other refreshments, I had no such ties, save my comrades, who now were too busily occupied watching their enemies, and with their own personal considerations, to have either time or opportunity to inquire after mine. The crowds of carts, horses, &C~ which thickly thronged the roadway, were greeted on all sides by anxious faces and earnest inquiries. But now and then as one of the vehicles hurried along, a burst of laughter hailed it, and indeed, it seemed to bear a load of a more enlivening nature than that which characterised the others. My sound legs, for my arm only was wounded and hung suspended in a sling, enabled me to approach the cart and scrutinise its contents. My surprise was soon dissipated, and wounds almost forgotten, in the merry features of my old friend, Josh Hetherington, who, having received a flesh wound in the leg. was now being borne to the hospital with other fellow sufferers."The wives and camp followers were willing to approach close to the battle lines in order to ensure the safety of their men. Costello had just found one woman dead with her son beside her, killed by a stray bullet.
He descibed another incident:
"We remained very quietly where we were until the French brought up some artillery, and began riddling the house with round shot. Feeling rather thirsty, I asked a young woman in the place for a little water. She was handing it to me, when a cannon ball passed through the building, knocking the dust about our ears. Strange to say, the girl appeared less alarmed than myself."
Refrence:Rifleman Costello: The Adventures of a Soldier of the 95th Rifles in the Peninsular & Waterloo Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars. Edward Costello. ISBN: 1846770009
Also an excellent website and reference guide to all things from the Regency period : http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~awoodley/Regency.html
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