The Battle of Quatre Bras, between Wellington's Anglo-Dutch army and the left wing of the Armée du Nord under the legendary, Marshal Michel Ney, was fought near the strategic crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815.The battle cost Ney 4,000 men to Wellington's 4,800. Although a tactical draw, the allies had been unable to send forces to the aid of the Prussians at the Battle of Ligny. Wellington's Anglo-allied army, upon learning of the Prussian defeat, was forced to retreat north along the Brussels road further away from the Prussians, who retreated north-east towards Wavre.
There has been much debate of what would have happened if d'Erlon's I Corps had engaged at either Ligny or Quatre Bras. As he did not, Napoleon chose to follow Wellington with the bulk of his forces, and two days later met him at Waterloo.
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