The pace was not rapid, and there were frequent stoppages, for a long column cannot march at the same pace as a single regiment; and it was ten o'clock when they halted at Mount St.Jean, fourteen miles from Brussels.

Here the men sat down by the roadside, opened their haversacks, and partook of a hasty meal.

Suddenly there was a cheer from the rear of the column.

Nearer and nearer it grew, and the regiment leaped to their feet and joined in the shout, as the Duke of Wellington, with a brilliant staff, rode forward on his way to the front.
Already a booming of guns in the distance told that the troops were engaged, and there was another cheer when the order ran along the line to fall in again.
Fighting had indeed begun soon after daylight.

Prince Bernhard who commanded the division of Dutch troops at Quatre Bras, had commenced hostilities as soon as it was light by attacking the French in front of him; and the Prince of Orange, who had ridden to Nivelles, directly the ball was over, brought on the Dutch troops from that town, and joining Prince Bernhard drove back the French to within a mile of Frasnes.
The Duke of Wellington reached Quatre Bras soon after eleven, and finding that there was no immediate danger there, galloped away to communicate with Blucher.
He found that the latter had gathered three of his corps, and occupied a chain of low hills extending from Bry to Tongres.