The road into Quatre Bras. Dutch infantry watch French Lancers advancing up the road towards Gemioncourt.

A Belgian battery is chased off the field by French lancers. Early on the Lancers are terrifying.

Behind the collapsing Dutch-Belgian line, the Belgian light cavalry under van Merlen arrive in Quare Bras with Wellington looking on.

Dutch squares form on the north side of this stream flowing through the battlefield. In the distance you can see the walled Manor of Gemioncourt under attack by French forces.

There is something mildly reassuring with the arrival of Thomas Picton and his infantry division on the Allied left. It is just in time too!

The French right under Bachelu is threatening to cut the eastern road into Quatre Bras. Bachelu and Picton are about to meet head on.

I am really starting to use the map view to move around the battlefield. I have yet to try an "in the saddle view" of the battle using couriers, which I imagine would be very isolating and not to mention challenging.

There is a real beauty to thecollection that immerses you quickly.Having played tabletop and other digital versions of this battle previously, I know a little more about Ney's foolishness than Wellington did that fateful afternoon. The battle began in earnest around 3PM and lasted until around sunset at 10PM (northern latitudes!).At the time that Ney arrived on the field, the Prince of Orange was present with less than 8,000 men scattered across a battlefield and in a very precarious position. Ney faced them with more than 2x the amount of men, including almost 1,000 lancers (Red Lancers too!) and 2,000 total horse.During the course of the battle the Allied reinforcements arrived on the field faster than the French did, concentrating quickly and stemming the tide.The real moment of danger is the first two hours, when if Ney had attacked more forcefully, he might have swept the Dutch-Beligan forces away from Quatre Bras before the arrival of Wellington, Picton and the rest. The pictures above were taken during that fateful window of time.Standing within the Dutch square looking towards Gemioncourt as the French lancers ride at will over the field, is a real eye-opener to how vulnerable the Allies were.More to follow as the battle progresses...