Why did Marshal Ney fail to capture Quatre-Bras?

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Historical battle map showing troop positions at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, near Brussels, Belgium. Red lines represent Anglo-Dutch infantry and cavalry under Wellington, positioned north of French forces. Blue lines show French infantry and cavalry under Napoleon, with both armies facing each other across a central road. Key locations like Chateau de Goumont (Hougoumont) and Plancenoit are labeled, and an inset map highlights the location within present-day Belgium and Europe. — Battle of Waterloo Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815.

Marshal Michel Ney failed to capture the crossroads at Quatre-Bras on June 16, 1815, primarily because he advanced with excessive caution against the Allied position.1

This hesitant approach provided the Duke of Wellington with the necessary time to reinforce his initially outnumbered troops. As a result, the Allies were able to retain control of the crossroads following a day of inconclusive fighting. Furthermore, Ney’s command was hampered by poor communication; a corps under Jean-Baptiste Drouet was attached to his forces, but conflicting orders between Ney and Napoleon caused the unit to march and countermarch between the battlefields of Quatre-Bras and Ligny without contributing effectively to either engagement.1