Dozens on bees found on ground of pathway leading to my front door. Why on the ground ?

My family used to raise bees and when the queen leaves the nest, for whatever reason there are several reasons they would do this, the rest of her drones follow her. She will lite wherever she choses to and they would 'huddle' around her to protect her. You were fortunate the hive was a small one. :-) What you did was perfectly acceptable and the bees did move on. If it should happen again though and they do not leave you will need to take different measures to encourage the queen to leave.