n came plunging in among them.

Prince Jerome, who commanded on Napoleon's left, sent strong columns
of support to his skirmishers acting against the right of the wood of
Hougoumont, while Foy's division moved to attack it in front. In spite
of a terrific fire of artillery poured upon them these brave troops
moved on, supported by the concentrated fire of their powerful
artillery against the British position. The light companies of the
guards, after an obstinate resistance, were forced back through the
wood. The French pushed on through the trees until they reached the
hedge, which seemed to them to be the only defense of the buildings.
But thirty yards in the rear was the orchard wall, flanked on the
right by the low brick terraces of the garden. The whole of these had
been carefully loopholed, and so terrible a storm of fire opened upon
the French that they recoiled and sought shelter among the trees and
ditches in the rear.

Jerome, seeing that his skirmishers had won the wood, and knowing
nothing of the formidable defenses that arrested their advance, poured
fresh masses of men down to their assistance. Although they suffered
terribly from the British artillery fire, they gathered in the wood in
such numbers that they gradually drove back the defenders into the
buildings and yard, and completely surrounded the chateau. The
defenders had not even time properly to barricade the gate. This was
burst open and dense masses rushed in. The guards met them with the
bayonet, and after fierce fighting drove thorn out and closed the gate
again, and with their musketry fire compelled them to fall back from
the buildings. Some of the French, however, advanced higher up the
slope, and opened fire upon one of the batteries with such effect that
it had to withdraw. Four fresh companies of the guards advanced
against them, cleared them away, and reinforced the defenders of the
chateau.

A desperate fight raged round the buildings, and one of the enemy's
shells falling upon the chateau set it on fire. But the defense still
continued, until Lord Saltoun, repulsing a desperate attack, and
reinforced by two companies which came down the hill to his
assistance, drove the enemy back and recaptured the orchard. This
desperate conflict had lasted for three hours.

While it was going on Ney led twenty thousand men against the center
and left of the British position, advancing as usual in heavy column.
Just as they were setting out at on