erymen and drove them from
their guns; and then rode fiercely on the squares behind. These remained
steadfast until the enemy were within ten yards of them, and then fired
with deadly effect. The cavalry gave back--rallied again, and renewed
their charge: this they did several times--and always with the like
result. Sometimes they even rode between the squares, and charged those
of the second line. At length protracted exposure to such cross fire
completed the ruin of these fearless cavaliers. The far greater part of
this magnificent force was annihilated in this part of the battle.

When the relics of the cuirassiers withdrew, the French cannonade opened
once more furiously all along the line; and the English were commanded
to lie flat on the ground for some space, in order to diminish its
effects. Lord Wellington had by this time lost 10,000, Buonaparte at
least 15,000 men. It was now half-past six o'clock. The heads of
Prussian columns began to be discerned among the woods to the right of
the French. It was obvious, that unless a last and decisive onset should
drive Wellington from the post which he had continued to hold during
near seven hours of unintermitting battle, his allies would come fully
into the field, and give him a vast superiority of numbers wherewith to
close the work of the day. Napoleon prepared, therefore, for his final
struggle. Hitherto he had kept his guard, the flower of his fine army,
out of the fray. He now formed them into two columns,--desired them to
charge boldly, for that the Prussians, whom they saw in the wood, were
flying before Grouchy--and they doubted not that the Emperor was about
to charge in person at their head. He, however, looked on, as they put
themselves in motion, and committed them to the guidance of Ney, "the
bravest of the brave," whose consciousness of recent treason must have
prepared him, even had his temper been less gallant, to set all upon the
cast. Four battalions of the Old Guard only remained as a reserve; and
were formed in squares to protect the march of the columns.

The English front by this time presented not a convex line, but a
concave, either wing having gradually advanced a little in consequence
of the repeated repulses of the enemy. They were now formed in an
unbroken array, four deep, and poured on the approaching columns (each
man firing as often as he could reload) a shower which never
intermitted. The wings kept moving on all the while; and when th