But the troops were already doing
their best.
The Dutch and Belgian troops had fought with considerable bravery, and
had held the village of Piermont and a farm near it for some time
before they fell back to the wood of Bossu. Here they make a stout
stand again, but were at length driven out and were beginning to lose
heart, and in a few minutes would have given way when they saw on the
long straight road behind them the red line of Picton's column. The
glad news that help was at hand ran quickly through the wood, and the
Belgians met their foes with fresh courage.
Picton's force consisted of the Eighth and Ninth British Brigades, the
former under General Sir James Kempt, the latter under Sir Denis Pack.
With them were the Fourth Brigade of Hanoverians, with two batteries
of artillery--the one Hanoverian, the other British. The excitement of
the troops increased as they neared Quatre Bras, and a loud cheer ran
along the line as they neared the wood, and took their place by the
side of the hardly pressed Dutch and Belgians. Pack's brigade consisted
of the first battalion Forty-second, second Forty-fourth, first
Ninety-second, and first Ninety-fifth, while Kempt had under him the
first Twenty-eighth, first Thirty-second, first Seventy-ninth, and
Third Royals.
The aspect of the fight was speedily changed now.
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