The French had now received heavy reinforcement--Kellermann's heavy
horse having come upon the field--and as neither the Dutch nor Belgian
cavalry would face the French troopers they were free to employ their
whole cavalry force against the British infantry.
Again and again they charged down upon the Twenty-eighth,
Forty-second, Forty-fourth, and First Royals. The Twenty-eighth and
the Royals did not indeed wait to be attacked, but led by Picton and
Kempt in person resolutely advanced to charge the French cavalry. This
feat, seldom exampled in military history, was rendered necessary in
order to cover the flank of the Forty-second and Forty-fourth, now, by
the flight of the Brunswickers, Dutch, and Belgians, open to the
attacks of the French cavalry. The fields here were covered with a
growth of tall rye, that concealed the approach of the French cavalry
till they were within a few yards of the infantry, and it was only by
the tramp of the horses as they rushed through the corn that the
British square knew when their foes would be upon them.
Picton in the center of the Twenty-eighth encouraged them by his
presence, and they stood firm, although the cavalry again and again
charged down until their horse's chests touched the close line of
bayonets. They were every time repulsed with heavy loss. The
Thirty-second, Seventy-ninth, and Ninety-fifth were also exposed to
similar attacks; but everywhere the British soldiers stood firmly
shoulder to shoulder, and nowhere did the French succeed in breaking
their ranks.
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