Breaking into squadrons they rode through the intervals
between the squares and completely enveloped them; but Lord Uxbridge
gathered the remains of the British cavalry together, charged them,
and drove them back through the squares and down the hill. Receiving
reinforcements the French again advanced, again enveloped the squares,
and were again hurled back.
While this was going on the battle was still raging round Hougoumont
and La Haye Sainte, against which a portion of Reille's division had
advanced; but the Germans resisted as obstinately as did the guards,
and as the French cavalry retired for the second time the infantry
fell back, and for a time the slope of the English position was again
clear of the enemy.
For a time the battle languished, and then Napoleon brought up
thirty-seven fresh squadrons of cavalry, and these, with the remains
of those who had before charged, rode up the slope. But although they
swept on and passed the British squares, they could not succeed in
shaking them. A body of horse, however, sweeping down toward the Dutch
and Belgians at the end of the line, these at once marched off the
field without firing a musket, and the brigade of cavalry with them
galloped away at full speed.
The position was a singular one; and had Napoleon ordered his infantry
to advance in the rear of the cavalry, the issue of the day might have
been changed.
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