It was not long in coming.  Ney, finding that our artillery made poor play against his, prepared to launch a column against us.  Warned by a cloud of skirmishers, our light companies leapt forward, chose their shelter, and began a very pretty exchange of musketry.  But this was preliminary work only, and soon the head of a large French column appeared on the slope to our right, driving the Brunswickers slowly before it.  It descended a little way, and suddenly broke into three or four columns of attack.  The mischief no sooner threatened than Picton came galloping along our line and roaring that our division would advance and engage with all speed.  For a raw regiment like the Morays this was no light test; but, supported by a veteran regiment on either hand, they bore it admirably.  Dropping the Gordons to protect the road in case of mishap, the two brigades swung forward in the prettiest style, their skirmishers running in and forming on either flank as they advanced.  Then for a while the work was hot; but, as will always happen when column is boldly met by line, the French quickly had enough of our enveloping fire, and wavered.  A short charge with the bayonet finished it, and drove them in confusion up the slope:  nor had I an easy task to resume a hold on my youngsters and restrain them from pursuing too far.  The brush had been sharp, but I had the satisfaction of knowing that the Morays had behaved well.  They also knew it, and fell to jesting in high good-humour as General Pack withdrew the brigade from the ground of its exploit and posted us in line with the 42nd and 44th regiments on the left of the main road to Charleroi.

To the right of the Charleroi road, and some way in advance of our position, the Brunswickers were holding ground as best they could under a hot and accurate artillery fire.  Except for this, the battle had come to a lull, when a second mass of the enemy began to move down the slopes:  a battalion in line heading two columns of infantry direct upon the Brunswickers, while squadron after squadron of lancers crowded down along the road into which by weight of numbers they must be driven.  The Duke of Brunswick, perceiving his peril, headed a charge of his lancers upon the advancing infantry, but without the least effect.  His horsemen broke.  He rode back and called on his infantry to retire in good order.  They also broke, and in the attempt to rally them he fell mortally wounded.

The line taken by these flying Brunswickers would have brought them diagonally across the Charleroi road into our arms, had not the French lancers seized this moment to charge straight down it in a body.  They encountered, and the indiscriminate mass was hurled on to us, choking and overflowing the causeway.  In a minute we were swamped—­the two Highland regiments and the 44th bending against a sheer weight of Trench horsemen.  So suddenly came the shock that the 42nd had no time to form square, until two companies were cut off and well-nigh destroyed; then