Why, then, was not the attack clinched by infantry?  To understand this we must review the general situation.  Hougoumont still defied the attacks of nearly the whole of Reille’s corps, and the effective part of D’Erlon’s corps was hotly engaged at and near La Haye Sainte.  Above all, the advent of the Prussians on the French right now made itself felt.  After ceaseless toil, in which the soldiers were cheered on by Bluecher in person, their artillery was got across the valley of the Lasne; and at 4.30 Buelow’s vanguard debouched from the wood behind Frischermont.  Lobau’s corps of 7,800 men, which, according to Janin, was about to support Ney, now swung round to the right to check this advance.[518] Towards 5 o’clock the Prussian cannon opened fire on the horsemen of Domont and Subervie, who soon fell back on Lobau.

Buelow pressed on with his 30,000 men, and, swinging forward his left wing, gained a footing in the village of Planchenoit, while Lobau fell back towards La Belle Alliance.  This took place between 5.30 and 6 o’clock, and accounts for Napoleon’s lack of attention to the great cavalry charges.  To break the British squares was highly desirable; but to ward off the Prussians from his rear was an imperative necessity.  He therefore ordered Duhesme with the 4,000 footmen of the Young Guard to regain Planchenoit.  Gallantly they advanced at the charge, and drove their weary and half-famished opponents out into the open.

Satisfied with this advantage, the Emperor turned his thoughts to the British and bade Ney capture La Haye Sainte at all costs.  Never was duty more welcome.  Mistakes and failures could now be atoned by triumph or a soldier’s death.  Both had as yet eluded his search.  Three horses had been struck to the ground under him, but, dauntless as ever, he led Donzelot’s men, with engineers, against the farm.  Begrimed with smoke, hoarse with shouting, he breathed the lust of battle into those half-despondent ranks; and this time he succeeded.  For five hours the brave Germans had held out, beating off rush after rush, until now they had but three or four bullets apiece left.  The ordinary British ammunition did not fit their rifles; and their own reserve supply could not be found at the rear.  Still, even when firing ceased, bayonet-thrusts and missiles kept off the assailants for a space, even from the half-destroyed barn-door, until Frenchmen mounted the roof of the stables and burst through the chief gateway:  then Baring and his brave fellows fled through the house to the garden.  “No pardon to these green devils” was now the cry, and those who could not make off to the ridge were bayoneted to a man.[519]