he 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. The French, who had
been advancing with shouts of triumph, were at once hurled back, and
the defenders a few minutes later were strengthened by the arrival of
the greater part of the Duke of Brunswick's corps. In point of numbers
the combatants were now nearly equal, as the allies had eighteen
thousand infantry, two thousand cavalry, and twenty-eight guns on the
field. Of these, however, but eight thousand at most were British.
Picton at once sent forward the first battalion of the Ninety-fifth,
and these cleared a little wood in the front of Piermont of the French
light troops, and restored the communication between Quatre Bras and
Ligny.

Ney, however, was preparing to advance again in force. His front was
covered with a double hedgerow, which afforded admirable shelter to
his skirmishers, while his artillery were so placed on rising ground
in the rear of his position as to sweep the whole country over which
his column would advance to the attack. At this moment the duke
returned from his conference with Blucher. He at once saw that the
enemy had gathered a heavy column behind the wood of Bossu, and
directed the Prince of Orange to withdraw the guns that were too far
advanced, and to gather the Dutch and Belgian troops to oppose the
advance, at the same time he sent forward the Twenty-eighth to their
assistance.

They arrived, however, too late; for the French swept the Belgians
before them and advanced steadily, while their artillery from the high
ground opened a furious cannonade upon Picton's division. One of the
Bruns