the English cavalry continued to press on; but were charged in their turn and driven back with severe loss by Milhaud's cuirassiers.
This great attack (in repelling which the brave Picton had fallen) had now completely failed: and at the same time a powerful body of French cuirassiers who were advancing along the right of the Charleroi road, had been fairly beaten after a close hand to hand fight by the heavy cavalry of the English household brigade. Hougoumont was still being assailed, and was still successfully resisting. Troops were now beginning to appear at the edge of the horizon on Napoleon's right, which he too well knew to be Prussian, though he endeavoured to persuade his followers that they were Grouchy's men coming to aid them. It was now about half-past three o'clock; and though Wellington's army had suffered severely by the unremitting cannonade, and in the late desperate encounter, no part of the British position had been forced. Napoleon next determined to try what effect he could produce on the British centre and right by charges of his splendid cavalry, brought on in such force that the duke's cavalry could not check them. Fresh troops were at the same time sent to assail La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont, the possession of these posts being the emperor's unceasing object. Squadron after squadron of the French cuirassiers
