On the left, Marshal Ney advanced against the Light division under Brigadier-General Craufurd, and, in spite of the fire of the riflemen, broke through all opposition, and mounted the crest of the ridge, to remain there, however, only for a moment, before the bayonets of the Forty-Third, Fifty-Second, and Ninety-Fifth drove him down again in confusion, leaving the ground covered with dead and wounded, and the French General Simon, who led the attack, together with many other officers and soldiers, prisoners. In the mean time the left centre of the British army was assailed with equal impetuosity by the second corps of Massena’s army under General Reynier. The disposition of the Third division was as follows:—four companies of the Forty-Fifth and EIGHTY-EIGHTH occupied the crest of the hill to the left; the Seventy-Fourth was considerably to the right of these two battalions, the Eighth Portuguese a little to the right and rear, the Fifth and Eighty-Third British were to the left of all, and the Ninth and Twenty-First Portuguese on a rising ground to the right of the division. Major-General Lightburne and Colonel Mackinnon commanded the two British Brigades, and Colonel Champelmond the Portuguese, the whole division being under the orders of Major-General Picton. Lord Wellington, stationed on a rising ground near the EIGHTY-EIGHTH, had a full view of these dispositions. The advance of Reynier’s corps was made with the impetuous rush on which the French troops so much depend, and a crowd of sharp-shooters pressed forward in front of the EIGHTY-EIGHTH; Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace saw he was about to be attacked by a column; a misty cloud had settled on the mountain, and he sent Captain Dunne to observe the movements of the enemy on his right, which was a little exposed. The light troops, after a severe struggle, succeeded in driving back the enemy, but were repulsed themselves in turn. Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace with the utmost coolness, took two men from each of his battalion companies, and placing them under the command of Lieutenant Mackie, reinforced the advance, and thus for some time again kept the French in check; at length, however, they were compelled to retire before the overwhelming force that pressed upon them. The situation was in the highest degree critical, and demanded decision and coolness; the French light troops were rushing on with loud shouts, closely followed by a column of infantry; General Picton was not within reach at the instant, and the EIGHTY-EIGHTH was without orders. At this moment Colonel Wallace addressed his men.