At ten o'clock the French army was seen forming on the opposite heights, from whence a cloud of skirmishers rushed forwards: the fire of the artillery gradually opened, and about noon the columns of attack came sweeping through the valley in all the pomp and majesty of war. A succession of attacks was made at various points, and the ROYALS were formed in column, awaiting the moment when their services should be required. At length, twenty thousand French infantry (Count d'Erlon's corps) suddenly appeared on the opposite heights, and rushing forward, such was the celerity of their course, that, scarcely seeming to traverse the intermediate space, they quickly ascended the position,--dispersed a Belgic brigade with which they first came in contact,--forced the artillery-men, posted in the rear of the double hedge and narrow road, to abandon their guns,--broke through parts of the British supporting infantry,--and several thousand of French foot having passed La Haye Sainte, had actually crowned the allied position, when Lieutenant-General the Earl of Uxbridge came galloping to that part of the field. A few words issued from his lips: speedily the ROYALS, the Scots Greys, and Inniskillen dragoons were seen advancing in line; the noble bearing of these distinguished horsemen was characteristic of the innate valour of the officers and men, and the spectacle was singularly imposing. The three regiments halted a few moments to permit the broken battalions to pass through the intervals of squadrons, and then rushed forward, with terrific violence, upon the enemy's infantry. The effect was magical: the heads of the French columns were instantly broken and forced back,--a general flight commenced; the firing ceased, and the smoke having cleared away, those formidable masses, a moment before so menacing and conspicuous, had almost disappeared, or left only the traces of a dispersed rabble flying over the plain. Some, despairing to escape, abandoned their arms, and threw themselves on the ground, and the ROYALS, Greys, and Inniskillen dragoons were seen trampling down and sabring the French infantry with uncontrollable power. Crowds of French soldiers appeared at different points, surrendering as prisoners: many, however, defended themselves to the last; and others again, rising up, after being ridden over or passed by the dragoons, were observed firing on their rear, the slope of the position being left literally covered with dead.