* * * * * It was long past five o'clock. The French Infantry in the Wood of Bossu was continually making progress towards the Namur road, across which increased numbers of the Dutch-Belgian troops, to whom the defence of the Wood had been entrusted, were seen hastily retiring. In Piermont, the French Light Troops had been reinforced, and they were now evidently preparing for a more vigorous attack upon the extreme Left of WELLINGTON's forces; whilst certain movements in the vicinity of Gemioncourt gave intimation of an intended renewal of the attack upon Quatre Bras. All prospect of the Anglo-Allied Cavalry encountering NEY's veteran Dragoons with any chance of success had entirely vanished; whilst, on the other hand, the latter were on the point of being reinforced by the arrival of another Cavalry Division. PACK's Brigade had expended nearly the whole of its ammunition; its exposed position, and the continued Cavalry charges in its rear having precluded the transmission of the necessary supply. The Brunswickers had been greatly discouraged by the death of their gallant Prince; and the losses sustained by all the troops engaged had already been truly frightful. It was at this very moment, when WELLINGTON's situation had become so extremely critical, that two Infantry Brigades of the Third Division, under Lieutenant General Sir CHARLES ALTEN, most opportunely reached the Field of Action by the Nivelles road. They were the Fifth British Brigade, commanded by Major General Sir COLIN HALKETT, and the First Hanoverian Brigade, under Major General Count KIELMANSEGGE; and were accompanied by Major LLOYD's Battery of British Foot Artillery, and by Captain CLEEVES's Battery of Hanoverian Foot Artillery. By the arrival of these troops WELLINGTON's force was augmented as follows:-- +------------------+---------------------------+--------+-------+----+ | | |Infantry|Cavalry|Guns| | | +--------+-------+----+ | |Force already in the Field | 18,090| 2,004| 30| | | | | | | |British { |Fifth Infantry Brigade | 2,254| | | | { |Battery of Foot Artillery | | | 6| | | | | | | |K.G. Legion | Do. do do. | | | 6| | | | | | | |Hanoverians |First Infantry Brigade | 3,189| | | | | | | | | |Dutch-Belgians |7th Dutch Line Battalion | 731| | | | | +--------+-------+----+ | | | 24,264| 2,004| 42| +------------------+---------------------------+--------+-------+----+