Light Troops now issued forth from each Column, and soon spread out into a line of Skirmishers extending the whole length of the valley. As DONZELOT's Division, which was on the left, approached La Haye Sainte, one of its Brigades moved out to attack that Farm, while the other continued its advance on the right of the Charleroi road; and it was not long before a sharp fire of musketry along and around the hedges of the Orchard of La Haye Sainte announced the first resistance to D'ERLON's formidable advance. Shortly afterwards a dropping fire commenced among the hedges and inclosures of Papelotte, La Haye, and Smohain; which were occupied by the Nassau Battalions under Prince BERNHARD of Saxe Weimar. The Right Brigade of DURUTTE's Division was thrown out against the troops defending these inclosures; while the Left Brigade continued to advance across the valley, so as to form a Support to MARCOGNET's Division on its left, and, at the same time, to connect this attack with the advance of the latter against the main Front Line of the Allied Right Wing. DURUTTE's Skirmishers pressed boldly forward against those of Prince BERNHARD's Brigade; and it was not long before they succeeded in gaining possession of the Farm House of Papelotte, driving out the Light Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of Nassau, commanded by Captain RETTBERG; but the latter, on being reinforced with four additional Companies, resumed the offensive, and gallantly retook the Farm. The contest in this quarter was now limited to a persistent skirmish; which extended itself along La Haye and Smohain, occupied by the Regiment of Orange Nassau. With this _tiraillade_ on either Flank of D'ERLON's Corps, the central Columns pursued their onward course, and began to ascend the exterior slope of the Allied position. [Illustration] Immediately on the departure of D'ERLON's Corps from the French position, BACHELU's Infantry Division, which constituted the Right of REILLE's Corps, was moved forward to the immediate Height between La Belle Alliance and La Haye Sainte (where it is intersected by the hollow way formed by the Charleroi road), in order to maintain that point, to be at hand as a Reserve to the attacking force, and to keep up the connection between the Right and Left Wings of the Front Line of the French Army.