seven
in the evening
This desperate conflict had lasted for three hours . While it was going on Ney led twenty thousand men against the center and left of the British position , advancing as usual in heavy column . Just as they were setting out at one o'clock Napoleon discovered the Prussians advancing . He sent off a despatch to Grouchy ordering him to move straight upon the field of battle ; but that general did not receive it until seven in the evening , when the fight was nearly over . It was just two when the columns poured down the hill , their attack heralded by a terrific fire upon the British line opposed to them . The slaughter among Picton 's division was great ; but although the Dutch and Hanoverians were shaken by the iron hail , they stood their ground . When the columns reached the dip of the valley and began to ascend the slopes toward the British division they threw out clouds of skirmishers and between these and the light troops of the allies firing at once began , and increased in volume as the French neared the advanced posts of La Haye Sainte , Papelotte , and La Haye .