About twelve o'clock
For some time things remained quiet , except that the French and British batteries , on the top of the two Hermanitos , kept up a duel with each other . During the pause , the French cavalry had again crossed the Tormes , by one of the fords used in the night by the British ; and had taken post at Aldea Tejarda , thus placing themselves between the British army and the road to Ciudad . This movement , however , had been covered by the woods . About twelve o'clock , fearing that Wellington would assail the Hermanito held by him , Marmont brought up two divisions to that point ; and stood ready to oppose an attack which Wellington , indeed , had been preparing -- but had abandoned the idea , fearing that such a movement would draw the whole army into a battle , on a disadvantageous line . The French marshal , however , fearing that Wellington would retreat by the Ciudad road , before he could place a sufficient force on that line to oppose the movement , sent General Maucune with two divisions , covered by fifty guns and supported by cavalry , to move along the southern ridge of the basin and menace that road ; holding in hand six divisions , in readiness to fall upon the village of Arapiles , should the British interfere with Maucune 's movement . The British line had now pivoted round , until its position extended from the Hermanito to near Aldea Tejarda . In order to occupy the attention of the British , and prevent them from moving , the French force attacked the village of Arapiles , and a fierce struggle took place .