seven o'clock in the evening
The faults which Wellington had perceived in the Prussian position told against Blucher . The villages were too far in advance of the heights on which the army was posted , and his reinforcements were therefore a long time in reaching the spot where they were required to act . They were , too , as they descended the hill , under the observation of Napoleon , who was able to anticipate their arrival by moving up supports on his side , and who noted the time when Blucher 's last reserves behind Ligny had come into action . At this critical moment General Lobau arrived from Charleroi with twelve thousand fresh men and thirty-eight guns , and at seven o'clock in the evening Napoleon launched this force with his division of guards , twenty thousand strong , who had hitherto been kept in reserve , against the enemy . Ligny was captured and the victory won . The Prussians throughout the day had fought with great bravery . They had a long score to wipe out against the French , and were inspired as much by national hatred as by military ardor ; and they owed their defeat rather to the disadvantages of the position they held than to the superior fighting qualities of the French .