five o'clock
Marmont , standing on the French Hermanito , was thunder-struck at beholding the plain suddenly covered with enemies , and a tremendous fire was at once opened upon the advancing British . Officer after officer was despatched to hurry up the French troops still upon the march , and when Marmont saw the third division dash across Maucune 's path , he was upon the point of hurrying himself to the spot , when a shell burst close to him , and he was dashed to the earth with a broken arm , and two deep wounds in his side . Thus , at the critical point of the battle , the French army was left without a head . It was just five o'clock when Pakenham , with the third division , fell like a thunderbolt upon the head of Maucune 's troops . These , taken by surprise by this attack , on the part of an enemy whom they had thought to see in full flight , yet fought gallantly , and strove to gain time to open out into order of battle . Bearing onwards , however , with irresistible force , the third division broke the head of the column , and drove it back upon its supports . Meanwhile , the battle raged all along the line ; in the plain the fourth division carried the village of Arapiles , and drove back Bonnet 's division with the bayonet , and the fifth division attacked Maucune 's command in flank , while Pakenham was destroying its front .