noon
At the same time Kellermann was doing on the left wing what Champeaux and Watrin had done on the right . Two cavalry charges made an opening through the enemy 's line ; but behind that first line was a second . Not daring to go further forward , because of superior numbers , Kellermann lost the fruits of that momentary victory . It was now noon . The French army , which undulated like a flaming serpent along a front of some three miles , was broken in the centre . The centre , retreating , abandoned the wings . The wings were therefore forced to follow the retrograde movement .