four in the
afternoon
Still it pressed on until across the bridge the corpses lay piled in a mass as high as the parapet , and beyond this heap , this terrible line , there was no living . Then sullenly and slowly the French fell back , while the British cheers rose exultingly along the hillside . Twice again did fresh columns pour on to the bridge , but only to melt away under the British fire , neither of them reaching the dreadful line which marked the point reached by the head of the first . The artillery and musketry fire on both sides continued until four in the afternoon , when a heavy rain set in , and the fire ceased altogether . As the Coa was fordable at several points lower down , and the French could therefore have turned the position next day , the British troops fell back during the night behind the Pinhel river , where Picton 's division was also encamped . Next morning the boys exchanged their Spanish suits for the uniform of British officers , which they obtained from the effects of some of those who had fallen upon the previous day , these being , as is usual in a campaign , at once sold by auction , the amount realized being received by the paymaster for the benefit of the dead men 's relatives . Major MacLeod had witnessed their ready presence of mind in throwing the rope across the road , and so checking the French charge , and giving time to the rear-guard to cross the bridge , and had made a very favorable report upon the subject .