Whilst the Imperial Guard was forming for attack, the French troops in possession of La Haye Sainte and its inclosures, now consisting of the entire of Donzelot's Division, from the Left of d'Erlon's Corps, renewed, with redoubled vigour, their assault upon the Centre of the Allied Line: the object being evidently either to force that point previously to the arrival of the Guard on its left, and thus facilitate the assault to be made by the latter; or to harass it in such a manner that, should the effort of the Guard prove successful, they would be enabled completely to overthrow the Allied Centre. The fire from the Skirmishers that had located themselves between the Farm and the position, and from those on the Knoll by the Sand Pit on the opposite side of the high road, had been incessant since the capture of that Post.
Ompteda's Brigade of the King's German Legion, which had hitherto occupied the hollow way that descends into the chaussée, was reduced to a mere handful of men: the two Squares in which Kielmansegge's Hanoverian Brigade, the next on the (Allied) Right, had stood its ground so many hours, were fearfully diminished; Kruse's Nassau Brigade, still further to the right, formed in three Contiguous Columns (two in front and one in rear), began to evince symptoms of hesitation; and the interval between this and Halkett's British Brigade had become much greater than was consistent with the due security of this part of the Line. So weakened indeed was the latter at this period, that, to remedy the evil in some degree, it had been deemed advisable, with a view rather of giving it the appearance of greater strength than of affording any very active support, to draw close up in its rear, the skeleton remains of the Scots Greys and of the 3rd Hussars of the King's German Legion.
On the Allied left of the high road, an unremitting fire was maintained against their opponents by the 95th and 4th British Regiments in extended order along the front hedge of the Wavre road, commencing from the Charleroi chaussée, as also from the 40th, 79th, 1st, and 28th British Regiments, deployed behind the embanked hedge on the rear side of that road. The 27th British Regiment had been brought up by Lambert, and posted, in Square, in the angle formed by the junction of the above roads: having one face parallel with, and close to, the chaussée, for the purpose either of throwing a flank fire upon the French troops on the opposite side, should these succeed, as appeared very probable, in compelling Ompteda's and Kielmansegge's Brigades to retire; or, of pouring a close, deadly volley upon any Column endeavouring to penetrate along the high road itself. The Artillery on the Allied right of the high road, in front of these Brigades, was at this moment completely disabled. Two British Artillerymen were observed vainly endeavouring to serve a couple of guns, but were compelled to desist from the want of all material for loading.
Such was the state of things in the Centre of the Anglo-Allied Army, when the continued popping fire from the French Skirmishers suddenly quickened into a fierce tiraillade which threatened to bear down every thing opposed to it. The bank along the high road, beyond the Garden of La Haye Sainte, and the mound adjoining it, which latter was quite close to the Allied position, became all at once thickly crowded with Skirmishers. Those that lined the banks seemed intent upon keeping down the fire from the British Regiments of Kempt's and Lambert's Brigades, along the Wavre road; while those under cover of the little mound in advance, as if aware of the object of the formation of the 27th British Regiment, and sensible of the necessity of securing their Right Flank in their meditated forcing of the position, opened such a close, sharp, fire upon that Regiment that, within the brief space of a few minutes, it lost more than half of its numbers.
At the same time, taking advantage of the crippled state of the Allied Artillery in this quarter, the French brought up two guns in advance of the north-western angle of the Garden of La Haye Sainte, in which position they were covered from any fire from the opposite side of the high road by the Skirmishers occupying the bank and the mound. From these guns a smart fire of grape was opened, and maintained without intermission, upon the Left Square of Kielmansegge's Brigade (consisting of the Field Battalions Grubenhagen and York), at the short distance of one hundred and fifty, and afterwards of scarcely one hundred, paces. The Square manifested the most exemplary submission and forbearance, notwithstanding the ravages that continued to be made in its ranks; not venturing to reply to the fire, by the apprehension of Cavalry being under the brow of the position, prepared to take instant advantage of any favourable opportunity for a charge. The Right Square (consisting of the Field Battalions Bremen and Verden) also suffered most severely.
Some other guns, which had accompanied the Columns in rear of the French Skirmishers, were suddenly brought forward, and opened so destructive a discharge of grape upon this latter Square, that one of its sides was literally completely blown away; the remainder being left standing in the form of a triangle. The Commander, and many other Officers, were wounded. The ammunition was failing rapidly. The combined fire of grape and musketry continued to increase in violence; and the Square finally dwindled into a mere clump of men. The French Tirailleurs continued pressing forward in a very compact line, whilst the sound of drums beating the pas de charge announced the advance of the Columns immediately in their rear.
The Prince of Orange, perceiving the probability of the Centre of the Allied Line being forced, unless some great effort were made to check the Enemy's advance, ordered the 1st and 2nd Nassau Battalions of Kruse's Brigade to charge, gallantly placing himself at their head. His Royal Highness was soon struck by a bullet in the left shoulder; the attack failed; and the Nassauers were falling back, when the reinforcement which Wellington had provided for this part of the Line, consisting of five Battalions of Brunswick Infantry, moved rapidly into the interval between Kruse's Nassau, and Halkett's British, Brigades. But so unexpectedly did the Brunswickers find themselves placed under a most destructive fire, and so suddenly were the heads of their Columns assailed, that they were unable, in the midst of the thick smoke in which they became involved, to recover from the partial irregularities by which, under such circumstances, their advance was accompanied, and to form up in sufficient order, before they came in close contact with the Enemy: whose vigorous attack compelled them, as also Kruse's, Kielmansegge's, and Ompteda's Brigades, to fall back about a hundred paces.
At this critical moment, Wellington hastened to the spot in person, to avert so alarming a catastrophe as that of having his Centre broken, at a time, too, when he was preparing to receive a formidable attack, directed against another point of his Line, situated at but a short distance on the right of that Centre. He addressed himself to the Brunswickers; and succeeded, by the electrifying influence of his voice, gesture, and presence, in rallying the discomfited Columns. The 3rd Line Battalion, under Major Normann, was the first to reform in good order: it then boldly stood its ground; and, when the Enemy's Infantry approached, received it with so destructive a fire as completely to check its further advance.