Vandamme, noted even then as one of the hardest hitters in the army, was leading his division of Soult's corps up the northern slopes of the plateau; by a sidelong slant his men cut off a detachment of Russians in the village, and, aided by the brigade of Thiebault, swarmed up the hill at a speed which surprised and unsteadied its defenders.

Oudinot's grenadiers and the Imperial Guard were ready to sustain Soult: but the men of his corps had the glory of seizing the plateau and driving back the Russians.

Yet these returned to the charge.

Alexander and Kutusoff saw the importance of the heights, and brought up a great part of their reserves.

Soon the divisions of Vandamme and St.Hilaire were borne back; and it needed all the grand fighting powers of their troops to hold up against the masses of howling Russians.