Before it man and horse went down.

At so short a distance every bullet found its billet and, for the first time in history, a line of infantry repulsed the attack of a vastly superior body of cavalry.
Astonished, and hampered by the fallen men and horses of their first line, the French cavalry reined up and trotted sullenly back to reform and repeat the charge.

The British drums beat furiously as the French rode forward again, only to be repulsed as before.
Six times did the cavalry, with a bravery worthy of their reputation, renew the charge.

Six times did they draw back sullenly, as the leading squadrons withered up under the storm of shot.

Then they could do no more, but rode back in a broken and confused mass through the gaps between their infantry, throwing these also into partial confusion.
"Ride to Lord Sackville, and tell him to charge with his cavalry, at once," the duke said to Fergus; and then checking himself said, "No, I had better send someone else," and repeated the order to another of his staff.
Sackville only replied that he did not see his way to doing so.