Alexander:

I was afraid someone would ask... I was thinking that the accounts would be fairly well-known. Here is one of them. I will have to work at finding the other, though I know the account talks about the sides of a French column facing out and the front rank kneeling.

Major William Brooke of the 48th is quoted in Oman's Studies in the Napoleonic Wars (1929): [p. 177]

"In consequence of the retreat of the Spaniards, our brigade received orders to mount the hill and dislodge the enemy. On gaining the summit of the hill we discovered several very heavy columns of French
troops ready to receive us. The British line deployed, halted, and fired 2 rounds: the heads of the French columns returned the fire 3 deep, the front rank kneeling. Finding these columns were not to be
shaken by fire, the 3 leading battalions of the brigade prepared to charge with the bayonet, by the order of Stewart, who led them on in person.”

Bill