3 4 Our 1000 strong each of the 16th, 31st, 32nd, and 52nd regiments). We were opposed principally to the 16th and 32nd regiments, judging by the number of dead in front of us. Large masses of cavalry, principally Lancers and heavy Dragoons, manoeuvred on the hills on the right of the Russians, and at last descended the hills, crossed the stream, and threatened our left and rear. As we came near the river our left wing was thrown back,5 in order to support our small force of cavalry, and a portion of our artillery was pushed forward® in the same direction. danger in this respect was detected by the quick eye of Sir George Brown, and I heard him give the order for the movement of the artillery almost as soon as he caught sight of the enemy's cavalry, and just as we were coming to the village. As I have already said, our plan of operations was that the French should establish themselves 10 under the fire of the guns on the heights on the extreme of the enemy's left. When that attack was sufficiently developed, and had met 11 with success, the British army was to force the right and part of the centre of the Russian position, and the day was gained. When we were about 1 forts de mille hommes chacun ; sense of euphony, which are the instead of chacun (each) we should essentials of a pure and elegant use chaque before a noun, as, chu- writer. que bataillon. 2 des ... and 'regiments' in the plural. In such a case as this, every one breaks the rule mentioned at page 314, note 15; but observe, however, that des (plural) is used at first, and not repeated, of course, instead of du (singular) repeated, as it ought to be, before each numeral,-which would alter the case, and bring it more directly within the compass of the rule. The present instance bears some similitude with the one at page 138, note 11. Taste alone ought to guide us in these kinds of phrases. Here, the repetition of du, four times over, would be intolerable, and would even shock, I dare say, some professed grammarians, though they have not generally that delicate taste and quick ear, that 3 Here, follow the rule.-'We were opposed to,' Nous avions contre nous. 'judging,' à en juger. Simply, dragons, leaving out heavy ;' as the dragons, in France, at least, all belong exclusively to the grosse cavalerie (heavy cavalry). 5 to throw back,' here, replier. 6 to push forward,' here, porter three miles from the village, the French steamers ran in as close as they could to the bluff of the shore1 at the south side of the Alma, and presently we saw them shelling2 the heights in splendid style,3 the shells bursting over the enemy's squares and batteries, and finally driving them from their position on the right, within 3000 yards of the sea. The French practice commenced about half-past twelve o'clock on the 20th, and lasted for about an hour and a half. We could see the shells falling over the batteries of the enemy, and bursting right into them; and then the black masses inside the works broke into little specks, which flew about in all directions, and when the smoke cleared away there were some to be seen strewed over the ground. The Russians answered the ships from the heights, but without effect. A powder tumbril was blown up by a French shell;10 another shell fell by accident into an ambuscade which the Russians had prepared for the advancing French, and at last they drew off from the sea-side, and confined their efforts to the defence of the gullies and heights beyond the fire of the heavy guns 11 of the steamers. At one o'clock we saw the French columns struggling up 12 the hills, covered by a cloud o. skirmishers, whose fire seemed most deadly.1 Once, at sight of a threatening mass of Russian infantry, in a commanding position above them, who fired rapid volleys among them,1 the French paused, but it was only to collect their skirmishers, for as soon as they had formed, they ran up the hill at the pas de charge, and broke up1 the Russians at once, who fled in disorder with loss, up the hill. We could see men dropping on both sides, and the wounded rolling down the steep.2 At 1.50, our lines of skirmishers got within range 3 of the battery on the hill, and immediately the Russians opened fire at 1200 yards with effect, the shot ploughing through the open lines of the riflemen, and falling into the advancing columns behind. Shortly ere this time, dense volumes of smoke rose from the river, and drifted along to the eastward, rather interfering with the view of the enemy on the left of our position. The Russians had set the village on fire. It was a fair exercise of military skill—was well executed-took place 10 at the right time, and succeeded in occasioning a good deal of annoyance. Our troops 9 halted when they neared this village, their left extending beyond it by the verge of the stream; our right behind the burning cottages, and within range of the batteries. It is said the Russians had taken the range 11 of all the principal points in their front, and placed twigs and sticks to mark them. In this they were assisted by the post signboards 12 on the road. The Russians opened a furious fire 13 on the whole of our line, but the French had not yet made progress enough to justify us in advancing.14 The round shot 15 whizzed in every direction, dashing up 1 'to break up,' here, enfoncer. 2 escarpement. 3 à portée. 4 opened the fire;' but we say faire feu (to fire), without any article (faire du feu is, to make a fire, as in a chimney, &c.). 5 You may use here either' labourer, or balayer (to sweep); we more commonly use, however, labourer (to plough), in speaking of with reference to the ground, and to ramparts under the fire of oblique batteries. 'shot,' here, boulets (plural.) cannon, 6 open,' here, à découvert, and put it after 'riflemen.' 7 d'épais tourbillons de fumée; or, simply, une épaisse fumée. 8 and drifting... rather interfered, &c. (nous cacha en partie).' 9 Turn, had set (use mettre) the fire to the village;' but we say, le village est en feu (the village is on fire-is burning). 10 to take place,' avoir lieu.— 'at the right time,' à propos. 11 had measured the distance.' 12 par les écriteaux des poteaux indicateurs (or, poteaux guides). 13 un feu d'enfer. 14 pour qu'il fût prudent de nous porter en avant. 15 Les boulets. 4 the dirt and sand into the faces of the staff of Lord Raglan, who were also shelled severely, and attracted much of the enemy's fire.2 Still Lord Raglan waited patiently for the development of the French attack. At length an aide-de-camp came to him and reported the French had crossed the Alma, but they had not established themselves sufficiently to justify us in an attack. The infantry were, therefore, ordered to lie down, and the army for a short time was quite passive, only that our artillery poured forth an unceasing fire of shell, rockets, and round shot, which ploughed through the Russians, and caused them great loss. They did not waver, however, and replied to our artillery manfully, their shot falling among our men as they lay, and carrying off legs and arms at every round. Lord Raglan at last became weary of this inactivity-his spirit was up-he looked around, and saw men on whom he knew he might stake the honour and fate of Great Britain by his side, and anticipating a little in a 10 military point of view the crisis of11 action, he gave orders for our whole line to advance. 12 Up rose these serried masses,13 and passing through a fearful shower of round, case shot,14 and shell, they dashed into the Alma, and floundered through its waters, which were literally torn into foam by the deadly hail.15 At the other side of the river were a number of vineyards, and to our surprise they were occupied by Russian riflemen. 7 9 Three of the staff were here shot down,2 but led by Lord Raglan in person, they3 advanced cheering on the men.1 And now came the turning 5 point of the battle, in which Lord Raglan, by his sagacity and military skill, probably secured the victory at a smaller sacrifice than would have been otherwise the case. He dashed over the bridge, followed by his staff. From the road over it, under the Russian guns, he saw the state of action. The British line, which he had ordered to advance, was struggling through the river and up the heights in masses, firm indeed, but mowed down by the murderous fire of the batteries, and by grape, round shot, shell, canister, case shot, and musketry, from some of the guns of the central battery, and from an immense and compact mass of Russian infantry. Then commenced one of the most bloody and determined 10 struggles in the annals of war. The 2nd Division, led by Sir De L. Evans in the most dashing manner, crossed the stream on the right. The 7th Fusileers, led by Colonel Yea, were swept down by fifties. 11 The 55th, 30th, and 95th, led by Brigadier Pennefather, who was in the thickest of the fight,12 cheering on his men, again and again were checked indeed, but never13 drew back in their onward progress, which was marked by a fierce roll 14 of Minié musketry,1 15 and Brigadier Adams, with the 41st, 47th, and 49th, bravely charged up the hill, and aided them in the battle. Sir George Brown, conspicuous on a grey horse, rode in front of his Light Division, urging them with voice and gesture. 1 Three officers;' and leave out 'the.' 2 tombèrent sous le feu. 9 dirigés sur elle par une partie de l'artillerie.-' and from,' et par. • acharnés.-'in;' turn, that 3 the rest (see page 118, are (page 13, note 5) recorded (use note 17). 46 'cheering. (page 6, note 5) 5 décisif. to the combat' 6 qu'il n'en (page 29, note 22) eût été (page 82, note 2) sans (but for) ces conditions. case 7 See page 327, note 12. 8 "grape,' 'canister,' and ' shot,' are all called by the general name of mitraille, in French. enregistrer) in.' 13 again and again,' à plusieurs .... 15 de carabines de précision (i. e. carabines à balles coniques). |