Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/105

 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. 79 undertaken by the French had not only done CHAP. nothing towards carrying the position, but had ^ even brought the Allies into danger. The causes of the miscarriage were, — the physi- causes cal obstructions which hindered both Buuat and ocias'ion^ Canrobert from bringing up their guns wiih them, of u.e "" and the stiffness of the objection which prevents operatiom French Generals from engaging their infantry on open ground without the support of artillery. According to the intended plan of operations, Bosquet, after gaining the cliff with his whole column of some 14,000 men, was to bring round his right shoulder in order to fall upon the flank of the Ptussians ; and, simultaneously with his appearance on the plateau, a vigorous and resol- ute onslaught was to be made by the rest of the French army npon the front of the enemy's left wing. But Bosquet, as we saw, though he was personally present on the part of the plateau overhanging Almatamack, had only one brigade there ; and whether he looked to Bouat on his right, or to Canrobert on his left, he looked in either case to a general who, though he had masses of infantry, was without artillery, and he therefore looked in vain. In such circumstances the utmost that Bosquet could be expected to do was to hold his ground, — and this he did. XVI. For an hour and a half the Allies had lain under fire without even becjinuinff to assail the