Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/110

 84 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP, rounding group rose taller in their saddles, and 1 handled their reins like men whose limbs are braced by the joy of passing from expectancy to action. Every man, whether he had heard the words or not, saw in the gladness of his neighbour's face that the moment long awaited was come. Our infantry was to advance. The order flew; for it was Nolan — the impetuous Nolan — who carried it to the 2d Division.* A few moments later and the order had reached the Light Divi- sion. The whole of the foremost English line from the 47th liegiment on our right to the extreme Nolan now lying before me. There, after stating that 'a ' general advance was ordered,' he says : 'To the 2d Division I ' carried the order myself, and in riding forward with the ad- ' vance brigade had my horse shot under me by a round-shot.' On the other hand. General Evans, I think, conceives that he got his warrant to advance when Colonel Herbert returned to him with the message that Lord Raglan granted his request to be allowed to accede to the prayer of the French Marshal. And again, Colonel Lysons (who was Assistant Adjutant-General of the 2d Division) states that he carried the order, and he adds this spirited record of the emotion which impressed the fact upon his memory : ' I could not be mistaken on this point ; I ' so well remember the excitement I felt as I galloped back to ' the 2d Division, and then went on to the light of the Light ' Division, passing the order along the line ; and I shall never ' forget the excited look of delight from each face as I repeated 'the words, "The line will advance!"' It is evident that both Nolan's and Colonel Lysons's statements arc correct ; and I conceive that the inijiression which each of them entertained, as well as the impression entertained by General Evans, may be reconciled by supposing that the return of Colonel Herbert to Evans's side preceded the arrival of the formal orders, and that (either intentionally, or else from some mistake) the carriage of the formal order was entvustrd to two StalT officers. — Note to ith Edition.
 * My authority for this statement is the journal of poor