Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/141

 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. 115 gifted with the priceless quality ^vhich hinders CIIAP. them from feeling, in the way that foreigners feel ' it, the weight of a column of infantry. In their English way, half sportive, half surly, our young soldiers seemed to measure their task ; and then — many of them still holding betwixt their teeth the tempting clusters of grapes they had gathered in the vineyards below — they began shooting easy shots into the big, solid mass of infantry which was solemnly marching against them. The column besides at this time was moving under a fire directed against its right flank by some of Norcott's Eiilemen (then ensconced some way off in a farm- The column Ti -1 1-Tii.''* defeated, stead) and yet, as seen by our people, it did not and re- appear unsteady. It was perhaps an over-drilled body of men unskilfully or weakly handled. At all events, the mass failed to make its weight and strength tell against clusters of English lads who stood facing it merrily, and teasing it with rifle- balls. The column before long was ordered or suffered to yield ; and, because falling back in a hollo-w, it lapsed nearly or quite out of sight. Then, having thus ridded themselves of the in- fantry force in their front. Colonel Lawrence's Rifle- men, and the 19th I'egiment, and the Eoyal Welsh begaij, as they advanced, to bend towards their right, and thenceforth became a part of the force we shall presently see engaged in the storming of the Great Eedoubt. The other Kazan column -^^ ^the column coming TheLeu Kazan down from the west flank of the redoubt— was a column.
 * A double-battalion column, I believe, containing 1500 men.