Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/260

 234 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP, speaking of a man or a woman, are called 'expres- ^' ' sion of countenance;' and it is given to men who know and love the business of war to be able to read those signs. Sir Colin Campbell well under- stood that the enemy ought to assail his left flank with a storm of horse, foot, and artillery ; and, to deal with any such onslaught, he at first took care to stand ready ; but M'hen he came to ride for- ward and gain liigher ground, the old soldier was able to divine that with all their horsemen, and all their columns of infantry, the Russians would venture nothing against his flank. He therefore recalled his order to the 79th, and allowed it to go forward in line. Including the chasm which divided the Grena- dier Guards from the Coldstream, the whole line in which the Duke of Cambridge now moved forward to the attack of the Kourganc Hill was more than a mile and a half in length.* It was only two deep ; but his right regiment was sup- ported by a part of Sir Richard England's Divi- sion ; and Sir George Cathcart was on its left been covered by the 47th Regiment, Pennefather's brigade, and the Light Division all put together, yet it did not cover a foot more of ground than was right. We before saw the effect pro- duced by trying to put ten battalions upon ground which was now found to be not more than enough for six. It is hardly necessary to say that a knowledge of the quantity of ground covered by a single battalion in a barrack-yard would not give a sufficient clue for getting at the extent of ground which was covered by six battalions drawn up in line ujjon a field of battle. Sir Colin Campbell was free to take ground to his left, and he took it amply, contriving to outflank, or almost to outflank, the enemy's infantry array.
 * The Lst Division alone was upon a greater front than had