Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/267

 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. 241 bear upon the Vladimir column, and with effect, chap. for it poured into a close mass of living men. ' Colonel Dalrymple fired in volleys, and com- placently counted them, reckoning up no less than fifteen ; but the Grenadiers chose another method, and stood file-firing along their whole line. On the left of the chasm still open in the TiieCoia- centre of the brigade of Guards, and on ground less advanced than that reached by Colonel Hood's Grenadiers, there stood the Coldstream battalion commanded by Colonel Upton, and drawn up in magnificent order; but to this spot, apparently, the ' unknown mounted officer ' must have sped, when he vanislied from the sight of the Grena- diers, for down the ranks of the Coldstream the word was passed to 'Retire;' and 'the retire,' Assaiiea moreover, was sounded by buglers along the to retire? line ; * but the false command was met by an outburst of regimental opinion expressed in loud cries of ' No ! No ! ' This resistance alone, it its resist, would seem, proved strong enough to counteract ' the false order, for the Coldstream battalion kept its ground, then advanced, and was soon direct- ing its fire upon the two more battalions which formed the right wing of the Yladimir. We shall see the share that other Russian and other British troops were destined to have in governing the result of the struggle; but if for a moment we limit our reckoning to the perturbing commands often given to our troops in action with- out apparent authority, see Appendix, No. VI. VOL III. Q
 * With respect to the 'unknown mounted officer,' and the