Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/282

 256 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP, stream, and talking from time to time with the 1. Duke of Cambridge. The veteran was watching Sir Colin for his time. And, although the ground before Campbell's i • f. i ,. i • concfeptioii liim tavoured the concealment oi troops, yet his of the part ,.,,. ,. „ ^iipi he would skill in the readinjj of a field of battle had take with. ° his brigade, enabled him to see, or in some way know or divine, that what forces the liussians had on their right of the Great liedoubt were all more or less held back. So, if he could swiftly move up a battalion to the crest which rose straight before him, he would be on the flank of the position from which the Vladimir confronted the Guards before any other battalions could come down to engage him.* Upon descrying his ad- vance, the Kussians, he thought, would see the instant need of abandoning their struggle with the Guards ; but if by chance, or because of their obstinacy, they should fail to do so, then, as soon as he could reach the ground he longed for, he would bring round the left shoulder, turn full towards the west, and roll up the Muscovite columns before their supports could come down to save them. This was what lie thought might be done ; and the keen, perfect weapon with which to do it had come fresh into his hand. The 42(1 was Tlic otlicr battalious of the Highland Brigade were approaching ; but the 42d — the far-famed ' Black Watch ' — had already come up. It was ' the attack in front was made l)y the Guards.' Original JIS. Report, dated ' Bivouac on the river Alma, '22d September ' 1854,' and signed ' ('. ('unipbell, Major-Ceneral.'— vVo^c to ilk Edition.
 * 'The immediate object being to turn the redoubt, wlule