Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/284

 Their en- Willi several liussian 2oS BATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP. It was before tlic battle that thi.s, cr the like _ of this, was addressed to the brigade ; and uov, when Sir Colin rode up to the corps which await- ed his signal, he only gave it two words. But, ciuinns. ijccause of his accustomed manner of utterance, and because he was a true, faithful lover of war, the two words he spoke were as the roll of the drum: 'Forward, 42dl' This was all he then said; and, 'as a steed that knows his rider,' the great heart of the battalion bounded proudly to his touch. Having directed his staff not to follow him,* Sir Colin Campbell -went forward alone in front of tl)e 42d ; but before he had ridden far, he saw that his reckoning was already made good by the event, and that the column which had engaged the Coldstream was moving off obliquely towards its right rear. AVhen the 42d had come up, he was rejoined by his Staff, and he then rode up a good May in advance, for he was swift to hope that the withdrawal of the column from the line of the redoubt might give him the means of learning the ground before him, and seeing how the enemy's strength was disposed in this part of the field. In a few moments he was abreast of the redoubt, and upon the ridge or crest which divided the slope he had been ascending from the broad and rather deep hollow which lay before grossly wide of the truth : at all events, I can answer for the substantial accuracy of the injunction against quitting the ranks in order to carry off wounded men. to draw more fire tlian a sinifle horseman.
 * Because he knew that a group of oiriuers would be likely