Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/315

 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. 289 the belief that it came from the sea ; and in order chap. to place his troops out of the reach of the ships, ' he began to move off his column in an inland or easterly direction, taking nearly the same route as that by which he had advanced.* Whilst he thus and moved marched, shot and shells continued to cut their Kiriakoff. way into the midst of his hapless column, inflict- ing a dreadful slaughter. This trial — the trial of men who have to march under a shattering fire without being able to strike one blow at their slayers — was borne by the Eussian soldiery with a great fortitude. Order was maintained ; and, torn as it was from moment to moment, the col- its de- ineanoui umn marched grandly. Along with the column there were two batteries ; but, far from helping to cover its retreat, these guns were suffered to be- come a burthen ; for, several of the horses having been wounded or killed, the task of dragging off the cannon was thrown upon soldiers. It would seem, however, that the natural awe with which Canrobert's troops had looked upon the advance of the huge column was not lifted off from their minds when first they saw it withdrawing, for no French infantry moved forward to press the retreat of the eight battalions. 'The French,' brought to bear upon the hapless column is derived from a French officer who was present with the guns, and who took part in seizing the occasion which was i)resented by the sudden discovery of the column. With respect to a statement at one time put forward — a statement that ' the colunm of the eiglit ' battalions' had been defeated by infantry, see No. VIII. of the Appendix. VOL. in. X
 * My knowledge of the exact way in which these guns were