Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/450

 424 APPENDIX. ■vliicli these guns were brought to hear upon the hapless cohiuin is derived from a Frencli officer Avho was present ■with the guns, and who took part in seizing the occasion which was presented by the sudden discovery of the column. Wlien an account of an infantry figlit Avith 'the 'column of the eight battalions' had once gone out to the world, it may seem strange that the story should be afterwards repudiated by any French personages writing or drawing officially ; but, besides that there is really a strong, honest leaning towards truth in the ' Atlas His- ' torique,' it is obvious that the French artillery officers, whose skill and quickness had shattered the great column and driven it from the field, might justly and most cogently call upon the authorities to withdraw the falsehood which gave to French infantry the credit justly due to French gunners. NOTE IX. XOTE RESPKCTING THE TuUTII OF THE ACCOUNTS WHICH REPRESEXT THAT A GrEAT AND TeRRIBLE FlGHT TOOK PLACE NEAR THE TeLEGRAPU ON THE DaY OF THE Alma. In the beginning of the year 1855 the Baron de Eazancourt was sent to the theatre of war by the French ' Minister of 'Public Instruction,' and the 'Mission' with which the Baron went charged was that of writing a history of the Crimean expedition. He Avas accredited to the then French Commander-in-Chief by the Minister of War, and beseems to have been freely supplied with all such materials for getting at the truth as could be found in the niilitar}' jour- nals of the French army, and in the statements voluntarily