Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/451

 APPENDIX. 425 uiadu to the hi.storian-elect by officers who had themselves directed the operatious which they undertook to describe.* Closely translated, the Baron's account of the supposed light at the Telegraph runs thus. After speaking of the point where the building of the Telegraph stands, he says : — ' It is there that the battle is ; it is there that there are ' the efforts of attack and defence. On all sides we crown ' the plateau ; but the considerable Itussian forces massed ' partly-built tower, and the batteries placed right and left, ' and on their left the 2d Zouaves of the 3d Division, shel- ' ter themselves behind the undulations of the plateau, ' and were keeping up a sustained fire against the Russians, ' when two batteries of the reserve, led by Commandant ' La Boussiniere, came to oppose artillery to artillery. The ' battery of Captain Toussaint quitted the road in order to ' arrive more rapidl}^, by a moveuient towards its left, just ' in front of the Telegraph ; the Zouaves themselves help ' to drag the guns up the lust acclivities. They are soon ' placed, and open their lire, to which the Zouaves of the ' two divisions and the foot Chasseurs add a redoubling of ' draw. But the fire of the enemy's masses, and that of ' the artillery placed in rear of the Telegraph, cause us ' serious losses. This position of expectancy could not long ' Colonel Cler, who knows the war-tried and resolute ' troops which he commands, comprehends that he cannot ' sacrifices which snatch victory. For an instant he hesi- ' tates between a charge with the bayonet against the great • See his Preface, p. (3.
 * behind the Telegraph, the sharpshooters sheltered in this
 * decimate our troops. Already the 1st Zouave Eegiment
 * and the first battalion of the Chasseurs of the 1st Division,
 * lire. Four Russian guns quickly limber-up and with-
 * be maintained ; an impetuous charge of the Russian
 * cavalry on this point was imminent.
 * save them from utter destruction but by one of those