Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/463

 APPENDIX. 437 ' To assail such a position by a coup de main with an ' army little superior to the defenders, with nothing but ' field-pieces at its command, and with its flanks and retreat ' taking, with every probability of a failure or repulse, the ' A regular siege, on the contrary, required heavy guns ' the only place to the north of Sebastopol where the dis- ' embarkation of stores could be effected was the narrow, ' gust of wind, difficult to defend, and which, from its dis- ' its communications could have been intercepted at any PRIXTEU tV WILLIAM BL.VLKWuuIj A.Si)
 * treated to its supports, and was still very powerful, as
 * subsequent events clearly proved,
 * quite insecure, Avould have been a most desperate under-
 * consequences of which Avould have been most disastrous.
 * and stores of all kinds, and therefore a harbour. Now
 * shallow beach at the mouth of the Katcha, open to every
 * tance in the rear, would have been much exposed, wliile
 * moment by an enemy capable of such enterprises as he
 * afterwards attempted at Balaclava and Inkerman.'