Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/52

 26 r.ATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP. Britisli army. The French plan seems to have . made little impression on Lord Eaglan's mind. lie foresaw, perhaps, that the ingenuity of the evening would be brought to notliingness l)y the teachings of the morrow. stAnmiKVs Whilst the French Marshal -was striving, in deiueaiiour., . i • ^ ,• ^ ins vehement way, to convey an idea ot the vigour with which he would conduct the attack, his appointed adviser, Colonel Trocliu, whose mission it was to moderate the fire of his chief, thought it right to interpose with a question of a practical kind — a question as to the time and place for relieving the French soldiers of their packs. Instantly, if so one may speak, St Arnaud reared, for Trochu had touched him with the curb, and in the presence, too, of Lord Eaglan. He angrily suppressed the question of the packs as one of mere detail. Yet, on the afternoon of the morrow, that question of the packs was destined to recur, and to govern the movements of the whole French army. Before the jNIarshal and Lord Raglan parted, it was agreed that Bosquet with his Division should advance at five o'clock in the morning, and that, two hours later, the rest of the Allied forces should begin their march upon the enemy's position. Result of This determination as to the time for marcliing eiice. was almost the only fruit which St Arnaud drew from the interview He had thought to engage his colleague in the plan contrived for the guid- ance of the English at the French headquarters ; but when he came to be in the presence of the