Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/90

 64 RATTLK OF THE ALMA. CHAP, time must needs pass before he could be iu force ' oil the West Cliff, he yet could not endure to be personally absent from the ground to which he now fastened his thoughts. So when, with his Staff and the horsemen of his escort, he had got to the ground overlooking the sea, near the village of Ulukul Tiouets, and had seen the first groups of the Zouaves peering up on the crest of the hill, he still remained where he was. "Whilst he sat in his saddle, the appearance of his escort drew fire from the shii)ping, and four of his suite were struck down ; but the Prince would not move. It is likely that the fire assuaged the pain of his thoughts. Hisbaiieries At tliis time, it would seem, he gave either no at length ■, p i • t i • i • i coming up, orders, or none oi a kind supplying real guidance there begins ... - _ . ., , a cannonade lor liis gencrals. Lingering upon the ground between his ., ,, ,, ii- in j_ii and Bos- without troops at hand, he impotently watched quel's artil- ,. i , > ^ • ^ tt- t i i U:ry. the progress ot Autemarres brigade. His liglit batteries soon came up ; but neitlier these nor the squadrons of Hussars which formed his escort were the best of implements for pushing back General Bosquet into the steep mountain-road by which he had ascended; and in the hands of Prince Mentschikoff they were simply powerless. Howev(r, his guns, when they came up, were placed iu battery, and Bosquet's guns being now on the plateau, there began a cannonade at long range between the twelve guns of the Prench and the whole of the light artillery Avhich Prince Mentschikoff had hurried into this part of the field. At the same time the French artillery drew,