Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/339

 THE 17TH OF OCTOBER. 309 in which the sailors delighted had enwrapped the chap, whole field of sight in a tliick steadfast cloud. "^^^^^ Seen through it, the sun in the east was a dull red and lustreless orb. Yet, by the darts of fire vliich, from moment to moment, were piercing the cloud, Korniloff and the officers with him could make out where the enemy's guns were in battery, or where their own were replying. In their rear, too, they saw through the smoke a third belt of fire ; for behind the gorge of the bastion, the skilled contriver of the defences had planted two batteries, which threw their shells over the heads of the men engaged at the ram- parts in front. It was hot at this time in the flagstaff Bas- tion ; for the batteries of the French on Mount Eodolph — unstricken, as yet, with the havoc which awaited them — were exerting their full might ; but also — and this was more formidable, by reason of the greater calibre of the guns — the left face of the bastion was battered, and, at the same time, its right face enfiladed, by the fire from Chapman's Attack.* Korniloff conversed with the gunners, and to some of them he gave directions in regard to the pointing of the guns ; but it does not appear that he brought himself to put a check upon his seamen by preventing them from firing in broad- sides. He passed from gun to gun along the whole bastion, and then went along the winding boulevard line to that new work adjoining the
 * See the Diagram poii, p. 421