Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/362

 332 THE CANNONADE OF C II A P. XIII. could hardly have long survived the cessation of those supreme dangers to which its existence was owing. If the defence of Sebastoj'ol was now so far provided for as to be no longer dependent upon the enthusiasm of the garrison and the romantic devotion of Korniloff, still on this day, when the assault of the place seemed impending, there was needed at least a commander whom all would obey with trustful loyalty ; and after Korniloff s death, no one succeeded to the power he had been wielding. True, Prince Mentschikoff was the Commander of all the forces in the Crimea, both military and naval ; but, besides that the Prince had proved himself wanting in ability for the conduct of a battle, he was absent from the be- leaguered town, and not, it seems, willing for the day to come back to the scene of the conflict. Admiral Nachimoff succeeded to the naval com- mand which Korniloff had exercised, but that control of the land forces which had been given, as it were, by universal acclamation to the Admiral now lying dead, relapsed into the hands of General jI611er. The command of the forces thus became split into two; and, although there was nothing in this circumstance which made it impracticable to go on with the work of the engineers and the gunners along the lines of defence, it was evi- dently to be apprehended that the want of a single and trusted commander might come to be grievously felt, if the Allies should deliver theii assault in the course of this same afternoon.