Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/39

 THE FLANK ^rAllCII. infantry divisions made llieir difftcnlt way Ihrough c H a r the forest. The underwood was in some places ' so thick as to leave but a very narrow choice of fi'f^il'iulft.j path, and in general it was found impracticable for the troops to preserve any kind of formation. The men of each battalion broke through as best they could, passing sometimes over ground where several could be working their way al)reast of one another, but at other times compelled to break into Indian file. Still, the plan of marching by compass was successful ; and, so far as I have learnt, no body of men fell out of the prescribed line of march in such a way as to become long divided from the rest of the army. It was a laborious task for troops which were not at the time in the enjoyment of great bodily strength, to have to tear their way through steep forest ground without a road or a path ; and at one of the halts which took place with a portion of the Foot regiments already near the summit of the heights, some impatience broke out ; for, there being no water, the men felt the torment of thirst. There arose a low, grave, momentous sound — the murmur of angered soldiery. Each man, whilst he sat or lay on the ground, hoarsely groaned out the same intense word. Tiui one utterance heard travelling along the lines was, 'Water! water! water!'* AVhen Lord Raglan had gained the high ground on the east of Sebastopol, he diverged from the line of march which his army was taking; and
 * This was not in the hearing of Lord Kaj/lan.