Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/64

 34 THK FLANK MAPX'II. CHAP, it unhurt; but it must not Le thought that, in ^^' any other sense, the iiank march Lore the test niisno of experience; for we shall see by-and-by that, testoffts though master of the country around him, and pru euce. -jij^^.-j^g somo 3000 horsc, Prince INfentschikoff suffered liimself to remain unacquainted with the inarch of the Allied army then proceeding in open day close to where he had brought his own troops; and that, even when his rear-guard was touched by Lord Piaglan, and attached by our horse and artillery, he ascribed the collision to a Trench or English patrol, and still preserved his ignorance of the momentous change then going on. From this, the blindfolded state of Prince jNIentschikoff, it resulted that the flank march did not undergo the perilous trial which seemed to await it; and therefore the success of the movement does not make it at all an example of what may be wisely dared in the presence of an enemy accustomed to use common watchful- ness, and able to seize an advantage. But, even without the interposition of an enter- prising foe, a march of this kind might have been brought to ruin by any faltering or mismanage- ment on the part of the Allies. As it was, the march prospered. When once it had been agreed on the Belbec that this venturesome movement should be attempted, and that the English army should lead the way, it resulted from the arrange- ment so made, and from INfarshal St Arnaud's in- creasing M'cakness, that Lord Paglan got for forty- eight hours the practical leadership of the whole