Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/285

 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 263 pushed on their attack down the valley in the chap direction of the aqueduct ; but Lord Cardigan r - solemnly declares — and declares, I believe, with truth — that, at the time, he could see none of his first line except those who, being most of them already some way towards the rear, were retreat- ing up the slope of the valley. In these circum- stances, he satisfied himself that, so far as con- cerned the business of rallying or otherwise inter- fering with the shattered fragments of his first line, there was nothing he could usefully do, without first following their retreat. But then Lord Cardigan, though acting as the more immediate leader of the first line, was also in command of the whole brigade, and had charge, amongst others, of the three regiments which formed his supports. Was he warranted in leav- ing those regiments to fight their way in, or to fight their way out, without giving them the ad- vantage, if any, which the presence of their Uri^adier might confer ? Lord Cardigan answers this question by pro- his retreat pounding the theory that his primary duty was with the first line, and by also asserting that he could nowhere see his supports. He determined to follow the horsemen whom he saw falling back. Without seeing occasion to deliver any order, or to hold up his sword for a rally, he continued the movement by which he had withdrawn himself from the Cossacks, and remounted the slope of the valley. It might be thought that, since he left a main