Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/308

 286 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. CHAP, carry off their guns) was advancing with a part 5 at least of the 4th Light Dragoons, a regiment now reckoning, perhaps, about the same numbers as the 11th Hussars. These two regiments formed our left; and although at this moment they were not so placed as to be visible the one to the other, the direction of Douglas's advance was so far known to Lord George Paget as to make it likely that the two regiments might find means of acting together in concert, with a force, when united, of about 100 sabres. In the event of their doing so, Lord George Paget, as the senior officer, was the one who would be entitled to take the command. Towards our centre, we had no troops at all in a state of formation ; but on our extreme right, as we know, the 8th Hussars, now reduced to a strength of about 55, and commanded by Colone] Shewell, was advancing towards the group under Mayow. The event proved that this group of fifteen under Mayow was still in a state of co- herence which rendered it capable of acting with military efficiency in concert with other hoops, and it may therefore be said that Colonel Shewell (who was senior to Mayow) had under his orders a force of about 70 sabres. Altogether, these undisabled combatants num- bered perhaps about 220 or 230, of whom only about 170 were in a state of formation. The two wings (if so we may call disconnected forces) were not visible the one to the other, and no communications passed between them.