Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/396

 374 COMBAT OF THE 26TH OF OCTOBER. chap. Sullivan — a valiant and trusty colour- sergeant — ' proved able to harass the train of artillery ascend- ing from behind Cossack Knoll. This strenuous and protracted resistance se- cured time for our artillerymen to plant their guns on Home Ridge ; and no harm would have seem- ingly resulted, if the pickets thus achieving their task had now been at once driven in. But their obstinacy continued ; and indeed the direct pres- sure put upon the front of Champion's extended line did not of itself suffice to make his men yield any ground. Colonel Federoffs movement, however, applied to the left of these troops that same irresistible leverage which had forced back the picket of the 49th by turning its right ; and, General Evans not choosing to reinforce them, the enemy after a while made good his way on His guns on to the crest of Shell Hill, there established his guns in battery, and opened fire on Home Ridge. and engaged To these pieces of light artillery the 18 nine- Evans.' se c pounders of Evans replied, as may well be sup- posed, with overpowering effect ; but whilst keep- ing in hand three battalions, Colonel Federoff, continued with the rest of his foot, still continued to press uponoiir back our pickets by the leverage of his turning movements ; and the combatants — a dense cloud of Russians, with the English lightly flecking its edge — began to move down the hillside. Evans could not at that time interpose with artillery- fire, because the grey overcoat, worn alike by the Russians and the English, made it hard to dis- tinguish between them. pickets.