Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/430

 408 APPENDIX. they had moved off, and during the engagement 24 officers were killed or wounded. I presume that no one doubts that I led the first line of the brigade, consisting of the 13th Light Dragoons and 17th Lancers, through the Eussian battery, and that, being the first man into the battery, that I pursued my course until I came up to the line of the Eussian cavalry. That, being alone there, in consequence of the officers of my Staff being wounded or disabled, I was attacked by two Cossacks, slightly wounded, and nearly dismounted ; that, on being nearly surrounded by Cossacks, I gradually retreated until I reached the battery into which I had led the first line ; that, on arriving there, I found no part of the first line re- maining there. Those which survived the charge had passed off to the left, short of the Eussian gun liniber- carriages, or retreated up the hill. I can upon my most solemn oath swear that in that position, and looking round, I could see none of the first line or of the supports. The supports ought to have fol- lowed me in the attack, instead of which they diverged to the right and left. I have already stated that the first line did not follow me after I passed through the battery in leading the charge ; but whilst I was engaged with the Cossacks they passed off to the left, to avoid the Eussian limber-carriages, or re- treated up the hill. My aides-de-camp were prevented by different causes from being with me ; I was consequently nearly or quite alone. I have already positively stated that when I got back to the battery which we had attacked and silenced, 1 could see none of the first line, except those returning up the hill, and no troops formed either on the right or the left. I therefore found myself alone, and I ask, Was it not