Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/431

 APPKNH1X. 409 my duty to retreat gradually aud slowly in rear of the broken parties of the first line up the hill, rather thau turn and ride through the Russian cavalry in search of my sup- ports, without knowing at the time which way they had gone, they not having followed the first line in the advance, as they ought to have done 1 My humble opinion is that it is quite sufficient for a general of brigade to return with as well as lead the attack of the front line, unless he should by chance come in con- tact with his supports, in which case he would remain with them ; but it may be observed that no general officer could have rendered any service or assistance in an affair like that of Balaclava, in which all the loss of men and horses was sustained in twenty minutes, and there were no troops left with which to attack an overwhelming force like that of the Russians in position on that day. Twenty minutes being the time occupied in the all'air, and the distance a mile and a quarter at the least, gives eight minutes for the advance, eight minutes for the re- treat, and only four minutes for fighting or collision with the enemy. Before concluding I must revert to a subject already alluded to — viz., that the only point really to be considered is whether, after leading into the battery, and up to the Russian cavalry, and being wounded and nearly taken prisoner by the Cossacks, and having with difficulty got away from them — whether I was justified in returning slowly in rear of my own line, who were retreating up the hill, or whether it was my duty to turn and ride through the Russian cavalry in search of the supports, they not having led straight, but having separated in the advance, one to the right of the valley, and one to the left ; whether I was bound to ride through the Russian cavalry in search of the supports, or to remain on the ground I have re- ferred to, there being none of our troops formed there, or