Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/103

 ON THE SELINGHINSK REDOUBT. 71 Ditch, overthrowing the Eussians there gathered, chap and mounted the parapet. To be there was to ! learn, notwithstanding the interposed darkness, that the Kedoubt and its precincts were swarm- ing with troops ; * and those of the French who had till then remained alive on the parapet were forced back into the Ditch and there surrounded by Eussians coming from all directions. To the fire of musketry then converging on the French there seemed to be added the fire from ships in the Eoadstead and even from the Faubourg De- fences. Still as yet — because not without hope that reinforcements might come — Colonel Cler stood his ground in the fosse. Where General Mayran was posted at this turning moment, or why he judged it expe- dient to withhold reinforcements, I am unable to say ; but becoming, it seems, convinced that his foremost troops were in danger of being over- whelmed by numbers, he caused the retreat to be sounded. Thereupon Colonel Cler passed back over the counterscarp, led the men acting with him against the host of Eussians who were barring his path, clove a way through their ranks with the bayonet or the musket-stock used as a club, and rejoined the rest of the force which General Monet had led. The thus reunited French force made good its retreat without seemingly being pursued. General Mayran did not bring into action the troops which formed his ' reserve.'
 * Obviously the bulk of the Selinghiusk battalions.