Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/124

 92 THE ENEMY'S GREAT NIGHT ATTACK. chap, his English adversaries, the enemy did not make TV ' the mistake of sending out into the darkness a huge, unwieldy force ; but divided his attack on our siege-works into four distinct sorties, each effected with moderate numbers;* whilst he wisely resolved that these columns (which com- prised in their ranks many sailors) should all be commanded by naval officers — men whose skill and resources were such that they would know how to steer in the dark. We shall see every one of these captains overcoming the obstacle of darkness, and successfully bringing his craft to the chosen point of attack.t colonel The 'field officer,' that night, on duty in the dispositions, precincts of ' Gordon's Attack ' was Colonel Kelly; and of the 1200 men he had under him, one-half at first guarded the third — their fore- most — parallel which (if reckoned with the trench- work prolonging it) may be said to have crossed the whole breadth of the Woronzoff Ridge from the Dockyard Eavine on his right to the Woron- zoff Road on his left. These last 600 men were composed of detachments from several regiments, and stood ranged in the order here shown : — Left.— Rifles, 90th, 34th, 88th, 77th, 97th.— Right. With 300 of his men Colonel Kelly had fur- case of Beruleff's column. f It will be remembered that, when advancing by night upon Tel-i'l -Kebir, our army received welcome guidance from the skill of a naval officer who led it by aid of the stars.
 * I do not undertake to give these numbers except in the