Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/246

 214 egerton's death. chap, to reconquer what he had lost. Thenceforth the V1L coveted lodgment remained connected definitively with the siege-works of ' Gordon's Attack.' This capture destroyed all the value of the other lodgment, which therefore was left un- occupied by the Kussians as well as the English.* But this ' brilliant achievement' — I quote the two words from Lord Raglan — was one that cost our people some lives, and — what is more — it cost them a life. Whilst forming his troops for the second of the two encounters, Colonel Egerton His death, was killed. In his official despatch, Lord Raglan speaks with great warmth of Colonel Egerton's services, declaring indeed that the army 'could ' not have sustained a more severe loss ' than the one which his death inflicted, and that ' so it was ' much beloved and was deeply lamented ' ; but in a private letter of the same date he could not help giving a further expression to his sense of ins fame. Egerton's worth ; saying even that, although the achievement would, he 'doubted not, produce a ' good effect both on the enemy and our allies, it 1 was dearly bought by the sacrifice of the life of 1 Colonel Egerton, who was one of the best officers ' in the army, and looked up to by all.' t But more puissant than all words of praise is the memory of what Egerton did on the morning Lieutenant Walker of the 30th, moving gallantly out with a party of volunteers, completely filled in and razed it. — Lord Raglan to Secretary of State, April 24, 1855. t Private Letter to Lord Panmure, 21st April 1855.
 * felt in the army, and in the 77th where he was
 * And so it remained until the morning of the 21st, when