Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/262

 230 TROUBLED COUNSKLS. CHA P. VIII. 23d April. The French ostensibly ready to assault. Preliminary conference. Evening of the 23d. Agreement bel ween Ci n robe it and Lord Raglan for a general assault of Sebastop)!. brought to the point, would refuse, he imagined, to march against the distant Redan. Their re- fusal would at once put an end to the whole project, and on them — not the French or their Emperor — would fall the whole anger of those who were yearning for an assault of Sebastopol. It was with a purpose made to seem firmly settled that the French on Monday the 23d of April began to concert fitting measures for a general assault. At a conference held in the morning, the chief Engineer and Artillery officers of the French and English armies declared their opinion in writing — a writing drawn up by Niel himself — and advised that, unless the investment of Sebastopol should be effected within ten days, the place should be assaulted.* In the evening, General Canrobert came to Lord Raglan's quarters, bringing with him, as it seemed, bold resolves. He proposed that the Allies should assault Sebastopol; and to this Lord Raglan agreed. After a discussion which lasted two hours, General Canrobert and Lord Raglan arranged that the fire which had been slack for some days should be re- sumed on the 26th, and that after this fire should have been kept up for two days and a half, ad- vances should be made against the place in such manner as should be thought most desirable.! n t he ground, as he wrote, that ' General Can- 1 robert and the greater portion of the French Rousset, vol. ii. p. 154. + Lord Raglan to Secretary of State, Secret, April 24th, 1855.
 * Lord Raglan to Secretary of State, Secret, April 24th, 1855.