Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/284

 252 ITS FRAIL BASIS. chap, him (as he believed he was doing) with the _ — splendid task of undertaking a campaign against Eussia on open ground, at the head of a separate army not less than 45,000 strong.* VI. The frail How joyfully the English Commander and the basis (Hi * ^ ° wind! it all army under his orders would have bidden fare- rested. well to the siege- works, and entered upon a cam- paign in the open, may be easily imagined; as may also of course the vexation of being mocked by an offer which could never be really made good. The whole plan was one built on a notion that (if only receiving the promised accession of Turks) General Canrobert could and would send away 50,000 of his French troops,! losing also the accustomed support of Lord Raglan's whole army, and in the truncated state thus attained attempt to hold the Chersonese and the ports of supply against the Sebastopol garrison, or rather, one may say, against Russia, because her field army could join (as indeed it had done at Inker- man) with the not yet invested fortress. Lord Eaglan did not believe that General Canrobert would accept such a task. In the day-time, however, of that Thursday the 3d of May which was destined — at night — to be stirring with almost mad orders from 1'aris, both 23d April 1855. t 45,000 to his Emperor, and 5000 to Lord Raglan.
 * Secretary of War to Lord Raglan. Secret and Confidential