Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/288

 256 COMMENCED EXPEDITION TO KERTCH. CHAP. X. The Pen insula of Kertch. Baron Wrangel there in command: his forces. were, each of them, also commanded by higher ground rising behind them which had not been fortified ; and the way in which a Russian com- mander could hope to be able to protect them from seizure was by operating against the assail- ants with Horse, Foot, and Field-Artillery. On the whole, it appeared to result that, if there should spring up a conflict for the key of the straits, it would take the shape of field operations maintained in the Kertchine Pen- insula. This Peninsula jutting out eastward from the main of the Crimea is some sixty-six miles in length, and the isthmus, at its narrowest part, is not much more than ten miles across ; though, if measured (as indeed has been usual) from the old fort of Arabat, on the Sea of Azof, to Theo- dosia on the Euxine, its breadth is doubly as great. Baron Wrangel commanded the forces in this Kertchine Peninsula, and they numbered not far from 9000;* of whom some 3000 were cavalry.t The infantry comprised two battalions and one company of troops of the line, the rest consisting of Fencibles — that is, Foot Cossacks — and what were called ' local troops ' — forces not at all approaching in quality to Russian troops of the line, and hardly, I believe, thought present- able on fair, open ground to good European battalions.]: t 1143 Hussars. 152 Horse- Artillery, and 1711 Cossacks. £ The above details as well as those which follow are alt
 * 8750.