Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/294

 CHAP. X. 262 COMMENCED EXPEDITION TO KERTCH. IV. sailing of So at last on the 3d of May, there embarked tion e on e the upon this expedition from 10,000 to 12,000 troops, of which three-fourths were French and one-fourth English. The English squadron was commanded by Admiral Lyons, the French one by Admiral Bruat. The French troops were under the immediate direction of General d'Aute- marre, but both that and the English part of the land -service force were commanded by Sir George Brown. Our people carried with them the all- precious light of sound knowledge respecting the enemy's dispositions and strength in the Kert- chine Peninsula, and Major Gordon of the Royal Engineers whose admirable report had made clear the path of action was himself on board the flotilla in command of a body of Sappers. Together with the papers accompanying it, Lord Raglan's instruction to Brown was a model of lucid guidance.* It was believed that after rapidly accomplishing their tasks, the troops might be promptly brought back, and that no risk of harm would be run by withdrawing them for a very brief period from the Sebastopol theatre of war. To mislead Russian scrutiny, the flotilla at first steered away as though making for Odessa, but assumed its true course after dark. the Secretary of State, cited ante.
 * A copy of this was enclosed in Lord Raglan's despatch to