Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/127

 THE TIMID BOMBARDMENT. 97 divined that any French marplot was trying to CHAP. resist, or to thwart the new Chief, their feeling ! towards him of course gathered all the more heart. Biding westward across Cathcart's Hill in the evening of that Gth of June, Pedissier found him- self greeted by the roar of true English hurrahs that sprang from the Light Division, and was taken up camp after camp by all our troops on the Chersonese. Pedissier was deeply impressed. Tears came to the eyes of the seemingly hard, iron Chief; but — true commander — he looked to the firm, warlike purpose implied by this heart- stirring welcome. He seized it as an omen of victory.* Although only with vertical lire (from the time The bom- when darkness set in) a bombardment went on continued .... at night. through the night. Next morning, the 7th of June, the siege-guns Bombard- , . . i c i • ment oi reopening continued their work ot destruction ; the 7th of and, whilst still, as before, expending the main of their strength on the Faubourg, they now too (by way of diversion) assailed the Flagstaff Bastion. On even the first day, the Gth, the batteries of Effect of the Allies obtained a decisive ascendant ; but from baidment the morning of the following day, the 7th, they hour by hour asserted their more and more thorough mastery over all the antagonist bat- teries. The fire of the allied batteries was so destructive that even General Todleben was fain VOL. IX. G
 * Letters from Headquarters, vol. ii. p. 204.