Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/141

 AND LOST. 1 11 battalions (held back until then in reserve) had CHAP. newly entered the Work. These gathering to- ! gether and led by General Khrouleff himself fell ^q in strength on all those of the assailants who K1 "' oult ' 11 had not yet entered the Work, and drove them back into the gorge of the then newly captured Lunette. But this was not all ; for those who were flying carried with them so great a dis- order — augmented a few moments afterwards by the explosion of a ' fougasse ' — that although, it seems, bravely attempted, no lastingly effectual stand could be made within the precincts of the Lunette, and after a brief, yet sharp struggle, the Khrouicrs recapture enemy still pressing forward drove all the rrench of the out of the Work they so lately had taken, and ka Lunette pressed them far in pursuit. Tiiese reverses brought with them a terrible slaughter of the French troops.* Thus for once, although transient, there shone uiie bright gleam of success on a movement adventured by Khrouleff, and to him this was much; for, with all his ardour in war, he had not hitherto proved to be a fortunate general. Pie seems to have become highly excited. Be- lieving perhaps that the French would patiently endure this recapture, he at once rode off to the east with a mind it would seem to complete his apparent victory by recovering the two White Redoubts. But whatever Khroulell' might hope, General " Sec footnote post, p. 113.