Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/171

 HIS SUCCESSIVE MISTAKES. 141 about happy results, more especially had it been chap. possible that, instead of remaining misguided by ' his own fallacious opinion, Pelissier would care- fully listen to the counsels of Bosquet, whose judg- ment on the question in hand was, as now we know, sound.* But Pe'lissier's state of mind and of temper did .not suffer him to brook opposition, and he has- tened to take a course that perhaps he then be- lieved to be ' vigorous,' though, in truth, as he afterwards learnt, it was violent rather than strong, and more likely to advantage the enemy than either himself or his cause. Directing Gen- eral Bosquet to undertake duties elsewhere, Pelis- sier removed him — uprooted him — from his com- mand in the Karabelnaya, and replaced him by General Regnault St Jean d'Angely, the officer then at the head of the Division of the Imperial Guard. To do thus was to withdraw from the scene of real conflict an able, a victorious commander well knowing the ground, and well known to the troops, to withdraw him on the eve of an action, and be- sides to raise up in his stead a newly come man, then a stranger almost to the army, and one but little acquainted with the field of the intended attacks.! cluding General Pelissier. f The change strongly censured by Rousset, and presumably disapproved at his office, the Ministry of War) was made on the 16th of June, and, next day, the preparative bombardment was to open.
 * So afterwards proved by experience convincing to all, in-