Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/176

 146 EXULTING CONFIDENCE OF THE ALLIES. chap, myriads of soldiers collected on one shred of VI !__ ground is nevertheless a real force that, in justice to the memory of the French commander — then about to commit a grave fault — ought not to be wholly ignored. The force of This force of gathered opinion was in one point ' of view a good sign, because showing the ardour its impact of the troops; but its impact on the mind of troubled Telissier — not yet at the end of that interval of palssii r. eight days which we had to point out — was likely to do grievous harm. Long kept, as we have seen, under torture by his obstinate sovereign, he was conducting the business of war at a critical time with a temper exasperated by Imperial dictation, and therefore — for this would follow — with nerves highly, painfully strung. On a Chief in that state the effect of a great warlike passion carry- ing with it the troops of two armies might be such as to precipitate action. Lord Radian Lord Raglan has freely confessed that he shared t!' '•! fofUi'e the illusory confidence extending over the camps ; aiup ' but remaining throughout calm and firm, he did not allow mere elation to vary his chosen course. It is in open campaigning much more than in any but not siege process that the abnormal fervour of troops towards can be prudently used as a reason for altering the changes, n , ,1 • o of plan. designs of a Chief. V. Momingof On the morning of this day, the 17th, the eve Sunday the, , .. - IW1. i i i7th; of the intended assaults, J/ehssier had come to