Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/181

 PELISSIER's CHANGE. I 5 i English headquarters, and even to invert its CHAP. . . VI. provisions, ho shunned that safe, wholesome, and '. obvious expedient of consulting with Lord Eaglan in person which not only common prudence but obvious duty enjoined. Pelissier's new resolve was imparted to our His Engineer Chief; but imparted, it seems, as def- ourphief initive, and in terms which — far from inviting — made bold to exclude all discussion. Lord Eaglan after visiting his Divisional camps, and giving what he thought for the night would be his definitive orders — orders all in conformity with the previously concerted plan— had ridden back to headquarters, and there, had scarce quitted his saddle, when he not only heard from the Chief, of our Engineer force that Pelissier and by him had made this ill change in his plan for the Kagian. morrow, but also learnt that the new resolve was definitive, and even announced as one rest- ing on grounds that allowed no dispute.* Magnanimously regardless of any slight to- Lord Rag wards himself implied by Pelissier's conduct, ruination. Lord Eaglan thought only of the public service. He judged that in the teeth of such an announce- ment by the commander of what (from its largely predominant numbers) one rightly might call the main body of the Anglo-French army, it would be perilous, confusing, unwise to attempt to enter into controversy with the French commander, or to protest against his sudden reversal of the plan ' incontestahle.s.'
 * The grounds I believe were announced as ' des raisons