Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/190

160 GENERAL BRUNET'S ATTACK. C H A P. VII. the torment of finding that his own genuine signal produced no result. For the reason already assigned, it was only after some lapse of time that General Brunet could stir ; and the original cause of the obstruction was one that also affected the movements of General d'Autemarre. General Brunet'a attack ; Iiih death. General Brunet was to attack and break in through the courtine extending from the west flank of the Little Eedan, and from the interior position so won force his way into the heart of the Malakoff Work. When the troops of General Brunet's Division at length moved out of their trenches, they were met by so mighty a fire of grape and musketry that they disappeared from the eyes of observers under the clouds of dust raised by the missiles directed against them. The heads of the columns were shattered by the falling of men. General Brunet received his death-blow. The foremost part of one column inclined too much to its right, and advanced towards the Little Redan, but the men, it seems, came to a halt when within some 110 yards of the work, and ensconced themselves in a fold of the ground, there awaiting support. The officers did not brook this desistance, and several of them met their deaths in the efforts they made to draw the troops forward. Another column of the same Division moved straight towards the courtine along a distance