Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/192

 162 nmtrpTiONS effected by a CHAP, access of chance will often enough interpose to UI- vary the course of events. When the head of General d'Antemarre's column moved down through the Dockyard Eavine, some brief, un- explained inadvertence on the part of the enemy's gunners prevented their using at once the power with which they were armed ; and the foremost of the assailing troops being there- fore enabled to reach the lines of defence, they not only seized the occasion, but grasped it so boldly, and maintained all they won with so persistent a valour that their feat quickly gave a new turn to what a few moments before could hardly have been called an engagement affording to the baffled allies any known and sound basis of hope. French One of d'Autemarre's Chasseur battalions coin- breaking manded by Gamier, assailed and broke through fortress; the courtinc at a part near the foot of the Dock- yard Eavine, and pushed on into the Faubourg;* whilst, more to the right, Major Abinal with some eighty of his Engineers under the imme- diate command of Captain Bressonet, approached the Gervais Battery, found places where unre- moved earth interrupted the course of the Ditch, passed over by aid of these heaps, seized, and presently conquered the work, driving out a bat- talion of the Pultawa regiment, proved able to by a battalion of the 19th Regiment, but I do not observe any statement showing that that last battalion broke into the Fau- bourg.
 * The Chasseurs seem to have been supported in their march