Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/200

170 GENERAL CAMPBELL'S ATTACK. chap, by escalade and assault ; but under existing con- VII ' ditions, the climbing, the fighting, the conquering efforts required formed, after all, only a sequel to the heaviest part of the ordeal; for not even the straitening shortness of a midsummer night had shorn the besieged of their power to retrieve, under cover of darkness, the havoc on havoc inflicted by a great cannonade. When the enemy had made good his repairs, the plan of attack as transformed by Pelissier's abrupt change of counsel could afford no solution at all of the now foremost problem which asked how a body of troops in full daylight, and mov- ing besides very slowly — because encumbered with ladders — could traverse without being shat- tered 470 yards of open ground beneath the un- assuaged fire of not only the Great Redan, but also all the other strong batteries that guarded this approach to the Faubourg. Advance of However, before break of day, the compon- party?the cuts of Sir John Campbell's force had assembled under the parapet on the western side of the ' Quarries ' ; and, when afterwards the concerted signal was given by a flag three times waved towards their right, the hundred Riflemen fol- lowed by the Engineers, and the sack and ladder parties, but not, as had been planned, by the but not of 'main column,' began to move forward under •column.' the storm of grape-shot and musketry-fire that rheflreen. presently opened upon them from the western lountorcd. face of the liedan, as well as from the Barrack