Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/231

OPERATIONS OF D'AUTEMARRE'S TROOPS. 201 ened duration ; for both the battalion of Chasseurs chap. which had conquered its way into a part of the Faubourg, and the little body of 80 Engineers which had seized the Gervais Battery held what they had each of them won with persistent valour; and on the other hand, General d'Aute- rnarre's efforts to reinforce the bold men thus maintaining themselves in the fortress were de- feated one after another by the severity of the fire poured down on his troops from the enemy's powerful batteries. The motives that needs must have urged him to effect the reinforcement attempted were beyond measure strong ; for, to compass the object pur- sued, was not only to support his brave French- men then holding all they had seized within the lines of the fortress, but also by that very act to gain means of operating effectively (because from within the defences) against the flank and rear of the Malakoff; whilst, to fail in sending clown rein- forcements would be to abandon the victors who had lodged themselves in the fortress, but also to surrender all hope of seeing the day end in victory. Whilst striving, though vainly, to succour those of his men who had torn their way into the for- tress, General d'Autemarre likewise was praying to be himself reinforced ; and Pelissier met the ap- peal by calling up from his reserve the whole regi- ment of the Zouaves of the Guard ; * but these he had consented to form an intermediate reserve, because, as
 * He could not throw forward the two brigades with which