Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/141

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 97 turned out and stood to their arms ; but, there chap. being then no signs of a coming attack, were soon after dismissed. The wood and the water ^«t Period. Tlio 2d fetchers went out to their tasks as usual, and the Division reliefs of the outposts furnished by the Division arms eh took place at the appointed hour. Before day- sunrise. break, the old pickets, excepting two of them, „! thefr^' were all home in camp, and the new pickets all p*°''«**- at their posts. Those acting on the right of the Post-road were commanded by Colonel Carpenter, and those on its left by Major Haly. III. The new pickets did not remain on the line The new which had been occupied by their comrades at night, but at once pushed forward to their ap- pointed posts on ground more advanced. After The enemy this, for a while, all still remained quiet and discerned blank. But presently, when day was beginning by Row- to break, a sentry in advance on Shell Hill dis- picket. cerned through the mist what he judged to be a Kussian column approaching, and reported this to Captain Rowlands of the 41st, the officer in com- mand of the picket. Rowlands instantly ran up to the brow ; and, the atmosphere then clearing a little, he was able to detect the approach of two Russian battalions, each seemingly gathered in column. Upon these he soon caused the men of his picket to deliver their fire ; and the two bat- talions, thus suddenly greeted, were taken, it would seem, by surprise, for they turned and fell back. VOL. VI. G