Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/142

 98 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. CHAP. VI. 1st Period. Russian batteries established ou SheU Hill. The first measures taken on the Home Ridge. Of course the gathered thousands soon reas- serted tlieir power ; but the picket was obstinate, and maintained a fretting combat. At the end of about half an hour, the Faissians were able to put twenty-two heavy guns in battery on the crest of Shell Hill ; but even after this had been done, they still found themselves galled by a clinging, per- sistent fire IV. The sound of the combat, thus begun at the outposts, came from ground where continuous firing must of necessity be significant, and it quickly raised an alert. For the second time that morning, the troops in the camp of the 2d Divi- sion were called to arras, and in a few minutes they formed up on Home Eidge — the ground where they used to parade. The men who had gone out on wood and water parties came running in to arms. The two guns kept ready ' on picket,' followed soon by Fitzmayer's ten remaining pieces, were brought up and put in battery on the crest of Home Eidge ; * and, however little havoc at first might be wrought by their missiles sent blindly into the mist. Colonel Percy Herbert pressed eagerly that they should open at the in- stant, for lie divined that a ready fire from Home Eidge would tend to check the enemy, and pre- and Captain Jolm Turner's on its left. At a later time, Fitz- mayer for some reason moved three of Turner's six guns still more to the left, placing them on the west slope of the Home Uidge.
 * Captain Pennycuik's battery on the right of the Post-road,