Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/153

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 109 harm, for the force being gathered in column, and chap, • VI firing with an inferior weapon at a range of eighty ' yards, and from a narrow front, stood under con- i»«J'e»*d. ditions which made its energy vain. On the other hand, Fordyce's men, whilst remaining un- stricken themselves, were all of them carefully file-firing from a widely extended front ; and, since each of them, with a good rifle in his hands, and with ample space round him, could shoot at his ease, they soon began to work havoc in the mass which served for their target. After en- during a few rounds the column broke in con- Defeat of fusion, and began to fall back with all the speed catherin- that the heaviness of its formation and the nature batfaiion. of the ground would allow. Fordyce, moving on after it at a distance of about a hundred yards, did not either cease firing or stay his pursuit till he had driven the mass before him across the opposite rib. Then, being far in advance and un- supported, and having all but expended his ammu- nition, he came at last to a halt, and caused his men to lie down close under the crest they had gained. There he kept fast his hold till other troops came to relieve him. The expedition of the third column thrown occurrence forward at this time by the enemy was destined Soimonofrs to result in a spectacle which — by fretting General SoimonofPs temper — might cause him to chafe at the plan of waiting for Pauloff's arrival, and per- haps make him change his resolve. That third column had pushed on so far to- wards the south that at length it came near to