Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/155

 THE MAIN FIGHT. Ill hear breaking out on the reverse sh)i)o of the chap. VI crest ail uiideiiiied multitudinous stirring as of L_ a host, followed close by the myriad hurrahs 'i'"^*'*^'^ which gave voice to the rage of a close-gathered soldiery, and portended a general onset. Soon, commencf the mist towards Shell Hill became charged with soimonoffa attack. the slow creeping darkness of numbers upon numbers in movement ; and presently, it was plain, the grey masses covered ground far and wide, though no eye reached the bounds of their strength. We now know what forces there were. Besides some companies of the 6th Rifles advancing in front as skirmishers, they comprised the twelve battalions of the Tomsk, the Kolivansk, and the Catherinburg regiments, numbering altogether more than 9000 men.* Only the battalions of Tomsk and Kolivansk were to be in first line ; but, whether acting from zeal, or mistake, or from whatever other cause, the four Catherin- burg battalions, which had orders to follow in support, were induced to take other courses, and three of them moved forward from their assigned places in the rear till they aligned with the troops in front, whilst the fourth one strayed off towards the east. Except that one stray battalion, all the troops engaged in the movement soon began to incline to their right. Shunning the line of artillery-fire which, in spite of the mist, was seen blazing out from Home Ridge, they avoided the upwold of
 * 9nW.