Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/188

 144 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. CHAP. VI. 1«( Period. the rest of the five battalions, drove back the wliole force before them home ou to the base of Shell Hill. The columns thus falling back passed dimly in sight of the 77th, whilst halted and lying down on the ground it had won ; but Egerton's people, in the mist, mistook them for English advaucinor, and did not molest their retreat. The state oftheflght as seen at Hill Bend. XVIII. The mist was so isolating, that it strangely in- tercepted the spread of victory ; and, although at but a small distance from the scene of the over- throw which Turner had just now achieved, the top of Hill Bend was a point from which, at this time, an Englishman could see nothing hopeful. There, as we know, Colonel Percy Herbert had posted three companies of the 49th, under Cap- tain Bellairs, and the 183 men composing this force were drawn up behind the low crestwork. On their left were Pennycuik's guns, but the bat- tery had been suffering from the heavier metal on Shell Hill, had lost many horses, and from one cause or other had been for some time silent. Towards the front, as far as the eye could reach in the mist, the ground was peopled with English soldiery in no state of formation, and not only re treating without ceremony, but even retreating in haste. Indeed, some were running. These troops belonged to different regiments, and were plainly for the most part the remains of the pickets and