Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/216

 VI. id Period. 172 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN CHAP, things thus established was still kept in force. Even under clear daylight, it would have been seemingly rash to overrule or disturb so valiant a soldier as Pennefather, whilst defending the familiar copsewood upon which he had long been camped ; aud the density of the mist still made it impossible for any other commander to obtain such a glimpse of the battle-field as could war- rant the interposition of his overruling authority. Lord Raglan But whilst he gcucrously abstained from every staff. word which might disturb Pennefather's arrange- ments, Lord Eaglan, as may well be supposed, was yearning after that knowledge of the state of the field which the mist had hitherto denied him ; and, his prime task of ordering up rein- forcements having been performed long ago, he was not recalled from the front by any work of duty elsewhere. So he yielded to his natural in- clination, and was always at this period on the English Heights, or between them and the Sand- bag Battery. It was for this ceaseless exposure of his life that he afterwards found himself affectionately chided by the Secretary of State,* and compelled 18th Deo. 1854, after acknowledging the kind feeling which dictated the Duke's letter, .says : ' I can assure you, however, ' that I am not at all aware of having exposed myself either ' rashly or unncces.sarily either at Alma or at Inkernian. The ' enemy's artillery is so numerous and powerful that it is almost ' impossible to keep clear of the line of it unless I should deter- ' mine to remain out of action altogether ; and I can with truth ' .say that the impossibility of well observing the enemy was ' felt by rae as a great misfortune, I mean at Inkerman.'
 * Duke of Newcastle, 27th Nov. Lord Raglan in his answer,