Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/223

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 179 by degrees that part of the force which was en- chai. gaged with the eueniy in its front, and the English, 1_ though still fighting obstinately, and inflicting, it ^^ ^*'^'' is supposed, heavy losses upon the enemy, began to lose ground. General Adams, however, it would Gencmi ° _ Adams. seem, had not recognised yet the full stress of the operations undertaken against his flanks, and still looked upon victory over the actual combatants in his front as the object that had to be sought ; for he was observed at this time neither turning to parry the attacks on his right or his left, nor try- ing to draw the troops off, but on the contrary encouraging them to hold their groimd. In the 41st and 49th Kegiments there were many who long remembered with affectionate tenacity those latter moments of their dear chiefs presence amongst them. Of noble presence, great in stature, and seated upon a big English horse, he towered above the people around him, strangely proof, as it seemed for a while, no less against the common storm of the musketry-fire than the wil- ful flight of the balls which came seeking the tall rider's life ; and his form, half disclosed through the smoke, had, men say, at the time a dim grandeur, which dwells perhaps thus in their minds because it was the form of one doomed. But his hour, if nigh, was not yet. Armstrong, sent, as we know, to learn whether succours were at hand, had come galloping back to his chief with the intimation he had just received from the Duke of Cambridge ; and Adams, lifting his hat whilst he cheered on the men of the 41st, now