Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/327

 THK MAIN FIGHT. 283 talion to advance. By gesture, by words, by ex- CHAP. ample, the officers strove to draw their men for- ' ward ; and the drums of the battalion, brought ^"^ ^'*^''- together in rear of its centre, broke out into a fury of sound with their hurricane ' jpas de charge.' The battalion resumed its advance, and, the Recai.turo enemy's soldiery then withdrawing from the aandbag gorge of the Sandbag Battery, it presently re- sulted that the dismantled work changed masters once more, and was now in the power of the French, though not actually kept in their hands. Colonel de Camas avoided the error of clinging, continued as our people had done, to the site of the dis- the French mantled battery, and moved on in a westerly Line, direction towards the head of St Clement's Gorge, where General Bourbaki, it seems, was already present in person. There the General found Colonel Horsford, who Meeting between had so manoeuvred his small band of Eifles as to oeuerai Boiirbaki be able to remain in this advanced part of the -^"^^ coiouei ^ _ Horsford. iield, whilst Eussian battalions moved past him in either direction. Some conversation took place between the two gifted officers thus meeting in the front of battle. General Bourbaki's object apparently was to continue his advance, and at the same time take care not to quit the high ground. Addressing the ' 6th of the Line ' he said : ' Come, my lads, the English are in your ' front.* Forward ! ' He then led the battalion baki and Horsford, and I do not know liow the General derived the impression diselosed by his words.
 * There were no English troops at the time in front of Bour-