Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/340

 29G THE IJATTLE OF INKEKMAN. CHAP. VI. 2d Period. The ' Gap ' left open : and not closed by Colonel Upton's manoeuvre. It must be understood, however, that the small bands of English soldiery which thus fended oS the successive attacks on our centre had no pre- tensions to do or attempt more. They could neither dislodge the enemy from his lair in the Quarry Eavine, nor molest nor even detect him if he should choose to move up thence by his left to the northern slopes of Mount Head. In other words, though they were able with their hundred or two of men at a time to fend him off from Home Pddge, they still did not and could not perform a second miracle by closing the Gap. It was apparently with the judicious purpose of closing or watching this chasm that H.RH. the Duke of Cambridge despatched Colonel Upton with two detached companies of the Guards.* Upton moving in the direction which he under- .stood to be the one indicated by His Eoyal High- ness's gesture, soon found himself confronted by what was apparently the whole lakoutsk regi- ment, for he saw two huge columns moving up from the Quarry Ravine with a strength which he estimated at about 1500 each. Upton ex- tending his men sought to combine the object of cliecking the enemy M'itli that of taking ground to liOiil Templetown) was riding forward from the ground on which wc l.'ist saw liim (cmtc, cliaj). iv. sec. ii.) to take part with the Guards in their light at the Kitspur. The two detached companies of the Guanls Imd been just relieved from picket duty, and were advancing to join their comrades when the Duke gave the above order to Upton.
 * Wlien met by the Duke of Cambridge, Colouel Upton (now