Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/373

 TIIK MAIN FIGHT. 329 SO that Kussian assailants at one spot, and our c H a p, Headquarter Staff at another, were ' molested,' as Lord Raglan would say, by the round-shot and sd Period shell which came flying low over the crest.* The officer conversing with Lord Raglan — the one on his right with the long, silver hair — was the Commander of the English Artillery, — a veteran whose ennobling experience — he fought at Leipsic and Waterloo — had linked him with England's great days. While still conversing General with Lord Raglan, General Strangways was mor- moruliy^^* tally wounded by a round-shot or shell, which tore off his leg ; and the brave old nmn tran- quilly asked that some one would help him to dismount, but did not fall from his saddle.-}- A live shell at nearly this moment passed into the trunk of Colonel Somerset's charger, and there, at once burst, doing no grave harm to the rider, yet scattering abroad the torn vitals of the horse, and splashing the bystanders with blood. Colo- nel Gordon's horse, too, was killed under him. Other horses were overthrown by the fall of those killed, and for a moment, it seemed that the fire he maintained against the Home Ridge, the enemy's charges of powder were well adjusted. Missiles which had cleared the crest were often so obedient to the design of the gunner that they skimmed down over the reverse slope at only a little distance above the ground. + The task of helping the wounded general to dismount was rendered to him with affectionate care by Colonel, now General Sir Jcihn Adye, R.A., K.C. B. General Strangways died before the close of the battle. He desired — and was, of course, obeyed — that his last resting-place might be amongst the gunners.
 * Our people, I believe, consider that for the purpose of the