Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/403

 TllK MAIN 1<'1G11T. 359 FOURTH PERIOD. 9,15 A.M. TO 10 A.M. I. Although signal, complete, and extending along chap. the whole front of attack, the repulse thus sus- ' tained by the Russians was not in itself such a *''' ^*'"""^" •' liiinits of blow as must needs rule the fate of the battle, tue advan- tage ob- No panic ensued ; and indeed the retreatiuo taimMi by ^. ° the Allies. masses were in a more collected, more orderly state than the troops which pursued them. From the failure of this his last onset, it resulted, of course, that the enemy's prospect of a victory was again for the time overcast, and that his grounds for going on Math the struggle were more or less weakened ; but he quickly began to dis- play his faculty of courageous resistance ; and the footing he had gained on Mount Inkerman was unshaken. Still firm on Shell Hill and the Juts, still plying the powerful batteries which had given him his overwhelming ascendant in the artillery arm, and always keeping in hand no less than 9000 foot-soldiery, who had not as yet fired a shot, he was scarce to be swept from a stronghold thus guarded and armed by the few and disordered soldiery now following the retreat of his columns. And the pursuing troops were without support. Lord Raglan had not in hand so much as even one fresh battalion with which he could press the advantage, and the remains of his 2d Division and of the Guards w^ere now