Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/404

 360 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. CHAP. VI. Uh Period. busied in reorganising their strength * Large French reinforcements, indeed, were approaching under Bosquet in person ; but for the purpose of seizing the particular occasion now offered, they had marched forty minutes too late. Nor did the Allies find it practicable to carry forward the weight of the battle by moving their ordnance arm. The French guns that we saw gallop down in advance of Home Eidge were very soon stopped in their course, for the long teams which drew them began to lose horse after horse when they came under fire from Shell Hill ; and Boussin- i^re's bold, eager attempt to support the pursuit with artillery was thus speedily brought to a close. Before long, the enemy had ceased to re- treat, and was turning upon his pursuers. Far from seeing their latest achievement expand at once into a vict(jry, the Allies began to lose ground ; and the French battalion then operat- ing on the right front of our centre underwent a disturbing reverse. The French 6th of tlic Line driven back. II. We left the French ' 6th of the Line ' on the right bank of the Quarry Ravine. There, during some time, the battalion maintained an extremely tridges. Amongst the 2d Division men 'word was passed' that they were to go to an indicated sjiot in rear of the camp where the amnmnition awaited them. From this cause it was at least from this in great ])art - that men were so frequently seen walking qiiii'tly Itaclc from the front.
 * More especially in supi)lying themselves with fresh car-