Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/419

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 375 1(j|)(hI forward with Cliernisidc in order to deter- chap. iniue the spot where these two guns could be best ^"^ „ placed in battery. Accepting alter careful ex- ^'■'^ Period. amination the opinion offered by Chermside, he pianteu in f, battery by judged that the right spot to choose was that crest coionti '' " . CoUiiigwood at the bend of the heights which, uniting the nickson. Home and Fore Eidges, looks down in a north- west direction along the Saddle-top Reach, and faces against Shell Hill. The natural form of the ground must alone have sufficed to govern Colonel Dickson's decision ; but at this very spot, as we saw, the foresight of some of our officers had begun the construction of a thick gabionade, with a front wide enough for three pieces of field-artil- lery ; and, although the work at this time was only about two feet high, it still offered cover, which was far from being valueless* Here in place of three field-guns which had just Ijeen withdrawn to make room for them, the two eighteen - pounders were planted ; and, to give The Guards , . 1 T 1 1 J ordered up them some support, it was ordered that what re- in support. mained of the Guards, when collected after their fight on the Kitspur, should be brought to this part of the field. Was it possible that Lord Raglan might exeit Tiietrreat a great sway over the course of events by merely i.owerof lllGSG £111119 bringing into the field a couple of additional guns ? The enemy, we know, had in battery a hundred pieces of cannon, including a large proportion of twelve-pounders, with also some 32-pound howit- zers ; and it may well appear strange at first sight
 * Especially for the wheels of the guns.