Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/431

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 387 that central part of the field there sounded (as chap. there had sounded all day) the tumult of a fight ; L for Haines and his men were still combating at 5<A.Peric(i Ths real their favourite Barrier. But although they de- dimensiont fended their post from turning movements no less at the than against front attacks, they had neither the pretension nor the power to control distant ground on their flanks, still less to guard the acclivity which divides the Inkerman Tusk from the bed of the Quarry Kavine. On their left front, there were generally some of our riflemen in the brush- wood who, having crept up very near to the enemy's batteries, were persistently vexing his gunners ; and no doubt on both the flanks of the Barrier small bands of English infantry were often moving this way and that in the course of their desultory combats. Thus, for instance, during the Second Period, Colonel Horsford with a few of his Eifles was frequently skirmishing on the right bank of the Quarry Bavine ; and, at a later hour, Colonel Horn with a remnant of his ' Twentieth' men, and Vaughan, too, with his knot of soldiery, were from time to time fighting on the right of the Post-road ; but — sometimes advancing, some- times falling back — these few score of soldiers did not even endeavour to fasten upon any par- ticular ground, and their efforts, though ceaseless and brilliant, can scarce have led any one to mis- take them for powerful bodies of infantry main- taining a set line of battle. Upon the whole, it may be said that the English thrown forward in advance of Home Ridge were