Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/443

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 399 left of the Post-road. There, they halted and took chap. up a position in rear of the English field-batteries. ^^' Wy this movement to their left rear they separ- ^'>>- Period ated themselves very decisively from the Chas- seurs, the Zouaves, and the Algerine troops which liosquet had been leading in person ; for all these, after the peril that had threatened them on the Inkerman Tusk, fell back to the reverse slope of the Fore Kidge, and the bulk of them ultimately halted behind Boussini^re's guns. Upon the Zou- aves, along with discomfiture, another misfortune liad fallen. The vivandihre we saw gaily leading them was killed at the head of her battalion. With unsparing zeal the French artillery on the The havoc ,-, TT 1 1 1 • 1 1 1 wrought h ore Kidge devoted itseli to the purpose of check- in Boussi- ing pursuit ; but it was not in rear of Bous- batterie.s sinifere's guns that troops compelled to retreat could now find a scene of repose. Piussian bat- teries so placed on the heights as to be free from the dominion of the two eighteen-pouuders were assailing Boussinik"e with a fire of great power ; and his twelve heavy guns, his artillerymen, his long teams of horses, his limbers, his tumbrils, and, in short, all his ordnance resources, had been gathered within so narrow a space that they presented a rich offering to the enemy's cannon, and underwent frightful havoc. Speaking to Collingwood Dickson, who, as we know, was his ' next gun neighbour,' he said, ' We are getting ' massacred ; ' but he cheerily added, ' Well, after '■ all, this is war,' and continued to hold on with a courage much praised by our people. Still, it