Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/474

 430 THE BATTI.E OF INKEliMAN. OH A P. Vf. 6 th Ptnod. Ijord West fire as must make it hard for the Russian artillery- men to go on serving their guns. This measure was far from representing the utmost of what ITaines sought to accomplish ; but his desire to undertake a more weighty attack with the soldiery assembled at the Barrier had been baffled by opposing counsels. Now, however, it happened that — apparently without any concert — the wish of his heart was in some measure compassed for him by one of his personal friends, an officer of great vigour and ability, not shrinking from what some might think an undue assumption of power.* From his undisturbed post by the Mikriakoff Glen Lord West came across to a spot in the more central part of the field where Lieutenant Acton was standing with the remnant of his little detachment of the 77th — troops some 50 or 60 in number — and said to him, 'I see several of saw, a wing of the 21st Fusiliers, the regiment to which Haines belonged. In anticipation of a probable conflict on Mount Inkennan these two gifted officers had had the forethought to go over the field some days before, and it may be inferred that the important part they both of them took in the action was in some measure owiug to a knowledge of the ground thus wisely acquired beforehand. Though communicating to me full in- formation on other subjects, the late Earl abstained from vol- unteering any statcTuent of the part he had taken in bringing the Inkerman battle to its final crisis ; and I am assured that this abnegation of self conjoined with the fearless assumption of power above recorded was thoroughly characteristic of liis exalted nature. ' A splendid soldier ! ' writes one brother oflScer. ' No truer gentleman, no more lionest, or braver man ever ' lived.' Lord "West's military rank was that of a Brevet Lieu tenant-Colonel.
 * Lord We.st (the late Earl De la Warr) commanded, as we