Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/491

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 447 VI. General Canrobert and Lord Eaglan rode up chap side by side to the East Jut, and thence surveyed ' Pauloff's forces retreating across the Inkerman '''■^ Period. marsh ; but it was in speaking to one of his own canrobcrt staft' that the English commander imparted the "uagianon Singularly accurate surmise he then hazarded.* vacated by /-*'••• 11 1 I'll- ''^^ enemy. Conjoining what he saw on the marsh with his other impressions of the battle, he said, ' I have ' been attacked by 40,000 men.' He could hardly have been otherwise than conscious that the repression of these multitudinous assailants had been largely owing to the happy conception and the firm resolve by which he had found himself able to bring up the two 18-pounders ; but he was always forgetful of self; and it happened that there rode up a man who had helped him — and helped him superbly — in giving effect to liis orders. For once Lord Raglan gave utterance to a word which was scarce to be found in any of his great master's despatches. He said to Col- iingwood Dickson, ' You have covered yourself ' with glory.' The French and the English commanders dis- mounted. General Canrobert with his arm in a sling, and resting the further end of a field-glass on liis horse's saddle, stood observing the )iiarch of the troops he had suffered to escape liim, and already, perhaps, experiencing his first bitter pangs of regret for opportunities lost.
 * To Wetherall, I think, or, at all event.s, in liis hearing.