Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/504

 460 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. CHAP, bulk of the assailing masses had not ceased to ^^' advance all this while, and was soon ascending the Eidge. Then with the 7th L^ger, with a truant little band of Zouaves, and with the few of our own people whom he could gather around him, General Pennefather, after a singular struggle which hung for some minutes in doubt, found means to defeat the great columns thus attacking his centre ; and, the collateral forces brought up on the right and on the left being almost simul- taneously overthrown by other portions of our infantry, and in part also too by our guns, the whole multitude of the troops which had under- taken this onslaught was triumphantly swept back into the Quarry Ravine. 9.15 A M. to Fourth Period. — The Allies having no troops in hand with which to press their advantage, the enemy very soon rallied, and with some vigour turned on his pursuers. The French 6th of the Line had been already driven back from our right front, and our people engaged at the centre were more or less losing ground, when the accession of the two 18-pounders ordered up by Lord Eaglan put an end all at once to the ascendancy of the Russians in the artillery arm, and began to tear open that stronghold on the crest of Shell Hill which had hitherto furnished the basis for all their successive attacks. When in this condition of things General Bos- quet approached with fresh troops, there seemed to be ground for believing that the end of the fiffht must be near. 10 a.m.