Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/505

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 461 Fifth Period. — When Bosquet's acceding rein- chap. forcements had brought up his infantry on Mount Inkerman to a strength of 3500, he was induced iJ*;j;;^ to advance with a great part of this force to the false position of the Inkerman Tusk. Upon the ap- proach of a Kussian column moving up to ground on his left where he fancied the English stood posted, he was forced to retreat in great haste with the loss of a gun ; and, some Eussian battal- ions appearing in another direction, it was only by a swift spring to the rear that his troops drawn up on the Tusk proved able to make good their escape. The 1500 French troops disposed on Bosquet's left rear fell back behind the Home Eidge ; and, the cavalry which Canrobert brought up to cover the retreat being driven from the field by some shells, all this succession of adverse oc- currences seemed threatening to end in disaster. The French troops became disconcerted, and the Allies were from that cause in jeopardy. Their weakness, however, was masked by the vigour of the English defence maintained all this while at the Barrier, as well as by the might of the two 18-pounders ; and, General Dannenberg, not seizing his opportunity, the despondency of the French passed away. Upon the accession of yet further reinforce- ments. General Bosquet resumed the offensive, and with two of his battalions he not only defeat- ed that agile Selinghinsk regiment which had once more climbed up the Kitspur, but drove it down over the aqueduct, and out of the Inkerman bat-