Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/54

10 of the Isthmus that re-entering line was prolonged by the pickets of the Guards.

The Brigade of Guards lay camped at a distance of about three quarters of a mile in rear of the 2d Division, and was under the immediate command of Major- General Henry Bentinck ; but H.R.H the Duke of Cambridge was present in person with this portion of his division. The Guards performed a twofold duty ; for being near the crests of the Sapounè Ridge they watched the approaches of the Chersonese from the east, and were also charged with the more momentous task of supporting the 2d Division in its resistance to attacks from the north.

Posted thus to defend the Chersonese at its most assailable part, the 2d Division and the Guards had to furnish and maintain on the watch night and day as many as fourteen pickets, each consisting of an entire company, and on account of the stress put upon them by this heavy amount of outpost duty, had been lately dispensed from the additional task of supplying working parties and guards for the trenches.