Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/97

 ON 'I'll 10 SKHAHTOPCJL FRONT. !).> towards Mount liikerman, Prince Napoleon, with chap. the two battalions remaining under his personal . ;__ orders, made a movement in the opposite direc- tion to aid the repulse of the sortie. Seeing the strength of the forces converging upon him, and fearing for the safety of his com- munication with Sebastopol, Timovieff, when closely pressed, began to withdraw, and found himself supported in the operation of effecting his retreat by fresh troops sent out from Sebasto- pol. He was followed by the French, and in the ardour of pursuit De Lourmel's brigade pene- trated into the nook which divides the lines of Sebastopol from the Quarantine Sea- fort. There, the French troops underwent a murderous fire, and De Lourmel himself was mortally wounded. His brigade sustained heavy losses, and fell some- what into confusion, but was extricated after a while by the troops of D'Aurelle's brigade and Levaillant's Division, which were manoeuvred for the purpose under the personal directions of Forey. At half-past eleven, the French as well as th(3 Kus- sians had completed their withdrawal ; and Piince Napoleon, with the two battalions then remain- ing at his side, began to march towards Mount Inkerman, but too late to take part in the tight. This sortie of Timovieff's was an enterprise executed with much spirit, but not so appointed in regard of time or place as to have the effect of swaying events. It did not arrest the march of any reinforcements opportunely despatched to Mount Inkerman.