Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/12

 VIU PREFACE TO THE PKESENT EDITION The effort that followed was brief. A silent night- march of six miles conducted in order of battle by guidance drawn from the stars ; the entrenchments of Tel-el-Kebir confronted whilst still it was dark (though a first streak of dawn could be seen), con- fronted, stormed, broken, cut through, cut through and through in their centre by Hamley with the 2d Division ;'"' then (but further away towards their left) confronted and even assaulted in more than one place by artillery teams with their guns tearing — strange to see — over the parapet; then along the whole stretch of each wing, confronted, stormed, carried by Willis t with Graham's brigade, | by — the Highland — brigade, and personally directed its movements, having under him, in Sir Archibald Alison, a most able briga- dier-general. Sir Edward found it essential to call up his sup- ports under Ashburnham, and to give them the fighting work which they well and opportunely achieved. See in the ' Nine- ' teenth Century,' 1st Dec. 1882, Hamley's masterly account of the part taken by his Division. It was he who at Inkerman (being then a young adjutant of artillei-y) made that opportune use of three guns which is recorded in my Inkerman volume, chap. vi., Second Period, sec. iv. t Operating on our right, and against the enemy's left. Throughout the great day of Inkerman, there was no more bril- liant exploit than Egerton's victorious charge with a wing of flie 77th, and no officer of even that regiment more hotly engaged than the captain of its grenadier company. See Inkerman volume, chap. vi. sec. xvi. of First Period. That captain, now general. Sir George Willis, commanded the 1st Division at Tel-el-Kebir, I The Guards under H.R.H. Duke of Connaught were well up in support, but excluded from all opportunity of what they would deign to call ' fighting ' by the perfect and rapid success of
 * Sir Edward Hamley was present in person with His foremost